The growing list of lockdown dissenters

It’s no longer just the BBQ dude

Celebration Church Toronto @CelebrationTOR

Watch this just release video detailing why the Celebration Church Toronto has taken legal action this week. Click this YouTube link to watch now youtu.be/8nD2WpI6Qq4

Peter Youngren is the pastor who filed a constitutional challenge over COVID-19 restrictions in Toronto that limit 10 people to his 1,110-capacity church. Hudson’s Bay Company is seeking a court review of the Ontario lockdown that forced its stores closed. And the owner of Adamson Barbecue is currently defending himself via email.

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China cupfuls of mea culpas

Globalnews.ca @globalnews

CORRECTION: The two Michaels have not been indicted and tried despite earlier reports to that effect due to a translation error.

globalnews.caCanadian officials say two Michaels not tried by China, citing translation errorMichael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being held on suspicion of national security crimes but neither it nor Canada has released specifics about their cases.

Global Affairs Canada said a bad translation was to blame for initial reports that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were convicted for spying in China, where they nonetheless remain jailed. And files that revealed how Chinese troops were invited to train with the Canadian military forced a confirmation from Harjit Sajjan that it’s not happening now.

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The credit cards are now declining Pornhub. A week after New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wondered why Canada was harbouring videos of exploitation and assault, Visa and Mastercard aren’t buying into policy changes by Montreal-based owner MindGeek. Kristof still considers their response a good thing.

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Time travels around the CBC

With the CRTC saying a hearing will address the Tandem branded content initiative, it’s the perfect time for the National Post to revive its “CBC Watch” and Canadaland to feast on the fact that CBC president Catherine Tait has been living in Brooklyn, New York. At least the TV strategies of a decade ago are still good for something:

Kirstine Stewart🙋🏼 @kirstinestewart

This was one of my favourite series to green light at @CBC Hope Williams knows she has BIG shoes to fill 🙌🏽 🇨🇦 #beingerica @erinkarpluk @BOATROCKER Allison Williams To Star In & Exec Produce Adaptation Of ‘Being Erica’ – Deadline deadline.com/2020/12/alliso…

deadline.comAllison Williams To Star In & Exec Produce Adaptation Of Canadian Series ‘Being Erica’ With Boat Rocker StudiosEXCLUSIVE: Girls and Get Out star Allison Williams is to star in and exec produce a U.S. remake of Canadian comedy drama Being Erica. Williams has teamed up with Boat Rocker Studios, which recently rebranded its Platform One Media division, and Sex and the City writers Elisa Zuritsky & Julie Rottenb…

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Denis Villeneuve is lashing back at being dispatched to HBO Max. The director is displeased that his version of Dune will debut via the streaming service, even if that won’t be the case in his home country. Meanwhile, demand for more Star Wars on Disney Plus rescued Hayden Christiansen from an eternity of movies like Little Italy.

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Finally, the only song of 2020

Robert Michaels is the Toronto guitarist whose 1998 instrumental “Memento” has spent seven months as the hold music at Service Canada, where calls about pandemic benefits require an average wait of 55 minutes. The story behind a flamenco salve is provided by Vice, including the fact that Michaels just recently learned of its use: