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Today in Right News -- March 5th *****************
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Mar 6, 2020, 10:22:45 AM3/6/20
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Today March 5th in history
==========================
Clearview AI Lured Rich Investors by Letting Them Rummage Around in Its
Creepy Face Recognition App
March 5, 2020, Tom McKay, Gizmodo
https://gizmodo.com/clearview-ai-lured-rich-investors-by-letting-them-rumma-1842128226
Creepy facial recognition firm Clearview AI-which claims to have built
an extensive database from billions of photos scraped from the public
web-allowed the rich and powerful to use its app as a personal
plaything and spy tool, according to reporting from the New York Times
on Thursday.
Clearview and its founder, Hoan Ton-That, claim that the database is
only supposed to be used by law enforcement and "select security
professionals" in the course of investigations. Prior reports from the
Times revealed that hundreds of law enforcement agencies, including the
Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had used
Clearview's biometric tools, which is alarming enough, given the total
lack of any U.S. laws regulating how face recognition can be used and
its proven potential in mass surveillance of anyone from minorities to
political targets. Clearview also pitched itself and its tools to white
supremacist Paul Nehlen, then a candidate for Congress, saying it could
provide "unconventional databases" for "extreme opposition research."
But the Times has now found that Clearview's app was "freely used in
the wild by the company's investors, clients and friends" in situations
ranging from showing off at parties to, in the case of billionaire
Gristedes founder John Catsimatidis, correctly identifyin g a man his
daughter was on a date with. More alarmingly, Catsimatidis launched a
trial run of Clearview's potential as a surveillance tool at his chain
of grocery stores.
Tags: 2019, Apple, Ashton Kutcher, BuzzFeed, Canada, Clear, Clearview AI,
Congress, Dark Right, Facebook, First Amendment, Google, Hal Lambert, Hoan
Ton-That, Illinois, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Manhattan, New
Jersey, New York Times, Paul Nehlen, PBS, Texas, Twitter, US Department of
Justice, Virginia, White supremacist, YouTube
==========================
Hawkish Group Targets Medicine Sales to Iran Amid Coronavirus Crisis
March 5, 2020, Eli Clifton, The Intercept
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/05/iran-coronavirus-medicine-sanctions/
UANI's efforts are particularly notable in light of the group's close
ties to the Trump administration; Iran's regional adversaries Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel; and the Republican
Party's biggest donors, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson.
Senior UANI adviser John Bolton worked for UANI both before and after
his stint in the Trump administration as national security adviser.
UANI's umbrella group, Counter Extremism Project United Inc, paid
Bolton $240,000 between 2016 and 2017. Bolton's appointment as national
security adviser was quickly followed by Trump's withdrawal from the
nuclear deal with Iran.
Besides Bolton, the Trump administration twice sent Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo to UANI's annual conference, held during the United Nations
General Assembly. Pompeo used the occasions to promote outlandish
claims about Europe purportedly financing Iranian terrorism and to
present the administration's "maximum pressure" strategy to UANI's
audience, which included senior diplomats and intelligence officials
from the Persian Gulf and Israel.
Tags: 2016, 2017, Company, Coronavirus, Counter Extremism Project United,
Dark Right, Eli Lilly, Humanitarian, Iran, Israel, John Bolton, Joshua
Silberberg, Mike Pompeo, Miriam Adelson, Republican, Richard Grenell, Saudi
Arabia, Sheldon Adelson, Thomas Kaplan, United Against Nuclear Iran, United
Arab Emirates
==========================
Jason Kenney endorses Erin O'Toole for Conservative leadership
March 5, 2020, Catherine Cullen, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kenney-otoole-conservative-leader-1.5487456
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney - one of the most prominent voices in
Canada's Conservative movement - has thrown his support behind Erin
O'Toole's bid to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of
Canada.
The endorsement comes on the very day that O'Toole's chief rival for
the leadership, Peter MacKay, was delivering remarks to supporters in
Edmonton.
In an email to party members provided to journalists by O'Toole's team,
Kenney says he thought long and hard about his decision to endorse a
candidate.
Tags: Alberta, Andrew Scheer, Canada, Canadian Alliance, CBC, Conservative
Party of Canada, DougWiki, Edmonton, Erin O'Toole, Jason Kenney, LGBTQ, Nova
Scotia, Peter MacKay, Preston Manning, Progressive Conservative, Reform
Party, Stockwell Day, Tim Houston
==========================
Premier Doug Ford urges teachers to accept Tories' latest offer as thousands
rally at Queen's Park
March 5, 2020, Robert Benzie, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/03/05/ontario-teachers-unions-to-move-ahead-with-provincewide-strikes-thursday.html
"The message to the unions is, the party's over with the taxpayers'
money," said Premier Doug Ford as thousands of striking teachers
protested outside Queen's Park on Thursday.
"Pack your bags and get back into the classroom," said Ford, noting the
Progressive Conservatives have caved to the unions' demands on some key
sticking points.
"This comes down to compensation and benefits," he said, adding the
Tories agreed to make e-learning optional and backed off on increasing
average high school class sizes to 25 students.
