The Andrew Lawton Show

Justin Trudeau is at the United Nations this week, calling on countries to ramp up their efforts to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and also making a pitch for other countries to follow in Canada’s footsteps by imposing a carbon tax. True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Also, the Tamara Lich’s and Chris Barber’s criminal mischief trial is wrapping up its third week today, with only three of the 22 scheduled witnesses having testified. Journalist and filmmaker Trish Wood joins the show to give an update on how things are going in the courtroom. Plus, Centre Ice Canadians, a group founded by former Conservative leadership candidate Rick Peterson, has launched a new “radical centrist” political party called Canadian Future, which organizers believe is the antidote to Canadians who feel “politically homeless.” Interim leader Dominic Cardy, an independent New Brunswick MLA, joins The Andrew Lawton Show to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A series of demonstrations and marches are underway across the country as parents advocate for their right to educate their children as they see fit. The 1 Million March 4 Children has been met with large counter-protests, spearheaded by union groups and joined by NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. True North’s Harrison Faulkner and Elie Cantin-Nantel join The Andrew Lawton Show to for a report on the Toronto and Ottawa scenes. While it’s no secret that wokism has taken over academia, the extent to which this is threatening discourse and academic standards may shock you. University teacher Brock Eldon has written a three-part non-fiction novella in C2C journal, Ground Zero in the Culture War, chronicling his experiences as a grad student in the land of the woke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The reason for last week’s chilly reception to Justin Trudeau in India has been made clearer as Trudeau levelled an accusation that the Indian government was involved in the June killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. India has rejected the accusation outright, and Canada and India have each expelled one of the other’s senior diplomats. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses with columnist and podcaster Rupa Subramanya. Also, the federal government’s amnesty period for the guns it banned in May 2020 is set to expire next month, and there is still no “buyback” in place for gun owners to unload their soon-to-be-illegal firearms. Rod Giltaca of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights joins to weigh in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As parental rights advocates plan a nation-wide series of protests on Wednesday, labour leaders have been mobilizing to counter-protest what they say is organized “hate.” A Zoom planning call with more than 100 union activists was leaked on the weekend, showing revealing the extent to which some workers in the education sector want to stop Million Person March “dead in its tracks.” True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Plus, Justin Trudeau has summoned grocery store executives to Ottawa to wag his finger until they do something about rising prices. Trudeau has said all options are on the table, including unspecified “tax measures.” Kris Sims of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation returns with her take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pierre Poilievre spoke for less than a minute on a Westjet flight full of Conservative convention-goers four days ago, and his critics haven’t let up. Four days later, CTV is trying to solicit interviews with passengers on the flight, Westjet’s flight attendant union has denounced Poilievre and the airline and demanded apologies from both, and Jann Arden has launched a boycott. True North’s Andrew Lawton says this is a taste of what the next election will look like. Also, a new grassroots organization has formed to tell Canada’s energy story. Jarret Coels of Energy United joins The Andrew Lawton Show. Plus, Andrew’s chat with Conservative candidate Jamil Jivani from the Conservatives’ Quebec City convention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True North’s Andrew Lawton was barred from covering the Liberal caucus retreat in his own city of London, Ontario. True North received no response to its requests for accreditation, and yesterday Andrew was turned away at the media registration desk, without so much as a reason for the rejection. In this episode, Andrew discusses. Then, Professor Ross McKitrick on how the federal government’s “energy efficiency” plan is making the housing crisis worse. Plus, a sit-down with Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman from the Conservative convention in Quebec City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Trudeau is on his way back from India after yet another blunder-filled trip to one of Canada’s best allies. From pulling away from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handshake to skipping out on a dinner, Trudeau showed literal interest in playing nice with Modi and India. In response, Modi excluded Trudeau from a video montage of G20 dignitaries arriving. