Mediaboss Marketing

The Washington Post accused Iowa Republicans of "targeting the LGBTQ community" in a hit piece Monday and of making the state the new "Florida of the North."

"Republicans in the Iowa legislature, empowered by the states recent red wave, have embarked on an ambitious new agenda that includes a costly school choice bill and legislation targeting the LGBTQ community, a historic divergence from Iowas history as a civil rights bastion," Washington Post reporter Annie Gowen wrote.

"A joke among statehouse reporters is that Iowa is becoming the Florida of the North without the beaches," she added.

TRUMP MAKES FIRST STOP IN IOWA THIS CYCLE JUST DAYS AFTER DESANTIS, EXPANDS 2024 CAMPAIGN GROUND GAME

"A joke among statehouse reporters is that Iowa is becoming the Florida of the North without the beaches," The Washington Post said of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds' Iowa. (Courtesy: Iowa governor's office)

The Post mentioned Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, 10 times in the article, portraying her as a culture warrior on "gun rights," "school choice" and "abortion access."

But The Washington Post drew a particular connection between so-called "Dont say gay" protestors in Iowa and Florida.

Leftist activists have notably called Floridas Parental Rights in Education bill, which became law in March, the "Dont say gay" bill, in an attempt to smear Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The law prevents school employees or third parties from giving classroom instruction on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" for students anywhere from kindergarten through the third grade.

IOWA REPUBLICAN UNVEILS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT RURAL LAND FROM CHINA, OTHER FOREIGN ADVERSARIES

Republican Govs. Kim Reynolds of Iowa (left) and Ron DeSantis of Florida team up at an event in Davenport, Iowa, on March 10, 2023. (And to the Republic)

The Post argued that Reynolds has focused her power on restricting the LGBTQ community.

"Even as teens draped in rainbow flags crowded into the Capitol rotunda chanting We say gay on March 8, Iowa lawmakers quickly passed three bills related to gay and transgender rights, culminating with a measure to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth that is awaiting Republican Gov. Kim Reynoldss signature," The Post claimed.

The article cited politicians and activists opposed to Reynolds to make its case that the Republican governor was an "activist" leader.

"From about 2019 until this year, attacks on LGBTQ Iowans have been exponentially increasing," One Iowa Actions director of policy and advocacy Keenan Crow reportedly told The Washington Post.

"I believe its primarily because of the governor and her shifting priorities. It seems for whatever reason, she wants Iowa to be more like Florida."

A display in a conference room at the Iowa GOP's headquarters, in Des Moines, Iowa on July 15. 2021.

On school choice, a former Iowa mayor accused Reynolds of becoming "extreme."

"Thats a red flag when your head of government is primarying her own party. It is an indication that the ideologies are becoming more extreme," former Indianola mayor Kelly Shaw said, according to The Washington Post.

"The governor has effectively removed her opposition, and that is pretty extraordinary," Shaw added.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Gov. Reynolds' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report.

Visit link:
Liberals whine that Iowa is becoming 'Florida of the North': 'Targeting the LGBTQ community' - Fox News

Liberal MP Han Dong is now independent MP Han Dong. The twice-elected MP from Don Valley North made the announcement in the House of Commons late Wednesday night.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

I am taking this extraordinary step because to sit in the government caucus is a privilege and my presence there may be seen by some as a conflict of duty, Dong said.

Ill be sitting as an independent so that the business of government, and indeed the business of Parliament, is not interrupted as I work to clear my name.

Dong was named in a report by Global News on Feb. 25 as one of the MPs helped by an election interference network that intelligence agencies claim was run out of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto during the 2019 election. Since then, Dong has maintained his innocence and as recently as Tuesday spoke with reporters at length while denying he had any assistance from the Chinese government in getting elected.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

That Feb. 25 report stated that CSIS had warned the Trudeau Liberals that the intelligence agency had concerns about Dong weeks before the September 2019 election. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau never denied that his team or party had been briefed by CSIS but he still stood by Dong.

It is not up to unelected security officials to dictate to political parties who can or cannot run. Thats a really important principle, Trudeau said in response to the February report.