Tags: Anthony Reid, Brampton Centre, Catholic, Doug Ford, DougWiki,
eLearning, John Fraser, Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association,
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, Politics, Progressive
Conservative, Queen's Park, Sara Singh, Stephen Lecce, Toronto, Toronto
District School Board
==========================
Province to spend $100M on operating rooms to shorten wait times
March 5, 2020, Janet French, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/surgery-kenney-shandro-hospitals-health-care-1.5485367
The Alberta government will spend $100 million constructing and
renovating operating rooms in Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie and
elsewhere, Premier Jason Kenney says.
The investment is part of a re-organization of Alberta operating rooms
to equip more urban hospitals to handle complex surgeries, Health
Minister Tyler Shandro told reporters at Edmonton's Mazankowski Alberta
Heart Institute on Wednesday.
"Albertans are going to get quicker access to surgeries they need
closer to home," Shandro said.
Tags: 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, Alberta, Alberta Health Services,
Calgary, Critic, DougWiki, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Friends of Medicare,
Hospital, Jason Kenney, Medical, New Democratic Party, Saskatchewan, Tyler
Shandro, United Conservative Party, University of Alberta
==========================
Trump attempts to blame Obama for coronavirus test kit shortage
March 5, 2020, The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/04/donald-trump-obama-administration-coronavirus
Donald Trump sought to shift blame on to the Obama administration for a
nationwide coronavirus test kit shortage.
The president on Wednesday blamed a federal agency decision during
Barack Obama's presidency, which Trump said made it harder to quickly
roll out testing for the virus.
"The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to
be very detrimental to what we're doing, and we undid that decision a
few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate
and rapid fashion," he told reporters during a White House meeting with
airline executives, whom he had called to discuss the economic effects
of the outbreak.
Tags: Barack Obama, California, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
China, CNBC, Coronavirus, Dark Right, DC, Department of Homeland Security,
Donald Trump, FDA, John Bolton, Larry Kudlow, National Security Council,
ProPublica, Robert Redfield, White House, World Health Organization
==========================
Two MPs are challenging party messaging on abortion, drug use - and putting
their leaders on the spot
March 5, 2020, Catherine Cullen, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/abortion-drugs-private-members-bill-1.5486892
In their political beliefs, Toronto Liberal Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and
rural Saskatchewan Conservative Cathay Wagantall appear to be worlds
apart.
They've got this much in common, though: they're using private members
bills to challenge where their parties stand on some very awkward
policy topics - and pushing their respective leaders into some public
discussions they'd probably rather avoid.
Private members bills - legislation proposed by individual MPs - have
long been used by backbenchers to push personal causes or make policy
arguments without official seals of approval from party leaders or
cabinet.
Tags: Abortion, Andrew Scheer, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Mental
Health Association, Cathay Wagantall, CBC, Clear, Conservative Party of
Canada, DougWiki, Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party of Canada, M?lanie Joly,
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Saskatchewan, Simon Jefferies, Toronto
==========================
Fired deputy OPP boss calls his dismissal a 'reprisal'
March 5, 2019, Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/03/05/fired-deputy-opp-boss-calls-his-dismissal-a-reprisal.html
A former deputy OPP commissioner is pushing back after his high-profile
firing, calling it revenge for his court bid to block the appointment
of Premier Doug Ford's friend Ron Taverner as head of the police force.
"It is patently clear to me that this is reprisal and an attempt to
muzzle me," Brad Blair, who was passed over for the top job, said in a
new court documents filed following his termination on Monday by deputy
community safety minister Mario Di Tommaso, whom he accused of a
conflict of interest.
The details emerged Tuesday as the New Democrats renewed calls for a
public inquiry into the controversial hiring of Taverner, 72, and
Blair's dismissal. It was Blair who raised concerns about the
independence of the OPP under Taverner, launching a court case to force
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube to investigate the appointment, and blew
the whistle on Ford's demands for a customized travel van with
reclining leather sofa, minifridge and 32-inch TV. "This mess continues
to get worse and worse and the only way to clear the air is for?a
complete public inquiry," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
"We need to have this thing blown wide open." Taverner's appointment is
on hold at his own request pending Wake's probe.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, Camper van, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Julian
Falconer, Mario Di Tommaso, New Democratic Party, Ontario, Ontario New
Democratic Party, Ontario Ombudsman, Ontario Provincial Police, Robert
Benzie, Ron Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Taras Natyshak, Toronto, Twitter
==========================
Fired OPP deputy alleges reprisal for speaking against Doug Ford friend's
appointment to force
March 5, 2019, Allison Jones, Canadian Press, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fired-opp-deputy-alleges-reprisal-for-speaking-against-doug-ford-friend-s-appointment-to-force-1.5043434
A former high-ranking provincial police officer alleges his firing this
week was in reprisal for waging a legal battle over the controversial
hiring of a long-time friend of Premier Doug Ford as commissioner of
the force.
Brad Blair has asked the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to
investigate the appointment of Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner to the
Ontario Provincial Police top job.