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses with Carleton professor Vivek Dehejia. Plus, a sit-down with MP and former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer from the weekend’s Conservative convention in Quebec City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 3,000 Conservatives descended on Quebec City this weekend for the Conservative Party of Canada convention. They were joined by a handful of Liberal cabinet ministers – Steven Guilbeault, Pablo Rodriguez, and Marci Ien, who came along to express their dislike for the Conservatives, who are trouncing them in the polls right now. True North’s Andrew Lawton breaks down what happened at the convention. Plus, our new Monday regular Kris Sims of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation joins the show to talk about the government funnelling even more money to CBC, plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate welfare to get us eating bugs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Marazzo wanted to help out behind the scenes of the Freedom Convoy, but ended up becoming one of its faces and ultimately had a seat at the negotiating table with officials from the City of Ottawa. Tom Marazzo testified before the Public Order Emergency Commission last year, but now is telling his story in full in a new book, The People's Emergency Act. Marazzo joins True North's Andrew Lawton to talk about the ins, outs, ups and downs of the movement that he says both enriched and challenged his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On day two of the criminal trial of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, Ottawa Police Service Inspector Lucas Russell testified that he was under orders to give “not one inch” to the protesters, even while there were discussions underway to shrink the protest’s footprint to mitigate the disruption to downtown Ottawa residents. True North’s Andrew Lawton says this means law enforcement and government officials were effectively choosing to keep the status quo they claimed to find so objectionable. Convoy lawyer Eva Chipiuk joins the show to discuss the latest on the trial, plus documentary makers Trish Wood and Jacqueline Bynon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 20 months after the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, its two most prominent organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, are standing trial. The 16-day mischief trial began today. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses what this means for freedom and justice before speaking with Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms president John Carpay. Plus, kids are back to school today and the media thinks climate change and AI are “top of mind” for them. Is that true for your kids? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across the country, more and more parents are seeking education options for their kids outside of public schools. For some this is private schooling, perhaps a charter school for those in places such as Alberta, or even home schooling. This edition of The Andrew Lawton Show shines a light on school choice – what options do parents have, and why are they making the choices they are? Joining Andrew to discuss are the Fraser Institute’s director of education policy, Paige MacPherson, Alberta liaison officer Catherine Kavanagh of Cardus, and Home School Legal Defence Association president Peter Stock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite us living in a post-pandemic world, there seem to be a growing number of places eyeing a return of masks, and Covid Zero fanatics pushing for another cycle of boosters, restrictions and paranoia. True North’s Andrew Lawton says they can try, but people aren’t going to go along with it again. Also, Whistle Stop Cafe owner Chris Scott has been acquitted on charges of breaching the last round of Covid restrictions. And new Alberta court ruling means some Covid fines will be refunded, but is this the victory against lockdowns some people think? Lawyer Sarah Miller of JSS Barristers joins the show to weigh in. Plus, the federal government’s virtue signalling foreign policy has led to a Global Affairs Canada warning to LGBT Canadians travelling to the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touted that Canada was the “best country in the world.” While this might not be a shocking comment from Canada’s prime minister, it’s a departure from past comments Trudeau has made. Five years ago, he explicitly said Canada wasn’t the best country in the world – but could be. He’s also said that Canada is a perpetrator of genocide against Indigenous women and girls. True North’s Andrew Lawton wonders how now of all times Trudeau can say things are great. Also, Pierre Poilievre is not only riding high in polls, but even among young people, which has always been the toughest demographic for the Conservatives to crack. National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People of different faith groups and political perspectives may disagree on a lot, but they are coming together to protect children. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and people of no religion at all, have banded together to speak out against gender ideology being foisted on young children in Canadian schools. Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam of Hands Off Our Kids and Kamel el-Cheikh, organizer of the upcoming Million Person March, join True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss how such a diverse coalition is coming together for the children. Also, when Conservative Party of Canada members meet at their upcoming convention in Quebec City, they’ll be debating a motion from former Athletics Alberta president Linda Blade calling on the Conservatives to formally adopt a policy to protect single-sex spaces and define a “woman” as a biological female. Blade joins the show to explain why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renowned psychologist and bestselling author Jordan Peterson lost his court challenge against Ontario’s college of psychologists today. The college sought to force Peterson into training on how to conduct himself on social media as a condition of remaining a licensed psychologist. Peterson took the matter to an Ontario court, which ruled today that the condition doesn’t actually hinder his right to freedom of expression. Canadian Constitution Foundation lawyer Josh Dehaas joins the Andrew Lawton Show to discuss. Also, Catherine McKenna thinks Conservative politicians need their own mandatory education on climate change. True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Plus, is artificial intelligence leading to the end of thought? Christopher Snook tackles that question in an essay for C2C Journal titled “AI, the Destruction of Thought and the End of the Humanities.” He joins the show to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Liberal environment minister Catherine McKenna has accused the Conservatives and those who oppose carbon taxes of being “arsonists” as wildfires sweep across the Northwest Territories and British Columbia. Current Liberal ministers have criticized the Conservatives for wanting to “making pollution free.” If carbon taxes are the answer to forest fires, why did these fires happen in the first place, True North’s Andrew Lawton asks. Also, Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz joins the show to talk about how Alberta is pushing back against Justin Trudeau’s electricity regulations. Plus, Dr. Matt Strauss is suing Queen’s University for forcing him out of his job because of his opposition to lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He joins Andrew to discuss free speech in medicine and academic freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drugs and addiction have reached a crisis level in Canada, with overdose deaths on the rise and seemingly no community immune to the problem. This is in spite of a continued expansion of "harm reduction," a policy involving a range of interventions, from supervised drug use sites to the distribution of so-called "safe supply" of drugs. But is safe supply actually safe, and is harm reduction reducing harm? In this edition of The Andrew Lawton Show, True North's Andrew Lawton discusses with National Post columnist Adam Zivo, addiction psychologist Dr. Julian Somers, and addiction medicine consultant Dr. Sharon Koivu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a press conference in Prince Edward Island, a reporter asked Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre if he’s trying to “court the far-right vote,” citing unnamed “experts” who say he is. Poilievre dismissed the question as a “CBC smear job” and refused to answer. Is this the right approach? True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Also, Manitoba man needed a gas-powered vehicle to bail him out after his electric pickup truck failed to charge on a road trip. Dalbir Bala joins the show to talk about his electric vehicle nightmare. Plus, the Liberal government is being accused of using “creative accounting” to meet its infamous pledge to “plant 2 billion trees.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The media has accused Pierre Poilievre of “embracing conspiracy theories” after vowing to reject the “globalist Davos elites” if he becomes prime minister. Poilievre has repeatedly said his ministers will be barred from attending the World Economic Forum’s events, though the Canadian Press this week quoted “experts” who said such a commitment is conspiratorial. Some journalists and academics have gone so far as to accuse Poilievre of antisemitism for using the word “globalist.” Independent journalist Spencer Fernando weighs in. Plus, Andrew announces True North’s plans for covering the next WEF annual meeting in Davos. All that and more coming up on The Andrew Lawton Show. Support True North’s Davos coverage by going to donate.tnc.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it's government regulation, cancel culture, Big Tech crackdowns, or even self-censorship, there's no denying free speech is under attack. In "The End of Free Speech in Canada," independent filmmaker Aaron Gunn shines a light on the all-out assault underway on our most fundamental freedom. In this edition of The Andrew Lawton Show, Andrew talks about the legal, moral, and cultural state of play for free speech in Canada with Gunn and Canadian Constitution Foundation litigation director Christine Van Geyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Liberal government is planning on ramping up its target number of immigrants to Canada to 500,000 by 2025 (though the actual number will be higher when asylum seekers and other entry programs are