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Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The Daily Brief | Criminalizing “residential school denialism”

By
Lindsay Shepherd
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Kamloops Indian Residential School students. New York Times.

An NDP MP has put forward a private member’s bill which seeks to criminalize “residential school denialism,” serving up to two years imprisonment for those found guilty of violating the law.

Plus, Ontario’s privacy commissioner sided with Ontario Tech University “anti-hate” researcher Dr. Barbara Perry in keeping her 300 active Canadian “far-right” hate groups list secret.

And Canada’s birth rate falls to a record low and is among the countries with the lowest fertility rates in the world.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Lindsay Shepherd and Isaac Lamoureux!

OP-ED: Attempts to criminalize “residential school denialism” continue

By
Hymie Rubenstein
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Source: Facebook

Today is Canada’s “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” a statutory holiday in many parts of the country.

A growing cohort of informed Canadians will see this day as one of countless federal government virtue signaling-cum-propaganda efforts meant to obscure, deny, or hide the truth about our country’s interaction with its indigenous people, notably, the role played in this interaction by the Indian Residential Schools a noble albeit flawed and occasionally harmful effort to help Canada’s first settlers adapt to the challenges of a rapidly modernizing country, an effort the historical record shows indigenous people and their leaders strongly embraced.

Today is also four short days after a reprehensible motion by Leah Gazan, the NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, presented in a private member’s bill, criminalizing residential school “denialism” — defined as “downplaying, denying or condoning the harms of residential schools in Canada.”

Her bill rides on the back of a Liberal government amendment to its 2022 budget implementation bill that added a criminal provision against making public statements that promote antisemitism “by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust.”

In short, Gazan sees Canada’s generally benevolent treatment of children attending the indigenous boarding schools where not a single verified murder of students took place as equivalent to the Nazi murder of six million Jews before and during the Second World War.

As of last November, the federal Justice Department said it was not aware of any charges or prosecutions having been laid under that offence. British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Alberta all said they had no charges or cases on record, so the constitutionality of the law has not been tested.

Gazan confirmed in an interview last Thursday she drew inspiration from the existing provision — which has yet to see any charges or prosecutions — saying she wants to see the “genocide” of residential schools given the same status.

Gazan is of mixed descent. Her mother was a Chinese and Lakota woman and her father was a Jewish Holocaust survivor. She said the history of genocide on one side of her family “is never up for debate.”

Her words say she also wants no debate on the charge of an indigneous genocide that never occurred.

“That is not true for Indigenous People of Canada,” she said on Thursday.

“I cannot think of anything more violent to survivors and their family members and community to constantly have their history with genocide up for debate. If this country is serious about reconciling it has to come to terms with some of our history and take the actions necessary to protect those that are most impacted by it.”

If passed, Gazan’s private member’s bill would make it an offence to willfully promote hatred against indigenous people “by condoning, denying, justifying or downplaying the harm caused by the residential school system in Canada.”

In her speech to the House of Commons after tabling it, she said, “All parliamentarians must stand firm against all forms of damaging hate speech, including the denial of the tragedy of the residential schools in Canada.”

If they were all still alive, most of the 150,000 children voluntarily sent to the residential schools from loving homes undamaged by orphanhood or systemic child abuse or neglect would vigorously challenge her assertions.

Though the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which was established to investigate the residential school system, heard from thousands of former students who testified to experiencing physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, as well as malnutrition, it failed to interrogate these claims or determine whether they arrived at the schools already badly damaged by their troubled home experience on impoverished Indian reserves.

Last fall, Gazan also tabled a motion that called on Members of Parliament to recognize the residential school system as a genocide, which received unanimous consent from Parliament.

On Thursday, she told the National Post that she respects free speech but that “all rights have limitations.”

“There’s a difference between freedom of speech and hate speech,” Gazan said, adding the abuses perpetrated on Indigenous children are irrefutable.

What she refuses to acknowledge is that only a handful of these reported abuses have been proven in a court of law or that they are overwhelmed by stories of a happy and rewarding school life, as carefully revealed here, here, here, here, and here.

Chantalle Aubertin, a spokeswoman for Justice Minister Arif Virani said, “We must not ignore the lasting impact these schools had on Indigenous peoples — an intergenerational trauma that continues to be deeply felt today. The denial of the atrocities that occurred remains painful for survivors, their families, and communities.”

