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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran on the brink? Regime officials may seek refuge in Canada, long seen as safe ground for Tehran's elite
Iran regime collapse fears are rising, and Canada may become the destination of choice for fleeing Tehran elites. Security expert Casey Babb says many Iranian regime officials have already entered Canada despite laws meant to stop them. With Iran's leadership under pressure after devastating Israeli attacks, more high-level figures could claim asylum here, a move that deeply worries Iranian-Canadians. Canada's long-standing status as a quiet refuge, paired with recent asylum claim surges, shows a clear pattern. Iranian regime collapse may push top officials to Canada, where many have already entered via asylum loopholes. Experts warn of growing security risks as Canada quietly becomes a destination for Tehran's elite fleeing the Islamic Republic's crumbling government. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is Canada seen as a safe haven for Iranian regime officials? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How are these officials entering despite Canada's ban? Why are Iranian Canadians worried about these arrivals? 'Canada is known as a safe haven for Islamic regime officials and their families.' 'It is very traumatizing for Iranian Canadians to see officials from the Islamic regime in Canada.' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Are Iranian asylum claims rising in Canada? What's happening in Iran that's driving this fear? As Iran faces growing instability and reports swirl about the possible collapse of the Islamic Republic, a pressing concern is emerging in Canada—what happens if high-ranking Iranian regime officials start showing up at the country's doorstep?Security experts say it's not just a hypothetical. Canada already has a track record of quietly hosting former regime members from Tehran, and despite legal blocks in place, several senior officials have found ways to enter, stay, or claim asylum in though Canada banned Iranian regime officials from entering the country in 2022, there's strong evidence that many have already made their way in—and more could be on the analyst Casey Babb, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, told The Ben Mulroney Show that 'many, many senior officials of the Iranian regime, despite inadmissibility laws, have already made it in here.' Babb warns that if the regime collapses, these insiders 'know how to get into Canada.'In fact, according to the Canada Border Services Agency, as of April 2025, at leastwho once held senior positions in the Tehran government were living in Canada. Out of those,. Others have either left voluntarily or are still high-profile example includes, the former Tehran police chief involved in brutal crackdowns on protests. He was spotted casually working out at a Toronto gym back in in October 2022, the Canadian government barred any 'senior officials' affiliated with the Iranian regime since, a move connected to the killing of Canadian photojournalist, who died under Iranian despite the ban, former Iranian officials are slipping through Canada's asylum system. A key loophole? If they claim refugee status, they can remain in Canada while their claims are processed. That's exactly what Afshin Pirnoon, a former director-general at Iran's Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, did in inside, the Canadian refugee system allows these individuals time to settle, appeal, or even integrate into local communities. Meanwhile, human rights advocates and Iranian-Canadian activists have been raising red flags for is home to one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities in the world. Many fled the regime's repression and torture, so seeing former officials living freely in Canada is deeply disturbing for the recent Foreign Interference Commission inquiry, Nazanin Afshin-Jam Mackay, an Iranian-born activist and wife of former Justice Minister Peter MacKay, said it plainly:Others spoke of officials visiting places like Montreal for summer vacations or embedding themselves in community events. One witness mentioned a former Iranian cabinet minister vacationing in advocacy group called StopIRGC, launched in 2022, is made up of volunteer lawyers tracking and reporting on regime figures allegedly living in Canada. According to their reports, they've submitted 91 cases to law enforcement so the first quarter of 2025, Iranian nationals made up the second-largest group of asylum claimants in Canada. Out of 28,830 total claims, 1,730 came from Iran. Only India had more with 4,195 surge is part of a wider refugee spike that's pushing the Canadian government to take urgent action. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, a new bill is being fast-tracked to tighten eligibility rules for asylum concern isn't only about numbers—it's about who is making these claims and what risks they may pose to national security and the safety of the diaspora community in Islamic Republic of Iran is reportedly on the edge of collapse, according to security sources and international observers. A series of devastating Israeli military attacks has badly damaged Iran's military and political a video address to Iranians earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged citizens to rise against their government, claiming that Iran's leaders were already 'packing their bags.'If the regime collapses completely, many insiders are expected to flee the country—and Canada remains a top destination on their list.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