taken into consideration.) New polling shows more than two-thirds of Canadians think this will negatively impact the cost of housing, though the federal government is refusing to budge. There are economic reasons Canadians are souring on Canada’s ambitious immigration targets, but anyone who raises challenges is accused of racism, True North’s Andrew Lawton says. True North’s Cosmin Dzsurdzsa joins to try to make sense of the government’s handling of the immigration file. Also, True North has been blocked on Facebook for Canadians as Meta, Facebook’s parent company, tries to comply with the Liberal government’s Bill C-18. Plus, Canada’s newest cinephile, Justin Trudeau, brings his daughter to see Oppenheimer days after seeing Barbie with his son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Days after asking for privacy for his family following his separation from Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Justin Trudeau posted a pink-clad photo of him and his son at a Barbie screening, with the captain that they are “Team Barbie.” Is this Trudeau letting his inner Barbie shine or an elaborate trolling to invite criticism from the right? True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in on this, as well as the Conservatives’ new ad promoting Pierre Poilievre as a family man. Also, the same news publishers who demanded compensation from Facebook for “stealing” their content have now filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau over Facebook’s decision to block news content. Plus, former finance minister Joe Oliver joins the show to discuss the “climate catastrophism” dominating the political and media discourse about the environment and energy sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most high-profile men felled during the #MeToo era was Kevin Spacey. After a slew of allegations of sexual misconduct, Spacey was fired from "House of Cards," replaced in "All the Money in the World," and has vanished from Hollywood. Six years later, Spacey has emerged victorious in every legal challenge he's faced over the allegations. Journalists Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney covered Spacey's most recent fight, a United Kingdom criminal trial, through the hit podcast series Kevin Spacey Trial: Unfiltered. Phelim McAleer joined True North's Andrew Lawton to talk about the Spacey trial, the #MeToo movement, and when justice isn't enough. Listen to Kevin Spacey Trial: Unfiltered here. [https://kevinspaceypodcast.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of speculation about their marital status, Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire today announced their separation after 18 years of marriage, asking for privacy to protect their children. Should Canadians care? True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Also, after years of campaigning on housing-related policies, Trudeau now says housing isn’t really a federal responsibility so, in other words, it’s not his problem. True North’s Andrew Lawton says this is a convenient way out of having to deal with one of Canada’s most pressing crises. Conservative MP and housing critic Scott Aitchison joins the show to weigh in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland touted her green bona fides by telling Canadians she doesn’t have a car because she bikes, walks or takes the subway everywhere. Except as a cabinet minister, Freeland has a chauffeured limo, and she regularly flies back and forth between Toronto and Ottawa – often multiple times per week. Even so, she’s accused those who point this out of “misinformation.” Also, is political polarization worse than ever? A new report from the Public Policy Forum, written by freelance journalist Justin Ling, says political polarization has been on the rise for years, but this has hastened since the onset of the pandemic. The report focuses considerably on discourse around vaccination in Canada and the Freedom Convoy, which the report finds made Canada an “exporter of anti-elite sentiment” around the world. Report author Justin Ling joins True North’s Andrew Lawton live to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the passage of bills C-18 and C-11, Justin Trudeau’s government has employed a massive takeover of the internet. While they claim they’re trying to protect Canadian content and save Canadian media, these bills are actually harmful to Canadian publishers and independent journalists – and by extension to the users seeking out their content. In this special edition of The Andrew Lawton Show, Andrew looks at critiques of C-18 from the right and the left with Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Matt Hatfield from OpenMedia. Then, he talks about how VPNs might help Canadians get around the regulations, but only to an extent, with Frontier Centre contributor Roland Renner. Lastly, Andrew is joined by True North chief operating officer William McBeath for a look at how True North is adapting to Trudeau’s internet regulations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Trudeau has made a change to almost every single position in his cabinet, while keeping Chrystia Freeland as finance minister and Steven Guilbeault as environment minister, among a few other people. Marco Mendicino and David Lametti are among those out of cabinet altogether, while Bill Blair has been promoted to defense minister. Most importantly, Trudeau himself remains in power, so will anything change? True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Aaron Wudrick. Also, CBC has run a hit piece on a group of Christians who’ve decided to get involved in politics, accusing them of advocating for a world that is “unsafe” for “marginalized groups.” 