Whatever “intergeneration trauma that continues to be felt today” is a product of the incomplete integration into the larger Canadian society of indigenous people despite following 500 years of contact with Western civilization. In particular, the Indian Residential Schools failed to do so because no more than one-third of indigenous children attended for an average of 4.5 years. Nearly all but orphans returned home on weekends if their homes were nearby or for long Christmas and summer holidays where they continued to internalize and practice their traditional ways of life.

Conservative MP Jamie Schmale said in a statement last Thursday that his party would “closely examine” the bill.

“The residential school system is a dark chapter of our nation’s history. In 2008, the Canadian government under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered an apology finally acknowledging the horrors of the residential school system,” Schmale said.

The true horror is that one-third of indigenous children attended no school at all during the period the residential schools were operating under government control and funding, 1883-1996.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse posted on X that she supports the bill.

“Each political party should be in support of this bill,” she added.

Despite a lack of evidence, attempts to criminalize “residential school denialism” continue.

Private member bills are rarely approved. Hopefully, this groundless bill will fail to pass as well.

Coalition of disability rights groups file assisted suicide Charter challenge 

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Pexels

A coalition of disability rights organizations has launched a Charter challenge against the federal government in Ontario’s Superior Court over a section of Canada’s assisted suicide law.

The group filed a notice of application to challenge what’s known as track two of the assisted suicide law on Thursday, a section which the group alleges has resulted in premature deaths. 

Track two says that patients whose natural deaths aren’t reasonably foreseeable but who also suffer from an intolerable condition may apply for an assisted death. 

Whereas, track one only includes MAID applications from patients whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable. 

The group argues that track two is an “abandonment” of those that they represent. 

“A law that allows people with disabilities to access state-funded death in circumstances where they cannot access state-funded supports they need to make their suffering tolerable is grossly disproportionate,” reads the coalition’s filing.

The group said that if someone with a disability is seeking assisted death due to poverty, social deprivation or a lack of essential supports, they should not be offered medically assisted suicide. 

Instead, assisted suicide should only be available to those where natural death is reasonably foreseeable. 

“There is no deprivation that is more serious and more irrevocable than causing someone who is not otherwise dying to die,” it said. 

However, Department of Justice spokesperson Ian McLeod told the Canadian Press that assisted suicide was a “complex and deeply personal issue.”

“The government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians’ needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and freedom of choice,” said McLeod. “We will further present the government’s position in our submissions in court.”

Among the groups involved in the Charter challenge are Inclusion Canada, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, Indigenous Disability Canada and the Disabled Women’s Network of Canada.

There are two individual plaintiffs involved as well. 

Executive vice-president of Inclusion Canada Krista Carr said that track two of the federal assisted suicide program has revealed the lack of support that people with disabilities face in Canada.

“The law has led people with disabilities ending their lives with so much life left to live because Canada has failed and refuses to provide the support they need,” said Carr during a news conference announcing the legal challenge.

“This isn’t compassion. It’s abandonment.”

The group noted that they don’t oppose the program entirely, just specifically track two of the law, which Carr believes “singles out” those with disabilities. 

According to the challenge, the coalition alleges that track two does not require treatment options to be fully exercised before offering assisted suicide and that it may even “incentivize death” ahead of other options for people with disabilities.

“Death should not be a solution for disabled people who experience intolerable suffering but are otherwise not at the end of their lives,” it reads.

National chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities Heather Walkus said the government isn’t doing enough to listen to people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities are being not just pushed to the margins, but driven off the cliff unless services and supports are in place,” said Walkus.

She suffers from multiple sclerosis and vision loss and said while seeking treatment for a hip injury recently she was unexpectedly asked by a medical professional if she’d considered assisted suicide. 

A question that Walkus found to be “stunning.”

“I don’t suffer because of my disability,” she said. “It’s other people’s perceptions, it’s the physical environment, the attitudinal environment, the policies and the support services, or lack of them – that’s what disables me and puts me in a position of suffering, not my disability.”

Anti-Israel group plans rally outside Israeli consulate on the first anniversary of Oct. 7

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

As the first anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel approaches, a Montreal-based anti-Israel group plans to hold a rally outside the Israeli consulate in Canada to celebrate the “martyrs” of Hamas, the terrorist group who led the attack.