The government has denied any political interference in Blair's firing
as deputy commissioner, and said the decision to fire him Monday came
from the public service because Blair released confidential OPP
information through his court filings.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, CBC, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Ford government,
Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario Provincial
Police, Police Services Act, Ron Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Toronto
==========================
Ford government, in a hole on OPP, just keeps digging
March 5, 2019, Editorial, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2019/03/05/ford-government-in-a-hole-on-opp-just-keeps-digging.html
The Ford government has dug itself into a hole in the matter of
appointing a new leader for the Ontario Provincial Police. And true to
form, it just keeps on digging. It was glaringly obvious all along that
Ron Taverner, Premier Doug Ford's old chum from Etobicoke, must never
be appointed commissioner of the OPP.
Installing a close crony of the premier at the top of the province's
most important police force, the very force that's expected to
investigate political wrong-doing at Queen's Park, is a complete
non-starter.
Regardless of Taverner's qualifications or the purity of his
intentions, making him boss of the OPP would politicize the force in
the worst way. Just the suspicion that he could be acting as a
political tool of the premier should be enough to bury his chances.
Tags: 2015, Brad Blair, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Etobicoke, Ford government,
Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police, Queen's Park, Ron
Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Toronto
==========================
I Got Fired Because I Challenged Ford Friend's Hiring: Former OPP Deputy
March 5, 2019, Allison Jones, Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/03/05/i-got-fired-because-i-challenged-ford-friends-hiring-brad-blair_a_23685099/
TORONTO - A former high-ranking provincial police officer alleges his
firing this week was in reprisal for waging a legal battle over the
controversial hiring of a long-time friend of Premier Doug Ford as
commissioner of the force.
Brad Blair has asked the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to
investigate the appointment of Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner to the
Ontario Provincial Police top job.
The government has denied any political interference in Blair's firing
as deputy commissioner, and said the decision to fire him Monday came
from the public service because Blair released confidential OPP
information through his court filings.
Tags: 2013, 2018, Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Ford
government, Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario
Provincial Police, Police Services Act, Ron Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Toronto,
Toronto Star, Vic Fedeli
==========================
Ontario Police Commander Fired After Criticizing Doug Ford Appointment
March 5, 2019, Tamara Khandaker, Vice News
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/nexkbg/the-ontario-police-commander-who-was-fired-after-criticizing-doug-ford-appointment
An Ontario Provincial Police commander who was in the running for the
top job says his firing on Monday was "reprisal" for going public with
allegations of political interference in the hiring of Premier Doug
Ford's friend Ron Taverner as the next police commissioner.
Brad Blair, who has asked the Ontario courts to force the provincial
ombudsman to investigate the hiring of Toronto Police Superintendent
Ron Taverner as the next commissioner, was fired on Monday after over
three decades on the job.
On Tuesday, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called for a public inquiry into
Blair's firing, as well as Taverner's appointment, but the motion was
defeated by the Progressive Conservatives.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, Canada, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Ford
government, J. David Wake, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario
Provincial Police, Police, Progressive Conservative, Ron Taverner, Toronto
Police, Twitter
==========================
The real reason Trump is pushing a free speech order on college campuses
March 5, 2019, Teri Kanefield, Opinion, CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/opinions/trump-cpac-attack-free-speech-college-campus-kanefield/index.html
(CNN) During his rambling, two hour talk on Saturday at the
Conservative Political Action Conference, President Donald Trump said
he soon will sign a free speech order for college campuses. What he
left out was that the justification for the order is based on a false
interpretation of what is actually happening at America's colleges.
Trump claims he plans to cut off federal funding, at least in part, to
colleges that do not protect views across the political spectrum. To
make his point, he called Hayden Williams, a conservative activist,
onto the stage. Williams alleges that he was punched at the University
of California Berkeley when he tried to express a conservative viewpoint.
In fact, what appears to have happened is that Williams -- who was not
a member of the university community -- wandered onto the campus and
got into a political quarrel with another person, who was also not a
member of the university community. The man who allegedly assaulted
Williams was promptly arrested . Berkeley released a statement
explaining that the incident was being "willfully distorted and
inaccurately reported " and that the campus remained committed to
freedom of expression.
Tags: 2015, 2017, Climate change, Conservative Political Action Conference,
Donald Trump, Facebook, First Amendment, Hayden Williams, Milo Yiannopoulos,
Neo-Nazi, Nobel, Richard Spencer, Russia, Trojan speakers, Twitter,
University of California, Vladimir Putin, White supremacist
==========================
U.S. colleges spend millions on security to host controversial speakers
March 5, 2019, Jillian Berman, Wall Street Journal
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-colleges-pay-for-free-speech-2018-10-08
As the political climate in America has become more heated in recent
years, so has the debate over what constitutes free speech. Look no
further for evidence of this controversy than President Donald Trump's
recent vow to issue an executive order that would require colleges to
"support free speech" if they want access to federal research funding.