4 My Canada founder Faytene Grasseschi joins The Andrew Lawton Show to respond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several prominent cabinet ministers have announced they will not be seeking re-election ahead of a major cabinet shuffle by Justin Trudeau. Among those not running again are Omar Alghabra, Carolyn Bennett and Joyce Murray. David Lametti is also reported to be out of cabinet. Do you think this is a shake-up to get rid of underperformers, or a sign of a Liberal government in disarray? True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Plus, key economic indicators show Canada is lagging on standard of living, with with on-paper economic growth not translating to economic prosperity in the real world. Former Statistics Canada chief economic analyst Philip Cross joins the show to break down the numbers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The modern left leaves no room for debate or dissent – especially on gender issues. This is how Stuart Parker, a literal communist activist who’s been in the trenches on a variety of left-wing causes for decades, wound up getting denounced by his (former) friends. Parker, the president of the socialist Los Altos Institute in British Columbia, was cancelled for criticizing radical gender ideology. He’s still very much a leftist, but has written an essay for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Inside Policy decrying the “intolerant authoritarians of the new left.” He joined True North’s Andrew Lawton for an in-depth discussion about cancel culture and the left’s authoritarian inclinations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A wonky constitutional debate has emerged online over who should get first crack at governing in the scenario in which the Conservatives win a minority — Pierre Poilievre as the victorious challenger or Justin Trudeau as the incumbent. While the debate technically hinges on constitutional convention, True North’s Andrew Lawton says the Laurentian “experts” are missing the most important part of democracy, which is legitimacy in the eyes of the people supposedly being represented. Also, British Columbia is still clinging to its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers despite being in the receiving end of legal challenges. Lawyer Charlene Le Beau from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Trudeau has sided with gender ideology over Muslims in Canada’s latest cultural battle. While Muslim families across the country have expressed concern about what kids are being taught in schools, Trudeau says they’re actually being coopted by the “far right” and “American right wing.” True North’s Andrew Lawton talks about parental rights with RightNow co-founded Alissa Golob. Also, a new essay in C2C Journal by researcher Gleb Lisikh reveals the two critical tools the government used in bolstering pandemic fears – overreliance on PCR tests and overreporting Covid deaths. Lisikh joins The Andrew Lawton Show to discuss the piece, which you can read here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Aristotle Foundation’s new book, The 1867 Project, makes the case that Canada should be cherished, not cancelled. On the eve of Canada Day – or Dominion Day, rather – True North’s Andrew Lawton does a deep dive into just why the activists who malign and denigrate Canada are just plain wrong. In this edition of the show, Andrew talks to the editor of The 1867 Project, Dr. Mark Milke, and two of its contributors, Mount Allison University professor Dr. Rima Azar and professor emerita and former member of parliament Lynn McDonald about Canadian history, identity politics, and the mob. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has said that Justin Trudeau needs to “butt out” of New Brunswick politics, to the New Brunswick Conservatives’ policy requiring parental consent for a student under 16 to change their officially change their gender in school. Poilievre said provinces should decide educational policy and parents should decide how to raise children. True North’s Andrew Lawton says the Conservatives need to be more forceful in their support of parental rights, especially since it’s an issue that seems to extend beyond committed Conservative voters. Also, the Liberals might give even more money to bail out the media given Facebook’s protest of Bill C-18. Plus, writer and retired professor Janice Fiamengo of The Fiamengo File joins the show to point out the “false numbers and shameful misrepresentations” behind a YWCA campaign on domestic violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill C-18 – one of Justin Trudeau’s internet regulation bills – is now law, prompting Facebook to ban news so as to avoid having to pay out media outlets. While Facebook made the decision to block news links, True North’s Andrew Lawton points out that the whole thing is Trudeau’s fault, as he’s the one who thinks Big Tech needs to subsidize the legacy media. Plus, 330 