St. Mary siphon repairs three months ahead of schedule, within $70-million budget
Repairs to the St. Mary siphon near Babb, Mont., are well ahead of schedule. The siphon burst in June 2024, cutting off water to the Milk River.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
NDP says political staffer fired for cause, wants lawsuit turfed
The NDP government said it did nothing wrong when it fired a political staffer in 2024 and has disputed her allegation it was due to racial bias. In response to a lawsuit launched by Shondell Orinthia Babb, the government said in a statement of defence that she had violated its code of conduct by making derogatory comments about Jewish people. Babb, a former press secretary to Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Housing Minister Bernadette Smith, is seeking damages for wrongful dismissal in a statement of claim in December. She alleged her firing was a result of discrimination and said the government did not have just cause to terminate her in May 2024. In her lawsuit, Babb describes herself as an African-Canadian. In its statement of defence, the government argues it had sufficient cause to terminate Babb and asks the court to throw out her lawsuit. 'On… May 24, 2024, the plaintiff made derogatory and discriminatory comments about Jewish people in the presence of other employees, including her supervisor,' reads the government court filing. 'The derogatory comments violated the defendant's code of conduct and respectful workplace policy.' The court filing doesn't mention the specific comments. The government said it had received a complaint about Babb as per its code of conduct, but when she met with the human resources director to discuss the issue, the plaintiff 'repeated the derogatory comments and failed or neglected to apologize for the offence that been caused by the said comments.' As a result of the comments, her response to the complaint and meetings with employees who heard the comments, the government said it decided her termination was warranted and justified under its employment agreement with her, its defence filing said. Premier Wab Kinew's chief of staff, Mark Rosner, told Babb in a letter dated May 29, 2024, that she had violated the code of conduct and workplace policy and that she was terminated immediately, Babb said in her court filing. She denied violating the policy in her lawsuit. The government denied the allegation of discrimination and her claim she suffered mental distress as a result of being let go. Babb was hired on Oct. 18, 2023, the day Kinew was sworn in as premier after winning the election. Press secretaries are political staffers — not civil servants — hired by the party in power. Before the termination, Babb had been moved from the press secretary role to that of an executive assistant to the sport minister, Babb said in her court filings. She characterized the assistant job as administrative, which the government disputed in its filings, describing the role as an advisory position that fit her employment agreement. The government said it was not a demotion and her pay had remained the same. Babb's lawyer filed a notice of motion seeking to disqualify Thompson Dorfman Sweatman, a Winnipeg law firm, from working on the case on behalf of the government. Babb argued she had used the law firm's services, beginning in 2020, in relation to her hair care business. She alleged the firm was in a conflict of interest. The law firm has denied there is a conflict of interest. A judge has yet to rule on Babb's motion. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Convicted pimp sentenced in Las Vegas child sex crimes case: ‘I'm a warrior'
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A judge sentenced a man to 35 years to life in prison in a Las Vegas sex trafficking case Tuesday. Richard Babb, 24, appeared to take no responsibility and showed no remorse for his crimes moments before Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced him. 'I'm a warrior,' Babb said. 'I'm a survivor.' A jury found Babb guilty of 10 counts on April 15. Nine of the charges including two counts of sex trafficking a child under 16 years of age, two counts of soliciting a child for prostitution, two counts of luring children or mentally ill persons with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, sex trafficking a child under 14 years of age, sexual assault with a minor under 14 years of age, and first-degree kidnapping of a minor are felonies. Statutory sexual seduction is a gross misdemeanor. Convicted pimp made threats to witness from Las Vegas jail, prosecutors say 'I want the world to know what's going on,' Babb said Tuesday, claiming he was wronged by the justice system and that prosecutors were out to get him. 