The debate has already proved costly for colleges. Speaking engagements
with high-profile figures who make headlines from inflammatory comments
- and the violent protests that can sometimes come with them - have
been expensive, as campuses shell out to create a safe environment for
free speech. "There is a cost, it's unavoidable," said Jeff Allison,
the director of government and external relations at the International
Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
The University of California-Berkeley, spent roughly $4.8 million on
security in 2017 surrounding appearances from controversial speakers,
like Milo Yiannopoulos and Ben Shapiro, who were invited by student
groups, according to the university. The University of Florida spent
$500,000 to keep its campus safe when white nationalist Richard Spencer
appeared there in 2017, a university spokesman said in an email.
Tags: 2000, 2016, 2017, 2018, African-American, Alt-Right, Ann Coulter, Ben
Shapiro, Betsy DeVos, Brown University, Candace Owens, Charles Murray, David
Duke, Donald Trump, First Amendment, Florida, Georgia, Ku Klux Klan, Legal,
Michigan, Milo Yiannopoulos, New Orleans, New York Times, North Carolina,
Police, Quicky, Republican, Richard Spencer, The Bell Curve, Turning Point
USA, University of California, Walter Kimbrough, Washington, Washington
University in St. Louis, White supremacist
==========================
Battle breaks out ahead of white nationalist Richard Spencer's speech in
Michigan
March 5, 2018, Steve Friess, Reuters, Global News
https://globalnews.ca/news/4064129/fight-breaks-out-white-nationalist-richard-spencers-speech-michigan/
At least a dozen people were arrested on Monday after supporters of
Richard Spencer clashed with protesters outside a Michigan college
campus where the white nationalist was scheduled to speak.
Among those arrested were Gregory Conte, director of operations for
Spencer's organization, the National Policy Institute, according to
Evan McLaren, the group's executive director.
Fistfights broke out on a road leading to Michigan State University in
East Lansing as about 40 backers of Spencer walked up a road leading to
the campus, where roughly 500 demonstrators had gathered, surrounding
an armored police vehicle.
Tags: 2016, Alt-Right, Antifa, Charlottesville, David Sherman, Evan McLaren,
Greg Conte, Indianapolis, Lansing, Michigan, Michigan State Police, Michigan
State University, National Policy Institute, Police, Quicky, Republican,
Richard Spencer, Southern Poverty Law Center, Twitter, University of Florida,
Virginia, Washington, White House, White supremacist
==========================
PC leadership candidate Doug Ford opens controversial abortion debate
March 5, 2018, Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/03/05/pc-leadership-candidate-doug-ford-opens-controversial-abortion-debate.html
Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful Doug Ford waded into the
abortion debate Monday, questioning why teens need notes from their
parents to go on school trips but not to terminate a pregnancy. The
comments follow Ford's interview with a pro-life publication in which
he said it's time to reconsider whether girls under 16 should require
parental permission for abortions, a stance that quickly drew fire from
both inside and outside the party.
"I can't think of a more life-changing procedure for a young woman than
an abortion," Ford told Right Now in an online question-and-answer
session as party members have until Friday noon to vote for a
replacement for ousted former leader Patrick Brown. "I think that this
is an important discussion to have and I would welcome any member who
wanted to bring it forward in the Legislature to do so," added Ford,
who has four daughters. He elaborated Monday during a campaign stop in
London.
"My friends, you have to give a note to your kids when they're 12 and
13 years old to go on a field trip. You have to approve even getting
their tonsils out, but you don't have to approve and keep secret with a
12- and 13-year-old?" Ford said in a reference to abortion. "I don't
know too many parents that would approve any of their kids going on a
field trip without their knowledge. I don't see anyone ever approving
an operation on their children when they're 12- and 13-years-old
without approval," he continued.
Tags: 2009, 2015, Abortion, Brian Mulroney, Caroline Mulroney, Christine
Elliott, Conservative Party of Canada, Deb Matthews, Doug Ford, DougWiki,
London, London North Centre, Markham, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party,
Patrick Brown, Progressive Conservative, Queen's Park, Rob Ford, Tanya Granic
Allen, Todd Smith, Toronto
==========================
Pastor preaches virtue of wealth, property
March 5, 2007, David Bruser, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/03/05/pastor_preaches_virtue_of_wealth_property.html
The junior pastor at one of the country's largest evangelical churches
preached the virtues of wealth and smart investment to his
working-class congregation yesterday.
It was the same morning the Toronto Star published an investigation
into how Paul Melnichuk, patriarch of the Prayer Palace, and his twin
sons, Tim and Tom, have amassed a fleet of fine cars and a pricey
portfolio of fancy homes while doing little of the charity work their
church claims to do.
The Star expos?, part of an ongoing series on Canadian charities,
documented the Melnichuk family's lavish lifestyle, including about $12
million in personal real estate north of Toronto and in Florida, in
contrast to the bulk of their congregation. Most church members
faithfully give 10 per cent of their income.
"You see, you weren't designed to live in a apartment building. You
were designed to own the apartment building you're living in," Tom
Melnichuk said, calling for his followers to think positive. "If you
don't watch it, you'll be eating at Denny's for the rest of your entire
life."