active duty and former members of the Canadians Armed Forces have launched a lawsuit against the Canadian military over the vaccine mandate that either coerced vaccination or forced CAF members out of service. Valour Law lawyer Catherine Christensen, who’s representing the soldiers, joins The Andrew Lawton Show to discuss the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada, a nation once celebrated for its unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy, now finds itself besieged by a relentless series of attacks to its history and national identity. How did it get this way? 1867 Project editor Dr. Mark Milke joins True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss the profound issues plaguing Canada’s social fabric, and why Canada should be cherished—not cancelled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most of the last 16 months, Freedom Convoy fundraiser and spokesperson Tamara Lich has been silenced by bail conditions preventing her from speaking about the protest for which she faces criminal charges. Now, for the first time, she and True North's Andrew Lawton sit down on camera to talk about this pivotal moment in Canadian history and the fight against vaccine mandates. Lich tells all in a new book called Hold the Line: My Story from the Heart of the Freedom Convoy. In this lengthy interview, Lich and Lawton talk about the origins of the Freedom Convoy, the tensions between several of its key figures, Lich's incarceration and ongoing legal battle, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four ridings held by-elections yesterday, in which the Conservatives and Liberals each held onto their two seats. Even so, the Conservatives had a tougher fight than usual to win the southwestern Ontario riding of Oxford, while the People's Party of Canada and its leader Maxime Bernier failed to live up to their 2021 performance in Portage–Lisgar in rural Manitoba. True North's Andrew Lawton breaks down the results and what they mean for the Conservatives and the PPC moving forward. Also, Canada is reassessing its relationship with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank after a Canadian staffer from the bank resigned citing rampant Chinese Communist Party influence. Former finance minister Joe Oliver joins to discuss why Canada should have stayed out of the AIIB in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many legal challenges against Canadian Covid restrictions and mandates have fallen flat, with judges embracing deference to government focusing more on the “reasonable limits” to Charter freedoms rather than the freedoms themselves. Beyond this, professional misconduct processes are weaponized against dissident thinkers, longstanding legal norms have been upended, and public confidence in the law impugned. Law professor and C2C Journal contributor Bruce Pardy says there’s been a “descent of Canada’s legal system into Alice-in-Wonderland surrealism, a state that poses dangers to virtually every Canadian and to the future of the rule of law itself.” He joins True North’s Andrew Lawton to talk about his latest essay, Legal Canons and Social Fables: The Law in Canada Has Never Been Perfect but Now it is Losing its Way, and whether Canadian law can be saved. Read his essay here: https://c2cjournal.ca/2023/06/legal-canons-and-social-fables-the-law-in-canada-has-never-been-perfect-but-now-it-is-losing-its-way/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite previous claims that Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s office had no idea that convicted killer Paul Bernardo was getting transferred to medium security, in fact, Mendicino’s staff knew for three months that the transfer was going to happen. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Mendicino to resign, though all the public safety minister is committing to is a new “policy directive” allowing for more information to be shared. Also, True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in on the Bell Media layoffs. Plus, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, head of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence, joins the show to talk about the privacy dangers of digital ID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Trudeau blames “far-right political actors” over what he says is a rise in “hate” against trans kids, referring to a policy in New Brunswick that teachers must notify parents if they learn a child of theirs under 16 seeks to change their gender. New Brunswick premier Blaine Higgs has pushed back, saying Trudeau doesn’t support parents. News Forum host and parental rights advocate Tanya Granic Allen joins True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss. Also, Justice Russell Brown has resigned from the Supreme Court of Canada, meaning Trudeau will soon be able to appoint his sixth judge to the bench. Plus, Maxime Bernier says True North is “like CBC” for asking him about his past attendance at Davos. Andrew weighs in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As religious liberties face unprecedented challenges in Canada, many Christians are starting to collectivize and take political action to protect their rights and freedoms. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses the concerning state of religious liberty, and how some groups are pushing back, with Pastor Jacob Reaume of the Trinity Bible Chapel. Plus, a free speech event was cancelled last month by the London Public Library, despite its stated commitment to “intellectual freedom.” Chiang Mai University visiting professor and C2C Journal contributor Patrick Keeney joins to discuss the erosion of academic freedom in Canada, and the potential long-term consequences for academia and society as a whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier and his Conservative opponent in Portage–Lisgar, Branden Leslie, sparred on Twitter yesterday as to where they stand on the World Economic Forum – and specifically whether Bernier has ever been to the WEF’s annual meeting. True North’s Andrew Lawton chimed into say that despite Bernier’s claim of never having attended the WEF, the record shows he did. Bernier disputes this, so in this bonus edition of The Andrew Lawton Show, Lawton and Bernier have it out on air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A group of Canadian corporations – including Desjardins and Telus – have co-authored a white paper not only endorsing digital ID, but calling it a “necessary evolution for society.” True North’s Andrew Lawton says there’s no denying it’s coming, so people have to start desisting the digitization of identity now. He talks about it further with Luke Neilson of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. Then, Canadian Taxpayers Federation federal director Franco Terrazzano joins to discuss today’s Bank of Canada interest rate hike and what it means for Canadians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the World Health Organization’s plans to “better protect citizens” is to globalize the European Union’s vaccine passport, making an international standard for proving vaccination status as a ticket to board plans and visit other countries. This comes as the World Health Assembly continues to move towards a global pandemic treaty, which it hopes to finalize next year. True North’s Andrew Lawton talks about what’s at stake with former congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. Also, the federal government is leaning into carbon capture to meet its lofty “net zero” ambitions. Will it work? Fraser Institute senior fellow Dr. Kenneth Green joins the show to weigh in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pride Month – or Pride Season, as the government of Canada now calls it – has begun, meaning corporate logos have been cloaked in rainbows and the the Toronto Transit Commission has even replaced its subway chime with a “2SLGBTQQIA choir.” True North’s Andrew Lawton says much of these proclamations amount to little more than virtue signalling. Also, what does Danielle Smith’s win mean for Albertans and Canadians? Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says he’s not going to pull his support for the Trudeau Liberals over their bungling of China’s election interference, at least not until his confidence in the electoral system is restored. In other words, Singh is rewarding the Liberals for the very reason he’s been criticizing them. This is a level of incoherence only Singh can achieve, True North’s Andrew Lawton says. Also, Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party continue to govern Alberta after winning a majority Monday night. Andrew is joined by Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz for a breakdown of what happened and what lies ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Global News director Anita Krishna appeared before the National Citizens’ Inquiry last week, sharing how she believed the legacy media, including her old employer, fostered paranoia and fear through Covid coverage. She joins The Andrew Lawton Show for an extensive conversation about media bias and challenging the narrative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Johnston has recommended against a public inquiry, which is really convenient for Justin Trudeau, who has spent months coming up with excuses as to why extent of China’s interference in Canadians should not get a public hearing. The Conservatives and NDP are united in seeking a public inquiry, though NDP leader Jagmeet Singh doesn’t believe strongly enough about it to use his trump card – pulling support of the Liberals. True North’s Andrew Lawton gets reaction to Johnston’s report from Mehmet Tohti of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project. Plus, the Portage–Lisgar byelection is heating up. Last week, PPC leader and candidate Maxime Bernier joined the show. Today, Conservative candidate Branden Leslie swings by to talk about his campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Eminent Canadian” and Trudeau family friend David Johnston has published his first report into foreign interference in Canada’s elections, and – shocker – Trudeau comes out clean, but the media and public service are the problem. Johnston says there shouldn’t be a public inquiry, but he should keep on going with his investigation so that Canadians don’t see the classified documents he says exonerate the government. True North’s Andrew Lawton breaks down the report. Also, members of parliament are trying to force banks and pension funds to only invest in “climate-aligned” businesses. Gina Pappano from InvestNow joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices