Counterpoint - Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

On this edition of Counterpoint, Alex is joined by: 

Stephen LeDrew

Lawyer, broadcaster, formerly the President of the Liberal Party of Canada

John Dwyer

Director of Aereus Technologies

and last minute panelist

Doug Ford

Premier of Ontario

Topics include:

• PM trudeau has watered down a CSIS report that warned of “sikh extremism” because he was told by a small group of sikh leaders declared he and other politicians would be banned from attending parades. And so he is rightfully being accused of undermining our national security for votes. But he isn’t the only one. When did it become acceptable to pander for votes at the expense of our well being? And alienating our allies and those killed in the air india bombing?
• The Premier is telling teachers not to strike, saying they have a good deal with three months of holidays and the best benefits and pensions in the country. When asked today if Ford was preparing for the possibility of a strike, he said teachers have waged job action against Ontario governments of every stripe, and he says they have to get with the times. He appreciates them, but says their unions have declared war on the government. The Unions have said they will debate in good faith- while being very clear they are gearing up for a fight. 
• The federal government is investing $52.4 million in an innovation network that is expected to create 18,000 skilled jobs in Waterloo, Toronto and Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the funding for the new "Scale-up Platform"  in Kitchener. BUT- during the Q and A, he went on the attack over the high speed link saying the Ford gov won’t work with them. Except that isn’t true. Back on Feb 7th then Cabinet Min Jane philpott tweeted out avery positive message saying meetings were going great. And of course that was the same day SNC broke. 
• The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says it’s making good on its threat to sue all three orders of government over Google’s plans for a high-tech neighbourhood in Toronto that involves bringing affordable housing, heated sidewalks, and autonomous vehicle infrastructure to five hectares of the city’s waterfront. But it’s been mired in controversy, namely that both our “data” and “privacy” are totally being put at risk and no one can garantee that it won’t be.  
• 2 decades and up to 8 billion dollars. That’s what insurance companies predict it will cost to rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral. And that was just as they told France- you are on the hook. And President Macron immediate called on donors. And a few billionaires have already ponied up hundreds of millions- And today he announced it will be rebuilt in 5 yrs. But the Catholic church has a few pennies to spare-- shouldn’t they help?
• A new dollar coin designed to commemorate 50 years of homosexual rights has sparked a dual backlash — from both members of Canada's LGBT community and from a social conservative group. LGBT say it isn't a true reflection of when the community got rights and social cons say it  is pandering to Trudeaus “gay agenda”

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