Tags: Bradenton, Donald Trump, DougWiki, Florida, King City, Paul Melnichuk,
Prayer Palace, Tom Melnichuk, Toronto, UFO
==========================
DougWiki: https://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/mediawiki/index.php/DougWiki_Page
RightCite archive: https://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/rightcite.html
Portable DougWiki download: http://tiny.cc/xdb37y
==========================
Clearview AI Lured Rich Investors by Letting Them Rummage Around in Its
Creepy Face Recognition App
March 5, 2020, Tom McKay, Gizmodo
https://gizmodo.com/clearview-ai-lured-rich-investors-by-letting-them-rumma-1842128226
Creepy facial recognition firm Clearview AI-which claims to have built
an extensive database from billions of photos scraped from the public
web-allowed the rich and powerful to use its app as a personal
plaything and spy tool, according to reporting from the New York Times
on Thursday.
Clearview and its founder, Hoan Ton-That, claim that the database is
only supposed to be used by law enforcement and "select security
professionals" in the course of investigations. Prior reports from the
Times revealed that hundreds of law enforcement agencies, including the
Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had used
Clearview's biometric tools, which is alarming enough, given the total
lack of any U.S. laws regulating how face recognition can be used and
its proven potential in mass surveillance of anyone from minorities to
political targets. Clearview also pitched itself and its tools to white
supremacist Paul Nehlen, then a candidate for Congress, saying it could
provide "unconventional databases" for "extreme opposition research."
But the Times has now found that Clearview's app was "freely used in
the wild by the company's investors, clients and friends" in situations
ranging from showing off at parties to, in the case of billionaire
Gristedes founder John Catsimatidis, correctly identifyin g a man his
daughter was on a date with. More alarmingly, Catsimatidis launched a
trial run of Clearview's potential as a surveillance tool at his chain
of grocery stores.
Tags: 2019, Apple, Ashton Kutcher, BuzzFeed, Canada, Clear, Clearview AI,
Congress, Dark Right, Facebook, First Amendment, Google, Hal Lambert, Hoan
Ton-That, Illinois, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Manhattan, New
Jersey, New York Times, Paul Nehlen, PBS, Texas, Twitter, US Department of
Justice, Virginia, White supremacist, YouTube
==========================
Hawkish Group Targets Medicine Sales to Iran Amid Coronavirus Crisis
March 5, 2020, Eli Clifton, The Intercept
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/05/iran-coronavirus-medicine-sanctions/
UANI's efforts are particularly notable in light of the group's close
ties to the Trump administration; Iran's regional adversaries Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel; and the Republican
Party's biggest donors, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson.
Senior UANI adviser John Bolton worked for UANI both before and after
his stint in the Trump administration as national security adviser.
UANI's umbrella group, Counter Extremism Project United Inc, paid
Bolton $240,000 between 2016 and 2017. Bolton's appointment as national
security adviser was quickly followed by Trump's withdrawal from the
nuclear deal with Iran.
Besides Bolton, the Trump administration twice sent Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo to UANI's annual conference, held during the United Nations
General Assembly. Pompeo used the occasions to promote outlandish
claims about Europe purportedly financing Iranian terrorism and to
present the administration's "maximum pressure" strategy to UANI's
audience, which included senior diplomats and intelligence officials
from the Persian Gulf and Israel.
Tags: 2016, 2017, Company, Coronavirus, Counter Extremism Project United,
Dark Right, Eli Lilly, Humanitarian, Iran, Israel, John Bolton, Joshua
Silberberg, Mike Pompeo, Miriam Adelson, Republican, Richard Grenell, Saudi
Arabia, Sheldon Adelson, Thomas Kaplan, United Against Nuclear Iran, United
Arab Emirates
==========================
Jason Kenney endorses Erin O'Toole for Conservative leadership
March 5, 2020, Catherine Cullen, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kenney-otoole-conservative-leader-1.5487456
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney - one of the most prominent voices in
Canada's Conservative movement - has thrown his support behind Erin
O'Toole's bid to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of
Canada.
The endorsement comes on the very day that O'Toole's chief rival for
the leadership, Peter MacKay, was delivering remarks to supporters in
Edmonton.
In an email to party members provided to journalists by O'Toole's team,
Kenney says he thought long and hard about his decision to endorse a
candidate.
Tags: Alberta, Andrew Scheer, Canada, Canadian Alliance, CBC, Conservative
Party of Canada, DougWiki, Edmonton, Erin O'Toole, Jason Kenney, LGBTQ, Nova
Scotia, Peter MacKay, Preston Manning, Progressive Conservative, Reform
Party, Stockwell Day, Tim Houston
==========================
Premier Doug Ford urges teachers to accept Tories' latest offer as thousands
rally at Queen's Park
March 5, 2020, Robert Benzie, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/03/05/ontario-teachers-unions-to-move-ahead-with-provincewide-strikes-thursday.html
"The message to the unions is, the party's over with the taxpayers'
money," said Premier Doug Ford as thousands of striking teachers
protested outside Queen's Park on Thursday.
"Pack your bags and get back into the classroom," said Ford, noting the
Progressive Conservatives have caved to the unions' demands on some key
sticking points.
"This comes down to compensation and benefits," he said, adding the
Tories agreed to make e-learning optional and backed off on increasing
average high school class sizes to 25 students.
