News

16-Year-Old Arrested for Opposing Trans Ideology in Ontario, Canada

Published

2 years ago

2023-02-21

Geoff Brown

6-Year-Old Arrested for Opposing Trans Ideology in Ontario, Canada

The lawyer for a 16-year-old Catholic high school student suspended for opposing transgender ideology says his client’s legal battle demonstrates that religious freedom in Canada is rapidly eroding.

“I think it’s representative of where the culture, society, and our government institutions are up here,” attorney James Kitchen said of the case against 16-year-old Josh Alexander.

On February 6, the high school junior was arrested for trespassing after showing up at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Renfrew, Ontario, despite an exclusion order. Kitchen is taking legal action against Alexander by appealing the exclusion order and filing a human rights complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.

Alexander, a born-again Christian, was suspended in November for organizing protests at his school against biological males in girls’ restrooms and arguing in class that God created two unchangeable genders.

Alexander’s suspension was technically lifted in January, but it has remained in effect since the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board “excluded” him for the remainder of the school year. Alexander told The Epoch Times that his principal offered him a return to school if he stopped using transgender students’ “dead names” or given names and excluded himself from classes with two transgender students.

Religious Freedom Declining in Canada

Kitchen, the Liberty Coalition Canada’s chief litigator, said he had no idea how big Alexander’s case would become when he first contacted him around Christmas, following Alexander’s initial suspension from the government-funded school.

The Liberty Coalition Canada website states that clergy founded it in January 2021 to ” support Canadians facing unjust and illegal discrimination for exercising their lawful freedoms.”

“I never imagined it would reach this level,” Kitchen said. “I knew it would be publicized, and there would be some sort of conflict because I knew Josh wouldn’t back down.”

Kitchen believes that religious freedom and freedom of expression are declining in Canada, but that religious liberty is fading faster. He claims that many Canadians are unaware of their government’s growing threat to religious freedom, which he claims is “essentially dead” after withering “for about 10 or 15 years.”

Kitchen said the Supreme Court of Canada issued “the nail in the coffin” with a 2018 decision against Trinity Western University in British Columbia. The Christian school, which sought to establish Canada’s first Christian law school, petitioned the Supreme Court after regional law societies refused to accredit them based on their student covenant, which prohibited extramarital sex.

According to Kitchen, the legal precedent established in that case “really gutted religious freedom in Canada,” and such trends have accelerated in recent years as authorities jailed pastors and seized church properties during the pandemic. Alexander’s case, he claims, is another step up.

The lawyer cited Bill C-4, passed by the Canadian Parliament last year, as a “perfect example” of Canada’s encroaching wave against religious freedom.

canada

Religious Leaders Arrested in Canada

Therapists in Canada who provide counseling to repress or reduce “non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behavior” or “non-cisgender identity” could face up to five years in prison under the law, which prompted protests from thousands of churches across North America.

“We don’t have any cases on it yet, no charges, so we’re all just kind of waiting to see what the government decides to do with that,” Kitchen said, predicting that “the gender and sexuality issue” will lead to more legal clashes between Christians and the Canadian government.

“I fully expect to get a call in the next 12-24 months that a pastor or some other religious leader has been arrested for telling some guy who thinks he’s a woman that he should consider being OK with being a man instead of transitioning to be a woman,” Kitchen said.

“As a lawyer in Canada, I expect to be on that case or at least hear about it,” he added. “That’s where we’re going.” Alexander agreed with Kitchen, saying that “freedom of expression and religion, in general, are under attack” in his country. “There’s no doubt that we’re about to lose all the liberties that we’ve taken for granted for far too long,” he said.

Canadians are free to practice any religion under Section 2 of the Charter. They also have the right to think, believe, and express themselves freely.

Alexander observed that some young people his age are afraid to express themselves. He urged them to “speak up before it’s too late.”

“If you think what I’m dealing with now is bad, wait until your freedom of belief and thought is outlawed,” he warned. “Now is the time to speak up before it’s too late. Our predecessors failed to do so, and it is now up to us to pick up the torch and carry it.”

Trudeau’s Open War on Religion in Canada

The honorable Leslyn Lewis, a Conservative Party of Canada MP and licensed attorney, said she would “stand up” for religious freedom after accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of waging an “open war” on people’s faith since his election in 2015.

Lewis blasted a recent report from a Department of National Defence (DND) advisory panel recommending it “not consider for employment as spiritual guides or multi-faith representatives Chaplaincy applicants affiliated with religious groups whose values are not aligned with those of the Defence Team” in a platform update titled “Enough Discrimination.”

