Have you heard of the self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada?” No, I’m not talking about Queen Elizabeth, but a British Columbia-based conspiracy theorist named Romana Didulo, a member of an ascendant movement known as sovereign citizenship.

Don’t be impressed by the lofty sounding name of the movement. Today in The Conversation Canada, Christine Sarteschi of Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa., writes that at its heart, it encourages lawlessness that includes a refusal to pay utility bills and mortgage payments. Sarteschi has been monitoring Didulo’s tour across Canada and the multitude of outlandish claims she makes. And while it’s easy to discount and dismiss Didulo as a crackpot, she has thousands of followers who are paying the price for her lies.

Sarteschi writes: "Didulo’s disciples will learn the hard way that they’ve been duped. In the meantime, they have caused serious real-world problems, and even terror, for their fellow law-abiding citizens. That's why Didulo’s rise must not be ignored"

https://theconversation.com/how-the-self-proclaimed-queen-of-canada-is-causing-true-harm-to-her-subjects-185125

Also today:

• Canada needs to invest more money into science innovation to help prevent the next global crisis
• Life after a stroke: Family and friends provide nearly all post-hospital care, but who’s caring for the caregivers?
• Indigenous-led supportive housing can be transformative