Tags: Anthony Reid, Brampton Centre, Catholic, Doug Ford, DougWiki,
eLearning, John Fraser, Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association,
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, Politics, Progressive
Conservative, Queen's Park, Sara Singh, Stephen Lecce, Toronto, Toronto
District School Board
==========================
Province to spend $100M on operating rooms to shorten wait times
March 5, 2020, Janet French, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/surgery-kenney-shandro-hospitals-health-care-1.5485367
The Alberta government will spend $100 million constructing and
renovating operating rooms in Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie and
elsewhere, Premier Jason Kenney says.
The investment is part of a re-organization of Alberta operating rooms
to equip more urban hospitals to handle complex surgeries, Health
Minister Tyler Shandro told reporters at Edmonton's Mazankowski Alberta
Heart Institute on Wednesday.
"Albertans are going to get quicker access to surgeries they need
closer to home," Shandro said.
Tags: 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, Alberta, Alberta Health Services,
Calgary, Critic, DougWiki, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Friends of Medicare,
Hospital, Jason Kenney, Medical, New Democratic Party, Saskatchewan, Tyler
Shandro, United Conservative Party, University of Alberta
==========================
Trump attempts to blame Obama for coronavirus test kit shortage
March 5, 2020, The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/04/donald-trump-obama-administration-coronavirus
Donald Trump sought to shift blame on to the Obama administration for a
nationwide coronavirus test kit shortage.
The president on Wednesday blamed a federal agency decision during
Barack Obama's presidency, which Trump said made it harder to quickly
roll out testing for the virus.
"The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to
be very detrimental to what we're doing, and we undid that decision a
few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate
and rapid fashion," he told reporters during a White House meeting with
airline executives, whom he had called to discuss the economic effects
of the outbreak.
Tags: Barack Obama, California, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
China, CNBC, Coronavirus, Dark Right, DC, Department of Homeland Security,
Donald Trump, FDA, John Bolton, Larry Kudlow, National Security Council,
ProPublica, Robert Redfield, White House, World Health Organization
==========================
Two MPs are challenging party messaging on abortion, drug use - and putting
their leaders on the spot
March 5, 2020, Catherine Cullen, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/abortion-drugs-private-members-bill-1.5486892
In their political beliefs, Toronto Liberal Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and
rural Saskatchewan Conservative Cathay Wagantall appear to be worlds
apart.
They've got this much in common, though: they're using private members
bills to challenge where their parties stand on some very awkward
policy topics - and pushing their respective leaders into some public
discussions they'd probably rather avoid.
Private members bills - legislation proposed by individual MPs - have
long been used by backbenchers to push personal causes or make policy
arguments without official seals of approval from party leaders or
cabinet.
Tags: Abortion, Andrew Scheer, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Mental
Health Association, Cathay Wagantall, CBC, Clear, Conservative Party of
Canada, DougWiki, Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party of Canada, M?lanie Joly,
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Saskatchewan, Simon Jefferies, Toronto
==========================
Fired deputy OPP boss calls his dismissal a 'reprisal'
March 5, 2019, Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/03/05/fired-deputy-opp-boss-calls-his-dismissal-a-reprisal.html
A former deputy OPP commissioner is pushing back after his high-profile
firing, calling it revenge for his court bid to block the appointment
of Premier Doug Ford's friend Ron Taverner as head of the police force.
"It is patently clear to me that this is reprisal and an attempt to
muzzle me," Brad Blair, who was passed over for the top job, said in a
new court documents filed following his termination on Monday by deputy
community safety minister Mario Di Tommaso, whom he accused of a
conflict of interest.
The details emerged Tuesday as the New Democrats renewed calls for a
public inquiry into the controversial hiring of Taverner, 72, and
Blair's dismissal. It was Blair who raised concerns about the
independence of the OPP under Taverner, launching a court case to force
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube to investigate the appointment, and blew
the whistle on Ford's demands for a customized travel van with
reclining leather sofa, minifridge and 32-inch TV. "This mess continues
to get worse and worse and the only way to clear the air is for?a
complete public inquiry," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
"We need to have this thing blown wide open." Taverner's appointment is
on hold at his own request pending Wake's probe.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, Camper van, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Julian
Falconer, Mario Di Tommaso, New Democratic Party, Ontario, Ontario New
Democratic Party, Ontario Ombudsman, Ontario Provincial Police, Robert
Benzie, Ron Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Taras Natyshak, Toronto, Twitter
==========================
Fired OPP deputy alleges reprisal for speaking against Doug Ford friend's
appointment to force
March 5, 2019, Allison Jones, Canadian Press, CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fired-opp-deputy-alleges-reprisal-for-speaking-against-doug-ford-friend-s-appointment-to-force-1.5043434
A former high-ranking provincial police officer alleges his firing this
week was in reprisal for waging a legal battle over the controversial
hiring of a long-time friend of Premier Doug Ford as commissioner of
the force.
Brad Blair has asked the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to
investigate the appointment of Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner to the
Ontario Provincial Police top job.