As first reported by the National Post, the Montreal Palestinian Youth Movement is organizing an anti-Israel pro-terrorism rally outside the “zionist consulate” at 1 Westmount Sq, in Montreal, Quebec, on the anniversary of Oct. 7. The deadly terror attack spearheaded by Hamas killed over 1,200 people and took 251 people hostage, 97 of those hostages are still in captivity.

“All out for our Maryrs, for our people, for our land, for Palestine!” the Instagram post by PYM Montreal said. “Join us as we march to honor the martyrs of the past year—and the past 76 years—who gave everything for their land, their dignity, and their liberation.”

The Palestinian Youth Movement has been a large part of the anti-Israel protest movement since Oct. 7. The group bills itself as a “transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians in Palestine and in exile worldwide as a result of the ongoing Zionist colonization and occupation of our homeland.”

The group boasts it published the first English edition of an avowed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine member Wiam Rafeedie’s novel, The Trinity Fundamentals. The Marxist-Leninist PFLP is a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

“We will not stand by while our governments fuel this violence,” the Instagram post continued. “We will rise and fill the streets because justice demands action, and silence is betrayal.”

The group also is organizing a protest on Oct. 5 at Place Des Arts on 1400 Saint-Urbain St., in Montreal, to mark “one year of resistance” since Oct. 7, 2023.

“Join us…to mark one year of genocide that has killed over 40,000 martyrs – a year during which our steadfast people in Gaza have shown the world that resistance is the only path to victory against Zionism,” the post said.

The death toll cited is from numbers from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health. The numbers do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.  The PYM vows that “the Zionist entity” a term used to describe the Jewish state of Israel, will “fall.” 

“For 100 years, our people have resisted against colonialism and will continue to resist until liberation. The struggle will live on until every inch of Palestine is liberated,” the post said “The fight continues.”

B’nai Brith Canada, a Canadian-Jewish community group, thinks it’s “absurd” that any protest glorifying the attacks of Oct. 7 should be tolerated in Canada.

“Rallies plan for October 7 to glorify and celebrate acts of terror and to desecrate the memory of the victims of the worst terror attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust is inexcusable,” Rich Robertson, the director of research and advocacy at B’nai Brith told True North in an interview.

He said several rallies are planned across Canada for the same time. PYM’s Toronto contingent has an event planned for Oct. 5 at Yongue and Dundas Square. 

“This October marks one year since our people in Gaza showed the world that the Palestinian people will continue to resist their continued displacement and dispossession by their colonize,” the group said.

Robertson said the presence of these rallies “runs contrary to Canadian values.”

“It has the capacity to only contribute to division in our society,” Robertson said. “They plan to glorify the martyrs of the Oct. 7 attack, and it’s really upsetting that on what should be a solemn day, a day to remember the innocent victims of terror, that protests will be taking place across the country to celebrate their murder.” 

Montreal has hosted a slew of anti-Israel events and incidents since Oct. 7. During the summer, the city was home to multiple anti-Israel protest encampments, such as at McGill University and Concordia University. 

In July, Montreal Hate Crimes began investigating an electronic traffic sign which was hijacked to say messages that many Jewish community groups say are calls for antisemitic violence globally. And In August, protesters disrupted a Pride season parade. Since Oct. 7, Montreal has also been one of the cities where residents proudly promoted Jihad or holy wars and, in some cases, lauded and pledged allegiance to Hamas leadership.

When asked for a response to the protest, a spokesperson for Montreal’s Mayor Valarie Plant sent a tweet the mayor made in solidarity with those calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.

Liberals demote sport shooters association after criticism of gun buyback scheme

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association has been demoted from its key role as a “participant” to a “consultant” in the federal government’s firearms buyback program after criticizing the Liberals’ approach to gun confiscation. 

Despite being contracted to assist with the program, the CSAAA’s vocal opposition to the feasibility of the government plan from the outset has led to its role being significantly reduced.

“There is a severe lack of consultation with the firearms industry during the creation of these policies. The government’s approach often prioritizes political wins and input from victims’ groups, leaving industry experts and the legal firearms community sidelined with no say in their own futures,” reads a release from the association.

The CSAAA was originally contracted to help businesses with communications, inventorying firearms marked for confiscation, and assessing compensation for the affected firearms and businesses.

President of the CSAAA Wes Winkel told True North that his association was never to be involved with collecting and destroying guns but instead was assisting the structural administration, like helping with price estimates and getting the administrative structure set up. They also liaised with dealers and gathered feedback on websites and structure by using their dealer network for input.