“Currently, some chaplains represent or are affiliated with organized religions whose beliefs do not coincide with those of a diverse and inclusive workplace. “Some of these chaplains’ affiliated religions do not subscribe to an open attitude and the promotion of diversity,” according to the DND’s recommendations.

“For example, the exclusion of women from priesthoods in some churches violates equality and social justice principles, as do sexist notions embedded in their religious dogmas.”

This latest report, according to Lewis, is “absolutely shocking.”

“People are only now realizing how far it goes in its assault on traditional faiths,” Lewis observed.

Lewis stated that while asking that “chaplains’ values are aligned with the Defence Team may appear innocent enough,” reading further reveals that “the religious groups it considers do not have the right values fall under the banner of ‘The Abrahamic Religions.'”

“This expressly states that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism followers should be barred from serving as military chaplains,” Lewis wrote.

“How are all the Jewish, Muslim and Christian military members to feel now that they have been singled out as out-of-step with the values of the country they are fighting for? Or that in the same report, their beliefs are explicitly compared to the worst kinds of racism?”

According to the report, “minorities in Canada are consistently just used as political tools by this government,” Lewis continued.

News

Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

Published

12 hours ago

2024-12-21

Salman Ahmad

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

(VOR News) – The U.S. flu season has begun, according to health experts, who also noted a sharp rise in cases countrywide on Friday.

Significant increases were noted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in a number of indicators, such as laboratory tests and ED visits. “For the past few weeks, it has been increasing steadily.” “Yes, we are in flu season right now,” CDC’s Alicia Budd said.

Last week, flu-like sickness was reported at elevated or very elevated levels in 13 states, roughly twice as many as the week before. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, says Tennessee is seeing a spike in sickness in the Nashville area.

Schaffner said, “Influenza cases have been increasing, but they have increased significantly in the last week.” He noted that up to 25% of patients in a nearby clinic, which is a gauge of illness trends, have flu-like symptoms.

An early focal point was Louisiana.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Centre, the largest private hospital in the state, in Baton Rouge, has infectious diseases specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal, who said, “This week is a significant turning point as individuals are affected by the flu.” “Parents frequently say, ‘I have the flu and can’t go to work,’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?'”

Fever, cough, sore throat, and other influenza-like symptoms are caused by a variety of viruses. COVID-19 is one of them. Another flu season common disease that causes cold-like symptoms but poses serious hazards to infants and the elderly is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Recent CDC numbers indicate a decline in COVID-19 hospitalisations since the summer. According to CDC wastewater data, COVID-19 activity is modest nationwide but elevated in the Midwest.

Although RSV hospitalisations are still marginally more common than flu admissions, they started to rise before flu season cases and currently show signs of perhaps stabilising. RSV activity is low nationwide, but wastewater data shows that it is high in the South.

Based on a number of indicators, such as laboratory results from hospitalised patients and outpatient clinics, as well as the percentage of ED visits that resulted in an influenza diagnosis at discharge, the CDC declared the start of the flu season.

According to Budd, it is too early in the season to determine the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine, and no type of virus seems to be more common.

The flu season last winter was classified as “moderate” overall, but it continued for 21 weeks, and the CDC estimates that 28,000 people died from the virus. With 205 paediatric deaths reported, the situation was particularly dangerous for kids. It was the largest number ever recorded for a conventional influenza season.

The prolonged flu season was probably one of the reasons, Budd added.

The lack of influenza vaccinations was one of the contributing factors. The CDC reports that 80% of children who passed away and had verified vaccination status and were of the right age for flu shots were not completely immunised.

Children’s immunisation rates are drastically lower this year. About 41% of people had a flu shot as of December 7, which is similar to the percentage at the same time last year. For youngsters, the figure is steady, although it is lower than in the previous year, when 44% received an influenza vaccination, according to CDC data.

About 21% of adults and 11% of children are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is still a poor vaccination rate.

Influenza experts advise everyone to get vaccinated, especially as people get ready for holiday gatherings where respiratory diseases could spread widely.

“This virus also has the potential to spread from person to person at all those happy, pleasant, and heartwarming events,” Schaffner said. “flu season Vaccination remains a viable option.”

However, Louisiana’s health department announced on Friday that it was rescinding its COVID-19 and flu vaccination recommendations. According to an official, the department’s current position is that people should speak with their doctors about whether the immunisations are suitable for their situation.

The department’s spokesperson, Emma Herrock, did not respond to follow-up questions regarding the policy. Dr. Ralph Abraham, the state’s surgeon general, has expressed concerns in the past regarding the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness and safety.