The government has denied any political interference in Blair's firing
as deputy commissioner, and said the decision to fire him Monday came
from the public service because Blair released confidential OPP
information through his court filings.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, CBC, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Ford government,
Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario Provincial
Police, Police Services Act, Ron Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Toronto
==========================
Ford government, in a hole on OPP, just keeps digging
March 5, 2019, Editorial, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2019/03/05/ford-government-in-a-hole-on-opp-just-keeps-digging.html
The Ford government has dug itself into a hole in the matter of
appointing a new leader for the Ontario Provincial Police. And true to
form, it just keeps on digging. It was glaringly obvious all along that
Ron Taverner, Premier Doug Ford's old chum from Etobicoke, must never
be appointed commissioner of the OPP.
Installing a close crony of the premier at the top of the province's
most important police force, the very force that's expected to
investigate political wrong-doing at Queen's Park, is a complete
non-starter.
Regardless of Taverner's qualifications or the purity of his
intentions, making him boss of the OPP would politicize the force in
the worst way. Just the suspicion that he could be acting as a
political tool of the premier should be enough to bury his chances.
Tags: 2015, Brad Blair, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Etobicoke, Ford government,
Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police, Queen's Park, Ron
Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Toronto
==========================
I Got Fired Because I Challenged Ford Friend's Hiring: Former OPP Deputy
March 5, 2019, Allison Jones, Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/03/05/i-got-fired-because-i-challenged-ford-friends-hiring-brad-blair_a_23685099/
TORONTO - A former high-ranking provincial police officer alleges his
firing this week was in reprisal for waging a legal battle over the
controversial hiring of a long-time friend of Premier Doug Ford as
commissioner of the force.
Brad Blair has asked the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to
investigate the appointment of Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner to the
Ontario Provincial Police top job.
The government has denied any political interference in Blair's firing
as deputy commissioner, and said the decision to fire him Monday came
from the public service because Blair released confidential OPP
information through his court filings.
Tags: 2013, 2018, Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Ford
government, Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario
Provincial Police, Police Services Act, Ron Taverner, Sylvia Jones, Toronto,
Toronto Star, Vic Fedeli
==========================
Ontario Police Commander Fired After Criticizing Doug Ford Appointment
March 5, 2019, Tamara Khandaker, Vice News
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/nexkbg/the-ontario-police-commander-who-was-fired-after-criticizing-doug-ford-appointment
An Ontario Provincial Police commander who was in the running for the
top job says his firing on Monday was "reprisal" for going public with
allegations of political interference in the hiring of Premier Doug
Ford's friend Ron Taverner as the next police commissioner.
Brad Blair, who has asked the Ontario courts to force the provincial
ombudsman to investigate the hiring of Toronto Police Superintendent
Ron Taverner as the next commissioner, was fired on Monday after over
three decades on the job.
On Tuesday, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called for a public inquiry into
Blair's firing, as well as Taverner's appointment, but the motion was
defeated by the Progressive Conservatives.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Brad Blair, Canada, Doug Ford, DougWiki, Ford
government, J. David Wake, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario
Provincial Police, Police, Progressive Conservative, Ron Taverner, Toronto
Police, Twitter
==========================
The real reason Trump is pushing a free speech order on college campuses
March 5, 2019, Teri Kanefield, Opinion, CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/opinions/trump-cpac-attack-free-speech-college-campus-kanefield/index.html
(CNN) During his rambling, two hour talk on Saturday at the
Conservative Political Action Conference, President Donald Trump said
he soon will sign a free speech order for college campuses. What he
left out was that the justification for the order is based on a false
interpretation of what is actually happening at America's colleges.
Trump claims he plans to cut off federal funding, at least in part, to
colleges that do not protect views across the political spectrum. To
make his point, he called Hayden Williams, a conservative activist,
onto the stage. Williams alleges that he was punched at the University
of California Berkeley when he tried to express a conservative viewpoint.
In fact, what appears to have happened is that Williams -- who was not
a member of the university community -- wandered onto the campus and
got into a political quarrel with another person, who was also not a
member of the university community. The man who allegedly assaulted
Williams was promptly arrested . Berkeley released a statement
explaining that the incident was being "willfully distorted and
inaccurately reported " and that the campus remained committed to
freedom of expression.
Tags: 2015, 2017, Climate change, Conservative Political Action Conference,
Donald Trump, Facebook, First Amendment, Hayden Williams, Milo Yiannopoulos,
Neo-Nazi, Nobel, Richard Spencer, Russia, Trojan speakers, Twitter,
University of California, Vladimir Putin, White supremacist
==========================
U.S. colleges spend millions on security to host controversial speakers
March 5, 2019, Jillian Berman, Wall Street Journal
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-colleges-pay-for-free-speech-2018-10-08
As the political climate in America has become more heated in recent
years, so has the debate over what constitutes free speech. Look no
further for evidence of this controversy than President Donald Trump's
recent vow to issue an executive order that would require colleges to
"support free speech" if they want access to federal research funding.