The association is no longer responsible for collecting or distributing data for the government or firearm businesses. Instead, its role is now limited to on-demand consultation, offering industry expertise when requested.

True North previously reported CSAAA saying they felt like a political “pawn.”

The CSAAA called the buyback program complex. The association said it highlighted issues rather than offered solutions because none exist.

“The confiscation program is a fundamentally flawed idea,” reads the release.

Winkel told True North that his association had been a highly critical participant, warning the Liberals that their solutions would not work.

“They got frustrated with us and basically changed the contract to say that we’re now just consultants. We’re no longer doing any participation in the actual program itself,” said Winkel. 

He added that the Liberals either demoted them because they criticized the feds or because they could not solve the issues and that no replacement has been named yet.

Winkel said that the main critiques were regarding solutions to the lack of transportation, facilities, and infrastructure. 

Regarding transportation, he said that there are no mechanisms in the country to transport firearms back to the facilities safely. The only national carrier capable of doing so, Canada Post, has refused. 

He added that in rural areas like Nunavut or Northern B.C., there is no access to couriers.

Winkel said that the Liberals have yet to allocate appropriate funds to the process.

Despite still not collecting a single gun, the cost of the program recently rose to $67 million. 

In 2021, the Parliamentary Budget Officer calculated that the buyback program would cost over $750 million to compensate firearm owners. 

Winkel said that the administrative costs will be “considerably more” than the amount given to firearms owners in compensation.  

“Like everything the government does, the bureaucracy runs amok. And, now, we end up with huge cost overruns,” he said. 

He said that the business side of the gun buyback is likely possible but viewed retrieving guns from individuals as an impossible task.

“Which is why they deferred the amnesty date until after the next federal election, because I think everyone kind of expects it to be a moot point by then, that it’s not going to happen,” said Winkel.

CEO and executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights, Rod Giltaca, told True North that he was surprised the Liberals haven’t completed the business portion of the buyback yet.

“The surprising part is that they haven’t been able to complete the retailer buyback. These are willing participants that possess invoices for exactly what they paid for these firearms, and the government knows where all these businesses are as they are licensed,” said Giltaca. “I’m sure there’s more to the story than what we see on the surface.”

Winkel said that by the next federal election, the Liberals may collect some guns to justify their ongoing process in their electoral campaign.

“But I don’t believe that there will be any substance to the volume that gets collected,” he said.

Winkel said that the Liberals haven’t kicked the CSAAA to the curb completely, and they still engage with them every week. However, they have been removed from the day-to-day structural administration.

“They no longer want us to contact the dealers on behalf of them. They want to go directly to the dealers themselves,” he said. 

UPDATE: A map of the 112 churches that have been vandalized or burned since the residential schools announcement

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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112 Christian churches in Canada have been vandalized, burned down or desecrated since the announcement of the apparent discovery of graves found near a residential school in Kamloops, BC.

Since then, three other first nations have announced similar findings of burial sites located near former residential schools. 

In response to these announcements, far-left radicals have used this opportunity as an excuse to terrorize Catholic and other Christian communities by targeting churches.

Here is the full list of churches that have been targeted by the radical vandals:

ARSONED OR BURNED

St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Gitwangak First Nation, BC.,

  • On June 26th suspected arsonists lit a fire on the door steps of the church, several days later arsonists returned and burned the church completely down.

St. Columba Church, Tofino, BC., 

  • On July 2nd, firefighters were called to put out a fire at the church. One side of the church was seriously damaged but the fire was eventually put out.

Saint Ann’s Catholic Church, Princeton, BC., 

  • St. Ann’s Catholic Church was one of two churches burnt down on June 26 on Similkameen First Nations territory. The over 100-year-old building was engulfed in flames early Saturday morning. Nearby Chopaka Catholic Church was also burnt down only an hour later. Police are investigating whether the two incidents are connected.

Chopaka Catholic Church, Chopaka, BC., 

  • On June 26, Chopaka Catholic Church was burnt down after a suspected arson targeted the building. St. Ann’s Church which was nearby was also burnt down only less than an hour prior. RCMP are treating both fires as suspicious but have yet to determine whether they were connected. The church was located on Similkameen First Nations land. 