SOURCE: AP

News

Social Security Change Approved By Senate Despite Fiscal Concerns

Published

16 hours ago

2024-12-21

Salman Ahmad

(VOR News) – On Saturday, the U.S. Congress passed a plan to increase Social Security retirement payouts for some retirees who receive public pensions, a move that critics say will further erode the program’s financial stability. Among these pensioners are former firefighters and police officers.

The Social Security Fairness Act was passed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 76-20 just after midnight. The act may lower payments for those receiving pensions and aims to repeal provisions that have existed for 20 years.

The House of Representatives passed the bill last month by a vote of 327-75, meaning that if the Senate also approves it, it would be delivered to Democratic President Joe Biden to become law.

The White House dodged enquiries regarding Social Security’s objectives.

In order to limit government benefits for certain higher-paid employees who are also getting pensions, the measure will reverse a long-standing change to the program. It has become increasingly common in recent years for municipal employees, such as postal workers and firefighters, to face pay limitations.

The vast majority of Americans do not take part in pension plans that provide a fixed return on investment, instead relying on their own savings and Social Security. According to data from the Department of Labour, only 10% of private sector employees in the US are covered by pension plans.

The new rules apply to about 3 percent of Social Security users, or more than 2.5 million people in the United States. Legislators are heavily influenced by the workers and retirees impacted by these rules, and the powerful advocacy organisations that speak for them have been using the legislative process to push for a legislative cure.

According to retirement experts, some retirees may be able to earn hundreds of dollars more in government benefits each month as a result of the move.

According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, the bill is expected to cost approximately $196 billion over the next 10 years. As a result, federal budget experts are worried that the change could negatively affect the program’s already fragile financial status.

In an interview with the Bipartisan Policy Centre, Emerson Sprick, associate director of economic policy, said he was frustrated by “the overwhelming support in Congress for the contrary of what policy researchers concur on is quite frustrating.”

Instead of eliminating current formulas, we could improve them.

Among these changes is the Social Security Administration’s increased disclosure of the anticipated monetary benefits for these public sector workers.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal think tank, has voiced concerns that the additional cost will impact the program’s ability to continue.

Maya MacGuineas, the organization’s leader, made the declaration, saying, “We are hastening towards our own fiscal ruin.”

“It is noteworthy that lawmakers are in a position to shorten the timeframe by six months, as there are just nine years left before the trust fund for the biggest program in the country runs out.”

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that the bill in its current form would “throw granny over the cliff.”

According to what he stated, “every senator who votes to impose a burden of $200 billion on the Social Security Trust Fund is opting to put the interests of senior citizens who have contributed to Social Security and earned those benefits in jeopardy.”

Those who favoured the legislation said that the question of what would happen to Social Security could be settled later.

“Those are significantly longer-term concerns that we must collaboratively address,” a supporter of the idea Senator Michael Bennett told Reuters when asked if the move would affect the government’s capacity to be viable.

SOURCE: BR

News

King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties

Published

1 day ago

2024-12-21

Geoff Brown

Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million

A recent analysis suggests that King Charles might earn over £1 million each year by renting out royal properties to holidaymakers.

The Royal Family’s historic houses and mansions are popular holiday rentals, contributing significantly to the Palace’s revenue.

Pikl Insurance estimates that the royals may earn up to £118,775.85 per month, or around £1,425,310.20 per year, from their holiday rental portfolio. Even after accounting for cancellations, the monarchy is anticipated to generate a net annual income of somewhat more over £1.4 million.

Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million

The four primary royal properties accepting public bookings are Balmoral Castle, Castle of Mey’s Captain House, Restormel Manor, and Dumfries House, according to Express.co.uk. Cottages at Balmoral Castle in Scotland are expected to generate £36,798.30 per month after accounting for cancellations.

According to the numbers, the 500-year-old Restormel Manor in Cornwall is the most profitable of them all, earning a solid £47,082 every month. The resort, located in the Fowey Valley, has four booking spaces and six converted barns.

Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, adds an estimated £31,185.63 and offers 25 rooms for booking. The Castle of Mey’s Captain House in the Scottish Highlands is estimated to generate a more modest £3,709.92 per month, despite the fact that the entire property is available for booking.

The analysts stated, “While the Royal Family’s primary role is undoubtedly to serve the nation, it is clear that their properties are also a valuable asset.” These estimates highlight the royal estate’s considerable financial potential and provide an intriguing peek into the monarchy’s corporate operations.”

Royal Family received £86.3 million from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant in the previous fiscal year, according to official numbers released in July.

All revenues from the Crown Estate, which includes royal households, forestry, agriculture, and offshore wind, are paid directly to the Treasury, with a portion of this money, now 12%, returned to the Royal Family to finance their tasks.

The records also cover a period of jubilation, including the coronation and festivities surrounding the King and Queen’s crowning in May of last year.