He stood by his MP and didnt expel him from caucus even as a member of Doug Fords Ontario PC Party caucus stepped down in early March when he was named.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

That all changed late Wednesday when another report from Global, citing unnamed sources, said that Dong had spoken to a Chinese diplomat about the detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The claim was that Dong advised the Chinese diplomat in early 2021 that releasing the two Michaels shouldnt happen at that point in time because it would benefit the Conservative Party.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Dong admitted to Global News that he did have a conversation with Han Tao, Chinas Consul General in Toronto, but that he had pressed for the two Michaels to be released. Asked about the fact that Dong had spoken to the Chinese consulate about the two Michaels, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus office said they had no knowledge.

Alison Murphy, a spokesperson for Trudeaus office, said that the PMO only became aware that a conversation took place after Mr. Dong told us, following recent media questions.

That statement was the writing on the wall that Trudeau would no longer back Dong in public. A short time later, he announced his departure from the Liberal caucus.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

The Liberals have been dealing with allegations that they specifically benefitted from Chinas interference in Canadas elections in 2019 and 2021 by delaying any investigation into the matter and casting doubt on the allegations. The move to distance themselves from Dong is a sign that may be changing.

So far, Trudeau has called questions about the matter racist, he has called for the CSIS whistleblowers to be investigated and dealt with and he has delayed in calling a public inquiry by appointing David Johnston as a special rapporteur to study the matter.

If Trudeau was hoping this story would fade away, the latest allegations against Dong and his removal from the Liberal caucus has ensured that this story will stay front and centre for some time.

View post:
LILLEY: Liberal MP Dong resigns from party over interference claims - Toronto Sun

Its nonsense, plain and simple, to paint opponents of the Liberal Impact Assessment Act as climate-change laggards and deniers.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

But the epic Supreme Court case that starts Tuesday is the ultimate clash of climate-change virtue signals, with Ottawa on one side and the provinces especially Alberta on the other.

The federal Impact Assessment Act, formerly Bill C-69, has been in force for several years. The federal Liberals will fight to overturn an Alberta Appeal Court ruling that the Act is unconstitutional.

The feds will probably succeed, given the leanings and precedents of the justices, but theyll do it against the wishes of Alberta and seven other provinces.

Quebecers may be Canadas most ardent advocates of climate action. In Vancouver and much of coastal B.C., people would argue theyre just as zealous. The need for action is fiercely pressed in the politically powerful Greater Toronto Area.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

So how is it that the governments of the three biggest provinces are lined up behind Alberta, essentially agreeing the federal law is unconstitutional?

Theyre not doing it because theyre against environmental protection, climate action and careful regulation of projects.

Theyre genuinely fearful that the federal bill goes much too far toward federal control of virtually every kind of resource or agricultural project, effectively imposing a national veto over key areas of the economy.

If the court agrees with the Liberals, the judges will go a long way toward permanently changing the nature of this country, one of the most successful federations on earth.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Constitutionally, provincial rights are unassailable in project approval and economic development, with one exception.

The Supreme Court has started to use national interest interpreted as a threat to environment and climate to supersede provincial jurisdiction. A federal victory in this case would solidly entrench that position.

The Supreme Courts Hearing 40195 will be held over Tuesday and Wednesday. The lineup is fascinating.

First up is the federal government, supported by 12 interveners, all of them environmental or Indigenous groups, including Albertas Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

They have every right to make their case. But its noteworthy that not a single provincial or civic government will argue on Ottawas side.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

On Day 2, Alberta will have 17 supporters, including the governments of Ontario, Quebec, B.C., Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan.

As youd expect, business groups, including oil and gas, also back Alberta. So does government-owned Hydro-Quebec. The Woodland Cree First Nation is in support.

There is nuance in the approaches. B.C. for instance, argues that C-69 can be constitutional but only if it doesnt override clear provincial authority.

The federal bill is a slippery thing. It claims to operate in federal lands but then refers to projects in Canada. It also assumes power over projects with environment effects outside Canada. It promises co-ordination with provinces, but no province is reassured.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

People protest against Bill C-69 in Calgary on March 25, 2019. Gavin Young/Postmedia/File

The world has just had a new warning of looming climate catastrophe. Every Canadian province is deeply worried about this and has plans to act.