Sacred Heart Mission Church, Penticton, BC.,

  • Sacred Heart Mission Church was burnt down on Monday, June 28. The church, which was built in 1910, was the second to be engulfed in the south Okanagan on the same day. Nearly 40 minutes away, St. Gregory Mission Church near Osoyoos was also burnt down. Sacred Heart Mission Church was located on Penticton Indian Band lands.

St. Gregory Mission Church, Osoyoos, BC.,

  • St. Gregory Mission Church was one of two churches in the south Okanagan to have been destroyed by fire on June 28. The church, which is located on Osoyoos Indian Band land, was set on fire at 3:10 am on Monday. Investigators are continuing to look into the incident.

Grace Lutheran Church, Kelowna, BC.,

  • On July 10, firefighters responded to a suspicious fire at the church in West Kelowna. The fire had engulfed the entire garage before being put out. The incident is currently under investigation.

Our Lady of Peace, Peace River, AB.,

  • On July 3, arsonists attacked Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church with Molotov cocktails causing a fire. According to police, the suspects threw the incendiary devices through the church windows. Firefighters were able to put out the fire with minimal damage to the ƒbuilding.

House Of Prayer Alliance Church, Calgary AB.,

  • Investigators with the arson unit are looking into a fire that broke out on July 4 at a local Calgary church. The fire damaged the building externally and also caused some smoke damage inside.

Siksika First Nation Catholic Church, Siksika, AB.,

  • On June 28, RCMP and fire officials responded to a fire at Siksika First Nation Catholic Church. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before any significant damage took hold. According to an initial investigation, the fire was believed to have been set deliberately.

St. Jean Baptiste Parish, Edmonton, AB.,

  • St. Jean Baptiste Parish church in Morinville was engulfed in flames on Wednesday, June 30. Fire crews attended the building around 3:20 am but were unable to fully extinguish the flames. The church was totally lost as a result of the fire.

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Kehewin, AB.,

  • Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church was completely destroyed following a fire that was deliberately set on Friday, July 9. An under-aged individual was arrested and charged with arson following the incident.

Co-Cathedral of St. Patrick, Yellowknife, NWT.,

  • Yellowknife RCMP are investigating a suspicious fire lit at the Co-Cathedral of St. Patrick in Yellowknife on July 1. No injuries were reported and the building was slightly damaged. According to a statement from the diocese, the fire involved an incendiary device.

Polish Roman Catholic Church, Saskatoon, SK.,

  • A former Polish Roman Catholic Church located on private property near Redberry Lake was burnt to the ground on July 8. A local resident had noticed smoke coming from the historic church’s general location and found the church to be engulfed in flames. Saskatchewan RCMP are investigating the incident.

St John’s Anglican Church, Saint Johns, Ont.,

  • On May 12, the 200-year-old St John’s Anglican Church was set on fire after somebody doused the building with gasoline. Local First Nations authorities believe the fire was set in response to recent residential school grave announcements.

Johnsfield Baptist Church, Saint Johns, Ont.,

  • Police with Six Nations of the Grand River are investigating a July 5 arson attempt. The suspect attempted to light the building on fire while residents were located inside on the lower level. The resident was able to extinguish the fire and claimed that he heard a car door slam shut before he came outside of the building. Following the arson attempt, residential school survivor Jessie Malcolm condemned the actions.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Sipekne’katik First Nations, NS.,

  • A suspicious fire broke out on June 30 on Sipekne’katik First Nations land at the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha church. According to investigators, threats targeting the church were circulating around the community before the fire was set. Firefighters were able to contain the flames but the fire managed to damage parts of the building before it was put out.

Samson United Church, Maskwacis First Nation,  AB., 

  • A fire broke out at Samson United Church in Maskwacis First Nations on June 19. The church is currently waiting on a final report on the fire. As a result of the blaze, the main floor experienced some interior damage and additionally, the basement was flooded.

Angus Bonner Memorial United Church, MB.,

  • According to Manitoba RCMP, someone reported a fire at Angus Bonner Memorial United Church at 2 a.m. on July 5. By the time police arrived, the abandoned church was already on fire. The building was totally destroyed and police are treating the fire as arson.

St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Surrey, B.C.,

  • Early morning on July 19, firefighters responded to a fire at St. George Coptic Orthodox in Surrey around 3:30 am. The flames engulfed the entire structure and only a few charred pieces of the walls remained. Police are still investigating the fire.

