Juno News - December 31, 2022


The 10 Biggest Stories of 2022


Episode Stats

Length

7 minutes

Words per Minute

188.07996

Word Count

1,358

Sentence Count

74

Hate Speech Sentences

3


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 After speaking with opposition leaders, the federal government has invoked the Emergencies Act.
00:00:09.240 2022 was a major year for Canadians. It was a year full of protests, global conflict,
00:00:13.600 and political leadership change-ups. Domestically, Canada saw some delayed easing of COVID-19
00:00:17.800 mandates and restrictions as the rest of the world moved quicker to open up. Prime Minister
00:00:21.340 Justin Trudeau also faced some of his biggest challenges yet, including the nationwide Freedom
00:00:24.980 Convoy protest movement. On the world stage, Russia's invasion of Ukraine set the world
00:00:29.400 into disarray. These are the top 10 most influential stories of 2022 and what they might mean for the
00:00:34.840 upcoming year. Number 10. Danielle Smith Passes the Sovereignty Act
00:00:38.480 In a major attempt to shake up the federal-provincial balance of power, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's
00:00:43.220 government passed the Sovereignty Act on December 8th, 10 days after the law was tabled. Smith
00:00:47.680 promised during her campaign to replace outgoing Premier Jason Kenney that she would use the
00:00:51.380 legislation to reinforce Alberta's jurisdiction over things like policing and managing its own
00:00:55.460 natural resources. The federal government has indicated that they would challenge the law
00:00:59.320 on constitutional grounds, setting up a possible showdown between Alberta and Ottawa in 2023.
00:01:04.960 Ultimately, whether Alberta continues its fight with the federal government is largely dependent
00:01:08.880 on the outcome of the 2023 provincial election, as NDP leader and Smith's main opponent, Rachel
00:01:14.180 Notley, has called on the Trudeau government to revoke the act should it become law.
00:01:18.420 Number 9. Trudeau's Invocation of the Emergencies Act
00:01:21.080 On February 14th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to quash peaceful
00:01:25.920 Freedom Convoy protesters who had set up in the nation's capital for weeks to demonstrate
00:01:30.240 against federal COVID-19 mandates. What began as a protest movement by truckers opposed to a
00:01:35.380 cross-border vaccination requirement ballooned into a nationwide movement that ultimately ended
00:01:39.780 with federal, provincial and local police authorities arresting demonstrators en masse.
00:01:44.640 The Liberal government's use of the law, which allowed police to freeze the bank accounts of
00:01:48.080 protesters and their sympathizers, led to international condemnation of Trudeau,
00:01:52.360 including while he was present in the European Parliament.
00:01:55.140 Mr. Trudeau, you are a disgrace for any democracy. Please spare us your presence. Thank you.
00:02:02.780 As required by law, the federal government commenced the Public Order Emergencies Commission
00:02:07.120 to investigate whether the conditions required to declare an emergency were met.
00:02:11.260 Commissioner Paul Rouleau's findings are expected to be presented in February 2023.
00:02:15.140 Number 8. Pierre Polyev elected leader of the Conservative Party
00:02:18.740 Carlton MP Pierre Polyev was elected leader of the federal Conservatives on September 10th
00:02:22.980 in a sweeping victory that saw him take 68% of the vote on the first ballot.
00:02:27.360 Polyev's election was seen by many as a break from the progressive side of the party.
00:02:30.880 Throughout the campaign, Polyev maintained support for Freedom Convoy protesters,
00:02:34.840 which saw him face many attacks from the legacy media and the Liberals.
00:02:37.920 As the year closes, polls show that the Conservatives maintain a slight lead over the governing Liberals.
00:02:42.520 However, without an election scheduled until 2025, Polyev still has a long path ahead of him.
00:02:48.260 Number 7. Elon Musk hints at a Bill C-11 challenge.
00:02:52.080 After taking over Twitter as the company's CEO in April,
00:02:54.780 Elon Musk has indicated on several occasions that he's opposed to the Liberal government's
00:02:58.300 internet regulation law, Bill C-11.
00:03:00.740 Most recently, Musk said in response to a tweet by True North fellow Andrew Lawton
00:03:04.340 that Bill C-11 and others are an attempt to muzzle Canadians.
00:03:07.780 Musk's ardent free speech approach to running the platform has prompted both Canadian politicians
00:03:12.460 and journalists to express outrage over the changes at Twitter.
00:03:15.560 What's so fresh about Elon Musk?
00:03:17.840 Well, the rise of anti-Semitism.
00:03:19.860 Oh, well, geez, that's a breath of fresh air.
00:03:22.460 Although Musk has expressed interest in handing off the CEO position to his successor,
00:03:26.020 as Bill C-11 reaches the final stages of the legislative process,
00:03:29.160 social media companies will continue to ramp up their opposition to the regulatory scheme.
00:03:33.700 Number 6. Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away
