‘I'm calling your bluff': Nenshi says Smith stoking fear with talk of separation referendum
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CBC
5 minutes ago
- CBC
Hamilton mayor asks residents to report hate after CBC traces white nationalist 'active clubs' to the city
Social Sharing If you discover hate in your neighbourhood, report it. That's the message Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has for residents following a CBC News investigation which found members of white supremacist groups have been preparing for a "race war" in Hamilton-area gyms and parks. "Hate has no home in Hamilton," Horwath said. "Hamilton is a city that values inclusion, diversity, and safety for all." Her comments follow a CBC visual investigation, in collaboration with The Fifth Estate, that identified local spaces where white nationalists are getting together to train, including in Myrtle and Gage parks. Known within white nationalist communities as "active clubs," these training sessions are also part of the groups' recruitment and propaganda. Although the clubs portray themselves as promoting community, fitness and Canada's European heritage, some experts told CBC News they're a growing extremist threat. "The minute you peel back even the slightest layer of this onion, it becomes far more insidious. These are virulent white supremacists. These are people that in many cases are training for what they believe is to be an upcoming race war," said Mack Lamoureux of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. That U.K.-based think-tank studies authoritarianism, hate and extremism. 'Creating an air of intimidation' "I think it's a serious public safety concern," Hamilton city councillor Nrinder Nann told CBC News after being notified about the group's activities in Hamilton. The Ward 3 councillor represents an area in which some club members were found to be training. "Fundamentally, what it ends up doing is creating an air of intimidation, especially for those neighbours who understand who they are and what they're doing," she said. "Our public parks and spaces are supposed to be places of belonging and fostering a sense of inclusivity and welcoming of all folks." Nann said she's heard "a lot" of residents share concerns about white supremacist organizing in Hamilton and noted a recent incident in which local shops were vandalized with racist graffiti. "The rise of extremist organizing is a national security threat and it isn't an issue to take lightly," she said. She hopes anyone who learns these groups are operating in their community will inform police, she added. CBC Hamilton asked Hamilton police if they are aware of and investigating any of the active clubs in the CBC News investigation, or any other such clubs they may be aware of. Police did not respond before deadline. Active clubs and similar groups are linked to designated terror groups like the Canadian Proud Boys and Atomwaffen Division, the latter of which has been linked to five killings in recent years. Despite group members' efforts to hide who they are and where they train, CBC's visual investigation unit found photos of active club Nationalist-13 training were taken in private Hamilton gym Amazing Fitness, in the city's Gibson neighbourhood. Journalists were also able to identify one of the group's most prominent members, Brandon Lapointe, in the photos. Gym manager John Moran told CBC News he didn't know an active club was training at his facility. In a statement, he later said, "we have no affiliation whatsoever with these individuals or their ideology, and we categorically reject any form of hate or discrimination." CBC also identified two Brazilian jiujitsu gyms used by Second Sons — "an active club in everything except name," according to Lamoureux. In one photo, open white supremacist Alex Vriend, also a member of far-right group Diagolon, stands with club members at Hammer BJJ in the city's McQuesten West area. Rob Barham, the owner of Hammer BJJ, told CBC News, "I don't affiliate myself with … any sort of white supremacy groups." "I have a firm policy that I don't want those types of behaviours or those types of energies in this place," he said. "I'm trying to protect that and trying to foster something good for the kids of the community that can come here and better their life." Vriend and Lapointe did not respond to requests for comment. Active club members preparing for violence The investigation also identified Second Sons members training at Welland studio Niagara BJJ. Kevin Mans, the owner of Niagara BJJ, called CBC's findings "f–king unacceptable," adding: "I have built a team that is pluralistic… these guys are scum." As soon as he saw the photos CBC shared, Mans said he called his staff and told them those Second Sons members couldn't come back. According to CBC's visual investigations unit, active clubs tend to be male-focused groups that proactively promote white supremacy in acts ranging from public protests to stickering campaigns to social media posts. Lamoreaux told CBC these groups are "training for what they believe to be an upcoming race war." The clubs also use white nationalist symbolism. For example, when Nationalist-13 members post training photos, they hide their faces with the Totenkopf, a symbol used by the Nazi SS. Nationalist-13, or NS13, has become more public, with masked members holding anti-immigration protests in Toronto, London and Hamilton, holding banners calling for "mass deportations." NS13 did not respond to CBC News's request for comment. In November, anti-immigrant demonstrators stood in the heart of downtown Hamilton. In response, community leaders called for solidarity and denounced what they say is a rise in hate against newcomers. Second Sons alludes to the Great Replacement, the conspiracy theory that white people are being driven to extinction. That group spun out of Diagolon, which the RCMP has labelled an "extremist, militia-like organization." CBC News contacted Second Sons and received an email response from Morgan Guptill, partner of Diagolon founder Jeremy MacKenzie, who said she does not speak for Second Sons. Guptill said she didn't understand why men in Canada fail to support other men "gathering regularly to improve their physical and mental well-being, as Second Sons does," and why anyone "with an IQ above 80," would not support "at minimum, a full moratorium on immigration given the current economic trajectory." Economists have in fact noted that higher immigration has had economic benefits for Canada. CBC News also determined active clubs were training in the John Wright Soccer Complex in Brantford, Ont., in addition to Hamilton's Myrtle and Gage parks, based on videos they shared. Nann said active clubs openly training in Gage Park — the site of violence involving people with ties to the Proud Boys during Pride festivities in 2019 — is a "very clear signal to my community." "They are claiming this space and that is absolutely unacceptable," she said. Hamilton needs more effective strategy to stop groups: researcher Chris Erl, a Hamilton-based politics researcher at Toronto Metropolitan University who has studied the violence at the 2019 Pride event, agrees with Nann, saying club members are likely trying to "assert their dominance." It's "upsetting but not entirely unsurprising" to see active clubs out and about in the city, he said, because there's been a lot of far-right organizing in Hamilton over the past few decades. Citing an "old adage" that "if you let one Nazi into your bar then you have a Nazi bar," Erl said this activity needs to be forcefully challenged by residents and the city's institutions. He said the mayor's statement that hate has no place in Hamilton is "really entering into the territory of 'thoughts and prayers'" comments following mass shootings, feeling like a "copy-and-paste response." Hamilton needs a program to address the reason why people join white nationalist groups, to address issues like economic insecurity and to combat propaganda that radicalizes people online, Erl said. Kojo Damptey, a McMaster University sessional instructor and PhD student, said he wants the mayor to back up her words with actions such as funding a hate crimes task force. "A number of us have been saying this for the last 10 years," he said. The former director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion and co-chair of Hamilton's community safety and wellbeing plan has experience organizing against hate. Damptey was also the target of hate during the 2022 municipal election when someone placed a sticker that said 'white lives matter' on one of his campaign ads while running for councillor. Damptey said socio-economic issues such as the housing crisis have driven up anti-immigrant sentiment in recent years and that unless leaders act, these groups will continue to grow. He added community members can also report hate to the community-run We Support Hamilton tool.
National Post
34 minutes ago
- National Post
The Doug Ford Doctrine: 'We really have to flex our muscles'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is hosting Canada's premiers in Muskoka starting Monday at a Council of the Federation summer gathering. Premiers of the 13 provinces and territories can look forward to enjoying Alberta-bred and Ontario-fed beef on the grill at the Ford family cottage. They will have a special guest: Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content 'For the first time ever that I can remember,' Ford says, 'the prime minister is invited. That would have never happened with Trudeau, but it's happening under Mark Carney. And he's going to be welcomed with open arms.' Article content Article content Rather than the premiers getting together 'to bitch and complain about the federal government,' Ford chuckles, 'we get to present it right to him (Carney) as he's sitting around the dinner table and we're talking to him.' Article content 'And, he's a very, very great business person,' Ontario's premier enthuses, listing off Carney's credentials (without a mention of potential conflicts of interest). Article content Article content Figuring out how Team Canada will respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of a blanket 35 per cent tariff on goods imported from Canada as of Aug. 1 — on top of previously implemented tariffs on auto parts, steel, aluminum and copper — will no doubt be the premiers' top priority in cottage country next week. Article content Article content 'Elbows up or elbows down? What's the strategy, now?' I ask Ford in a recent call. Article content Article content 'We have to negotiate through strength,' Ford responds, 'and we really have to flex our muscles and make sure President Trump hears us.' Article content 'Because in closed-door meetings and in our phone calls with governors — and they pull a lot of weight, I heard that from (U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard) Lutnick — Republicans don't want this,' Ford reports Article content 'Democrats obviously don't want this, and Republicans don't want it. But they're terrified to say anything publicly,' he says. Only a few U.S. senators have spoken up, Ford adds, 'and God bless them.' Article content Carney is advancing several strategies — promoting free trade within Canada; negotiating a security and trade pact with America, in good faith; and at the same time, forging strategic partnerships with the EU to beef up security and defence alliances and boost trade and economic security. This week, Carney announced measures to protect the nation's steel industry, including guarding against foreign steel entering Canada to bypass Trump's tariffs.
Vancouver Sun
34 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
The Doug Ford Doctrine: 'We really have to flex our muscles'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is hosting Canada's premiers in Muskoka starting Monday at a Council of the Federation summer gathering. Premiers of the 13 provinces and territories can look forward to enjoying Alberta-bred and Ontario-fed beef on the grill at the Ford family cottage. They will have a special guest: Prime Minister Mark Carney. 'For the first time ever that I can remember,' Ford says, 'the prime minister is invited. That would have never happened with Trudeau, but it's happening under Mark Carney. And he's going to be welcomed with open arms.' Rather than the premiers getting together 'to bitch and complain about the federal government,' Ford chuckles, 'we get to present it right to him (Carney) as he's sitting around the dinner table and we're talking to him.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The access is phenomenal,' Ford says of his own relationship with the PM, 'I'll message him, he gets right back to me. It's all about communication and relationship-building. 'And, he's a very, very great business person,' Ontario's premier enthuses, listing off Carney's credentials (without a mention of potential conflicts of interest). 'He gets it,' Ford says. 'He's going to go in there and he's going to clean house in Ottawa, which is well overdue.' Figuring out how Team Canada will respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of a blanket 35 per cent tariff on goods imported from Canada as of Aug. 1 — on top of previously implemented tariffs on auto parts, steel, aluminum and copper — will no doubt be the premiers' top priority in cottage country next week. 'Elbows up or elbows down? What's the strategy, now?' I ask Ford in a recent call. 'We have to negotiate through strength,' Ford responds, 'and we really have to flex our muscles and make sure President Trump hears us.' 'Because in closed-door meetings and in our phone calls with governors — and they pull a lot of weight, I heard that from (U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard) Lutnick — Republicans don't want this,' Ford reports 'Democrats obviously don't want this, and Republicans don't want it. But they're terrified to say anything publicly,' he says. Only a few U.S. senators have spoken up, Ford adds, 'and God bless them.' Carney is advancing several strategies — promoting free trade within Canada; negotiating a security and trade pact with America, in good faith; and at the same time, forging strategic partnerships with the EU to beef up security and defence alliances and boost trade and economic security. This week, Carney announced measures to protect the nation's steel industry, including guarding against foreign steel entering Canada to bypass Trump's tariffs. Breaking down trade barriers between provinces is a strategy Ontario has embraced; the province has signed memorandums of understanding with all provinces except Quebec, B.C. and Newfoundland. And Ford sees other cards to be played, other ways to pressure the Trump administration for a fair trade deal. 