A serious federal government would encourage them all to develop their own plans, in co-ordination with commonly agreed national goals. Thats the way the government of a federation behaves. Canada isnt a unitary state yet.

Alberta political rhetoric around this is almost always confrontational. Premier Danielle Smith rarely mentions climate change. In the recent budget speech theres no mention of climate, and the word environment only appears once in a pledge to create a strong business environment.

But at the level of government, the province fully accepts the reality of the climate crisis and pledges action.

There will always be debate over how we react and what the plans are. But there is no cause to alter the basic nature of the country.

Thats a goal driven solely by Liberal hubris and overreach.

Don Braids column appears regularly in the Herald

Continued here:
Braid: Liberals are striving to change Canada's very nature. The future rests with Supreme Court - Calgary Herald

Ottawa

Posted: March 21, 2023 Last Updated: March 21, 2023

The Liberal government is spending $1.4 billion to upgrade facilities for the Canadian military's counter terrorism response unit at its current Dwyer Hill Training Centre in Ottawa.

The federal governmenthad previouslyplanned to move Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) to a new facility at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB)Trenton,but after expropriating land for that purpose, it will instead upgrade theexisting facilityin Ottawa over the next decade.

The construction project is designed to meet the "long-term growth, training, and high-readiness operational" needs of JTF2, Defence Minister Anita Anand said in a news release Tuesday.

The Dwyer Hill Training Centre is located at the intersection of Dwyer Hill Road and FranktownRoad in Ottawa, about 50 kilometres from the city's downtown.

The project will replace 89 existing structures with 23 new facilities, according to the release. Those buildings will include offices, a shooting range and medical and training facilities.

Anandestimated about 2,000 jobs will be created over the life of the project, spread across more than 150 subcontracts designed to encourage bids from smaller contractors.

JTF2 is a special operations unit of the Canadian Armed Forces tasked with combatting international and domestic terrorism. The unit was created in 1993 and expanded shortly after the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

In January 2007, thefederal government under Prime Minister Stephen Harperannounced the JTF2 was to be relocated to CFB Trenton,while the Dwyer Hill property would be evacuated by 2010.

To expand the Trenton base, the government took possession of nearby land, including 90 hectares in August 2012 from neighbouring farmer Frank Meyers.

The expropriation of Meyers' land prompted widespread support for the farmer and protests on his behalf.

Despite the expropriation, JTF2 was never relocated and the Liberal government confirmed to reporters in 2020 thoseplanshad been scrapped.

Now, the existing facility will be upgraded.

The 2014 shootings at the National War Memorial and inside Centre Block on Parliament Hillprompted a review of the decision to move JTF2 to CFB Trenton, to see whether it was "still in line with Canada's counterterrorism needs,"Anand told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morningon Tuesday.

The review found keeping JTF2 in the National Capital Region better meets operational requirements, "and it's in line with our allies' approach, so that we keep counterterrorism sources close to our seat of government to be able to respond to possible threats," she said.

"We need to be near the capital and that's why Dwyer Hill is being retained as the site."

Construction is set to begin thisMay.

LISTEN | Anand's full interview with Ottawa Morning:

Read the original:
Liberals announce $1.4B investment in Ottawa's Dwyer Hill Training Centre - CBC.ca

If the Coalition government falls in the upcoming NSW state election, there will not be one Liberal in state or federal power on mainland Australia, says Sky News host Chris Kenny.

Its the utter folly of the Liberals endless drift to the left, Mr Kenny said.

Driven by their own left faction the so-called moderates and by a nave desperation to win plaudits from social media and much of the mainstream media, the Liberals have continually learnt the wrong lessons.

Instead of reasserting their values of small government, low taxes, personal responsibility and economic strength theyve chased political fashion, the stuff of the Left.

So instead of favouring affordable and reliable energy, theyve destroyed our electricity grid and pretended theyre saving the planet.

The Liberals have surrendered their product differentiation voters have been left to choose between Green Left, Labor Left, Teals Left and Liberal Left.

Without core values the Liberals are nothing.

Follow this link:
'Utter folly': The Liberal party's 'drift to the Left' is their downfall - Sky News Australia