00:03:36.440 Canadians gathered across Canada to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year.
00:03:41.200 At the age of 96, while surrounded by her family, the late Queen was declared dead on September 8, 2022.
00:03:47.320 With her passing, King Charles III immediately assumed the throne.
00:03:50.580 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other prominent current and former politicians
00:03:54.220 attended the state funeral of the late Queen soon after her passing.
00:03:57.380 In May 2023, King Charles III will hold his coronation alongside the Queen Consort.
00:04:02.500 Additionally, Canadians can expect the printing of new currency bearing the monarch's portrait next year.
00:04:08.760 Number 5. Russia Invades Ukraine
00:04:10.740 On February 24th, Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine.
00:04:14.800 The war has had repercussions on Canada's supply chain, including making the cost of fertilizer even more unaffordable.
00:04:20.220 Canada has responded to the invasion by issuing major sanctions against Russia
00:04:23.540 and even closing the country's airspace to Russian planes.
00:04:26.200 Some Canadians also jumped at the opportunity to serve on the front lines of the war.
00:04:30.120 As exclusively reported by True North, the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Vancouver indicated
00:04:34.460 thousands had expressed interest in joining the country's Volunteer Legion.
00:04:38.160 Without any sign that hostilities will end,
00:04:40.440 Canadians can expect to see further global disruptions as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.
00:04:45.080 Canadians will also face further pressure to expand its natural resource development
00:04:48.480 to offset the world's reliance on Russian oil and gas.
00:04:51.340 Number 4. Veterans Offered Assisted Suicide
00:04:54.680 Nationwide discussion about assisted suicide reached a heightened level this fall
00:04:58.400 after it was revealed that several veterans, including a Paralympic athlete,
00:05:02.320 were offered assisted suicide by Veterans Affairs.
00:05:05.040 In August, it was first reported that an official with the department
00:05:07.440 had inappropriately suggested assisted suicide to a veteran seeking mental health treatment.
00:05:12.260 Veteran Affairs eventually acknowledged the mishap and apologized.
00:05:14.920 However, during the testimony before the Senate,
00:05:16.980 veteran Christine Gauthier explained how she was told to seek assisted suicide
00:05:21.560 when requesting a chairlift in her home.
00:05:24.100 The debacle has drawn international criticisms and forced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
00:05:27.700 to halt further opening up access to assisted suicide to those with mental health issues.
00:05:32.260 Number 3. Ottawa Lifts Its Travel Ban on the Unvaccinated
00:05:35.340 In June, the federal government officially lifted its vaccine requirement for domestic and international travel.
00:05:40.320 After nearly a year of banning millions of Canadians from boarding a plane or train,
00:05:44.320 the liberal government rescinded the policy due to pressures from the travel industry.
00:05:48.540 On top of that, the liberal government also walked back on mandating the use of a Rivecan application for travel,
00:05:53.300 which many blamed for severe airport delays across the country.
00:05:56.240 When reversing the policies, the liberals left room for a potential return of mandates
00:05:59.720 should the pandemic situation worsen.
00:06:01.860 Since the pandemic has not been declared over by global health authorities,
00:06:04.760 the federal government could still employ new measures to fight any further spread of COVID-19.
00:06:09.100 Number 2. Vancouver Elects a New Mayor
00:06:12.020 In October, Vancouverites rejected the policies of former progressive mayor Kennedy Stewart by electing Ken Sim.
00:06:18.500 Throughout his campaign, Sim presented himself as the law and order candidate,
00:06:21.720 promising to hire an additional 100 police officers to combat surges and crime in the city.
00:06:26.460 During his first few months in the position, Sim approved of a motion which requires police to wear body cams by 2025.
00:06:32.120 In 2023, City Council will hash out the exact details of Sim's hiring plan
00:06:35.980 and allocate appropriate budget resources to recruiting new police officers and mental health workers.
00:06:41.080 Number 1. Oakville Prosthetic Breast Teacher Causes an International Scandal
00:06:44.880 When news broke out that a teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School wore oversized prosthetic breasts to class,
00:06:50.240 it became an international sensation.
00:06:52.140 The teacher's antics led to several protests outside the school,
00:06:54.900 with students expressing discomfort about the teacher's presence.
00:06:57.840 Honestly, I think it's pretty disgusting.
00:06:59.980 As for administrators, the Hamilton-Wentworth School District has stood by the teacher,
00:07:04.400 even giving them a full-time security detail.
00:07:06.900 The Ontario government has since asked Education Ministry authorities
00:07:09.940 to review dress codes for staff as a result of the incident.