'I've been very transparent with Secretary Lutnick, we're going to start on-shoring everything,' Ford says. 'We're going to on-shore the steel beams, the I-beams. We have more cranes in the sky in Toronto and the GTA than their top 10 cities combined.' 'We're going to on-shore the aluminum cans, the beer cans … to make sure we don't have to see a tariff of 25 per cent on the aluminum going down (to the U.S.), they convert it, print it, and send it back up (to Canada) with another 25 per cent; that's 50 per cent.' Ford's government is giving incentives to companies — to turn aluminum into cans, produce steel I-beams, and manufacture steel rails used in transit projects. This strategy tracks with Carney's recent commitment to rely more on Canadian steel for Canadian projects. 'Canada buys more off the U.S. than China, than Japan, than Korea, U.K. and France combined,' Ford elaborates. 'We're their largest customer, and yes, they're our largest customer. But Ontario alone employs nine million Americans who wake up every morning to build a widget or provide a service to Ontario alone.' '(Americans) are going to feel the pressure,' Ford says. 'They're going to feel the pressure when Americans start losing their jobs because we're going to start on-shoring everything, and once that happens, I told Lutnick, it's hard to turn that tap off.' And, Ford continues, Canada can leverage its supplies of critical resources. American governors, both Republicans and Democrats, tell Ford the same thing: 'There are two things they're interested in: our nuclear energy and our critical minerals.' Repeating his well-worn adage — 'Canada is not the threat; China is the real threat' — Ford explains how China's lock on 90 per cent of the world's critical minerals makes Ontario's resources in the Ring of Fire all the more essential to Americans. 'And we don't believe in rip and ship,' Ford assures me, 'we're going to make sure that we mine it with Ontario workers, we're going to refine it here in Ontario with Ontario workers, and then we'll have the option of shipping it around the world.' Ford's also pitching a deep sea port to facilitate exports, in a couple of locations — one in Ontario, in Hudson's Bay, and one in Manitoba. 'It will wake up President Trump real quick,' Ford quips, 'if we start shipping it to our other allies around the world and not to him.' Ford is the premier of Ontario — it's his job to look out for that province's interests — but there's no question he's fully steeped in Team Canada spirits. 'We all have something that we're bringing to the table,' he assures me, repeatedly. 'The U.S. needs our high-grade nickel,' Ford asserts, 'to be used in the military, in aerospace, in manufacturing. It's no different from the aluminum, from Quebec, being shipped down there, or the potash or uranium from Saskatchewan, and obviously, the 4.3 million barrels of oil we ship down to the U.S. But we're going to diversify that and not rely on the U.S. Yes, we have one pipeline going west, but we need another one going west, east, north and south.' Ford is also effusive about the need to get rid of the tanker ban on the West Coast and revamp the impact assessment act. 'Those days are done. They're gone,' he says. 'We have to start moving forward and create the conditions for the rest of the world to look at investing in not just Ontario but other jurisdictions across Canada, from coast to coast to coast.' I moved from Ontario to Alberta in the early 1980s — a time when Alberta premier Peter Lougheed was struggling with prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau's National Energy Program — and can still recall the bitter disappointment of Ontario premier Bill Davis's unwillingness to support Alberta's interests. I admit to being impressed by Ford's visit to the recently concluded Calgary Stampede, and not just by his commitment to flip pancakes alongside Smith, whose griddle experience is legendary. Ontario's premier also inked two MOUs with Alberta, to advance freer trade between the provinces and publicly endorse mutually beneficial national-interest projects, including an oil pipeline from Alberta to Ontario (fabricated with Ontario steel). Although Ford's not sure if Carney will be specific about the nation-building projects selected to move forward, in the upcoming discussions around the table in Muskoka, he's optimistic provincial leaders — and their constituents — recognize this unique opportunity to move forward on national infrastructure projects. 'We're moving forward and we're going to see another $200 billion going into our economy, increase our GDP anywhere upwards to six per cent,' Ford says. He expects his fellow premiers will have to hop on this train. 'The residents of each province are going to demand that they get on that train as we're moving forward,' he says, 'because they want to prosper as well.' National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