The debate has already proved costly for colleges. Speaking engagements
with high-profile figures who make headlines from inflammatory comments
- and the violent protests that can sometimes come with them - have
been expensive, as campuses shell out to create a safe environment for
free speech. "There is a cost, it's unavoidable," said Jeff Allison,
the director of government and external relations at the International
Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
The University of California-Berkeley, spent roughly $4.8 million on
security in 2017 surrounding appearances from controversial speakers,
like Milo Yiannopoulos and Ben Shapiro, who were invited by student
groups, according to the university. The University of Florida spent
$500,000 to keep its campus safe when white nationalist Richard Spencer
appeared there in 2017, a university spokesman said in an email.
Tags: 2000, 2016, 2017, 2018, African-American, Alt-Right, Ann Coulter, Ben
Shapiro, Betsy DeVos, Brown University, Candace Owens, Charles Murray, David
Duke, Donald Trump, First Amendment, Florida, Georgia, Ku Klux Klan, Legal,
Michigan, Milo Yiannopoulos, New Orleans, New York Times, North Carolina,
Police, Quicky, Republican, Richard Spencer, The Bell Curve, Turning Point
USA, University of California, Walter Kimbrough, Washington, Washington
University in St. Louis, White supremacist
==========================
Battle breaks out ahead of white nationalist Richard Spencer's speech in
Michigan
March 5, 2018, Steve Friess, Reuters, Global News
https://globalnews.ca/news/4064129/fight-breaks-out-white-nationalist-richard-spencers-speech-michigan/
At least a dozen people were arrested on Monday after supporters of
Richard Spencer clashed with protesters outside a Michigan college
campus where the white nationalist was scheduled to speak.
Among those arrested were Gregory Conte, director of operations for
Spencer's organization, the National Policy Institute, according to
Evan McLaren, the group's executive director.
Fistfights broke out on a road leading to Michigan State University in
East Lansing as about 40 backers of Spencer walked up a road leading to
the campus, where roughly 500 demonstrators had gathered, surrounding
an armored police vehicle.
Tags: 2016, Alt-Right, Antifa, Charlottesville, David Sherman, Evan McLaren,
Greg Conte, Indianapolis, Lansing, Michigan, Michigan State Police, Michigan
State University, National Policy Institute, Police, Quicky, Republican,
Richard Spencer, Southern Poverty Law Center, Twitter, University of Florida,
Virginia, Washington, White House, White supremacist
==========================
PC leadership candidate Doug Ford opens controversial abortion debate
March 5, 2018, Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/03/05/pc-leadership-candidate-doug-ford-opens-controversial-abortion-debate.html
Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful Doug Ford waded into the
abortion debate Monday, questioning why teens need notes from their
parents to go on school trips but not to terminate a pregnancy. The
comments follow Ford's interview with a pro-life publication in which
he said it's time to reconsider whether girls under 16 should require
parental permission for abortions, a stance that quickly drew fire from
both inside and outside the party.
"I can't think of a more life-changing procedure for a young woman than
an abortion," Ford told Right Now in an online question-and-answer
session as party members have until Friday noon to vote for a
replacement for ousted former leader Patrick Brown. "I think that this
is an important discussion to have and I would welcome any member who
wanted to bring it forward in the Legislature to do so," added Ford,
who has four daughters. He elaborated Monday during a campaign stop in
London.
"My friends, you have to give a note to your kids when they're 12 and
13 years old to go on a field trip. You have to approve even getting
their tonsils out, but you don't have to approve and keep secret with a
12- and 13-year-old?" Ford said in a reference to abortion. "I don't
know too many parents that would approve any of their kids going on a
field trip without their knowledge. I don't see anyone ever approving
an operation on their children when they're 12- and 13-years-old
without approval," he continued.
Tags: 2009, 2015, Abortion, Brian Mulroney, Caroline Mulroney, Christine
Elliott, Conservative Party of Canada, Deb Matthews, Doug Ford, DougWiki,
London, London North Centre, Markham, Ontario, Ontario New Democratic Party,
Patrick Brown, Progressive Conservative, Queen's Park, Rob Ford, Tanya Granic
Allen, Todd Smith, Toronto
==========================
Pastor preaches virtue of wealth, property
March 5, 2007, David Bruser, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/03/05/pastor_preaches_virtue_of_wealth_property.html
The junior pastor at one of the country's largest evangelical churches
preached the virtues of wealth and smart investment to his
working-class congregation yesterday.
It was the same morning the Toronto Star published an investigation
into how Paul Melnichuk, patriarch of the Prayer Palace, and his twin
sons, Tim and Tom, have amassed a fleet of fine cars and a pricey
portfolio of fancy homes while doing little of the charity work their
church claims to do.
The Star expos?, part of an ongoing series on Canadian charities,
documented the Melnichuk family's lavish lifestyle, including about $12
million in personal real estate north of Toronto and in Florida, in
contrast to the bulk of their congregation. Most church members
faithfully give 10 per cent of their income.
"You see, you weren't designed to live in a apartment building. You
were designed to own the apartment building you're living in," Tom
Melnichuk said, calling for his followers to think positive. "If you
don't watch it, you'll be eating at Denny's for the rest of your entire
life."
Tags: Bradenton, Donald Trump, DougWiki, Florida, King City, Paul Melnichuk,
Prayer Palace, Tom Melnichuk, Toronto, UFO
==========================
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