'They try to portray me to be this heinous, evil, corrupted person.' Convicted pimp's sentencing delayed: Allegations of threats, intimidation in Las Vegas case Babb also blamed his previous attorneys. Prosecutor Morgan Lombardo argued for a sentence of 57 years to life in prison, and said each of Babb's four victims deserve time served for them. She said Babb left one underage girl on Tropicana Avenue, a well-known corridor for prostitution, to have sex with adults so he could collect the money. Babb met two victims, ages 12 and 13, on Snapchat to try to sell them marijuana, according to Lombardo. 'He was the adult to go into the children's home to collect them to give him a blowjob,' Lombardo said. Convicted pimp to be appointed fifth attorney in Las Vegas case Babb belched out loud in the courtroom as Lombardo spoke. Babb and his attorney Tom Ericsson argued for a new trial because some of Babb's loved ones were not allowed inside the courtroom during Babb's trial. Leavitt held a hearing on the issue on Jan. 31, and heard testimony from attorneys and court staff about the family's behavior. Prosecutors said family members were disruptive and made threats. Babb's loved ones told him they loved him as he was escorted out of the courtroom Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
24-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Nomination contenders 'appalled' as Steve Kent is tapped as Avalon Conservative candidate
Social Sharing A decision by the Conservative Party of Canada to appoint Steve Kent — a former PC MHA and municipal administrator with the City of Mount Pearl — as the party's candidate in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Avalon has two nomination contenders crying foul. Goulds resident Branden O'Brien, a ship's captain with the Canadian Coast Guard, and Carbonear lawyer Jessica Babb had been waging an energetic nomination contest. Both say they were encouraged to enter politics by Kent, who is the Atlantic Canada regional organizer for the Conservatives. But on Sunday, on the same day that Liberal Leader Mark Carney launched a federal election campaign and announced that Canadians will go to the polls on April 28, the party exercised its right to appoint a candidate instead. That's left O'Brien and Babb, along with their supporters, feeling shocked and frustrated. The two unsuccessful nominees issued a joint statement on O'Brien's Facebook page on Monday morning. "We are not only deeply disappointed but also frankly appalled by this decision, which undermines the democratic values our community deserves," the statement reads. Babb told CBC News Monday morning she was "blindsided" following a 10-week effort that saw her spend thousands of dollars and convince more than 500 supporters to spend $15 each to sign up for the Conservative party. "We were working hard. We were ready for it and it didn't happen," Babb said by telephone. Her brother, A.J. Babb, said the decision to acclaim Kent as the candidate "is not the positive change that Canada needs." A.J. Babb said he will not be voting for Kent, and is urging those who signed up for the party in order to support his sister to "do the same." "Two young professionals who had taken weeks of time and effort to campaign in good faith that [the] democratic process would be followed, and a nomination vote would occur," A.J. Babb wrote on Facebook. "We were disappointed and shocked that an individual who had actively supported Jessica to run would subsequently become acclaimed." O'Brien and Babb said they championed a transparent and open nomination process, but said those principles were "disregarded" by the party. Jessica Babb said she will remain a member of the Conservative party, but said "no comment" when asked if she will support Kent's campaign. Kent is the former deputy mayor and mayor of Mount Pearl and represented Mount Pearl North in the House of Assembly for a decade. He served in senior cabinet roles, including health minister, and was deputy premier. He left provincial politics in late 2017 to become chief administrative officer for the City of Mount Pearl, but was placed on administrative leave by the city in the fall of 2019 over allegations of workplace harassment. Kent quit his job as chief administrative officer in June 2020 before council could vote to fire him. There's ongoing litigation between the city and Kent related to his departure. Kent has not responded to messages left by CBC News. It's not clear why he decided to run in the riding of Avalon, and not Cape Spear, which includes the entire city of Mount Pearl. The Liberal candidate in Avalon is Paul Connors, the executive assistant to the current MP, Ken McDonald. McDonald is not seeking re-election. The NDP does not have a candidate listed on its website as of Monday morning.