Central Heights Church, Abbotsford, BC.,

  • Abbotsford Police Department is investigating a July 21 arson incident at Central Heights Church. A suspect described as 30-40 years old, male, dark-skinned and wearing a bright yellow rain jacket with a grey baseball hat is being sought by authorities.

Little Flower Mission Church, Fox Lake, AB.,

  • RCMP are investigating an arson incident after a fire was deliberately set at Fox Lake Community Church on Saturday, August 7, 2021. The building sustained significant interior damage.

St. Mary’s Parish, Prince George, BC.

  • On July 26, a suspect placed two containers of gasoline near St Mary’s Parish church and lit them on fire. The incident caused the side of the church to catch aflame. Police are still investigating the incident. 

Knox United Church, Prince George, BC.

  • Police responded to a report of an individual spraying flammable material and spray painting an alley near the church. Messages made reference to the residential school findings. 

St. Andrew’s United Church, Prince George, BC.

  • Fire services responded to a structure fire at St. Andrew’s United Church on July 4. The outside of the building was damaged as a result of the fire. Police are still investigating the matter.

Upper Pine Gospel Chapel, Rose Prairie, BC.

According to Fort St. John RCMP a report was received at 12:34 a.m. of a fire engulfing Upper Pine Gospel Chapel. Police are investigating the incident. 

St Joseph’s Lutheran Church, Armena, AB.

Camrose RCMP responded to a fire on Dec. 31, 2022 at the small parish St. Joseph Lutheran Church near the village of Hay Lakes. When first responders arrived the church was completely engulfed in flames. Police believe the fire is suspicious and are investigating it as an intentional act.

St. Bernard Catholic Church, Grouard, AB.,

  • On May 22, 2023 St. Bernard Catholic Church was completely engulfed in flames after fires were intentionally set within its premises. The RCMP have since arrested two suspects as a result of the fire. The building remains unsalvageable. 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cherry Grove, AB.,

  • On Apr 28, 2023 a fire was intentionally set at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Police are investigating the fire as suspicious after the church was razed to the ground by the flames.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Barrie, ON., 

  • On Feb. 19, 2023 fire crews responded to an arson incident at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. According to investigators a fire was intentionally set on the exterior of the building. One individual has since been charged three counts of arson as a result.

St. Michael’s Hungarian Church, Bashaw, AB.,

  • On Feb. 13, RCMP responded to a fire at the historic St. Michael’s Hungarian Church. When they arrived the church had completely burnt to the ground. Police have since arrested and charged two suspects.  

Okotoks Alliance Church, Okotoks, AB.,

  • On Feb. 5, 2023 the Fire Department was called to deal with a fire at Okotoks Alliance Church. Police are investigating the fire as suspicious and have ruled that it is related to arson. 

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, ON., 

  • On Dec. 31, 2022 police arrived at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church where they discovered incendiary materials and evidence of arson. One suspect is currently facing arson charges in connection with the incident. 

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church, Fort Chipewyan, AB., 

  • On Aug. 25, 2022 firefighters responded to a church arson at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church. One suspect was arrested in Oct. of that year for the fire. The church was completely destroyed. 

St. Theresa Point Roman Catholic Church, St. Theresa Point First Nation, MB.,

  • On Apr. 4, 2021 police responded to St. Theresa Point Roman Catholic Church after it was set on fire. RCMP ruled the incident arson and arrested one suspect.

Cross Connection Church, Chilliwack, BC.,

  • Police in Chilliwack, B.C., are investigating a fire at the Cross Connection Church that occurred in Sept 2023, resulting in two firefighters sustaining minor injuries. Smoke and flames engulfed the 75-year-old church, leaving it gutted and prompting firefighters to withdraw due to intense heat and thick smoke. The building was eventually demolished. 

St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Janvier, Alberta,

  • RCMP in Alberta are probing a church fire in Janvier, near Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, as the Wood Buffalo detachment reported the fully engulfed building upon arrival, and witnesses mentioned a silver sedan seen leaving the vicinity around the time of the blaze.

Beiseker Level-Land Seventh-day Adventist Church, Beiseker, Alberta, 

  • The Beiseker Level-Land Seventh-day Adventist Church, located 10 kilometers east of Beiseker, was intentionally set ablaze, according to RCMP, and although four fire departments responded promptly to the 6:12 a.m. call on Wednesday, the vacant church could not be saved. The Airdrie Integrated Rural RCMP confirmed on Thursday that a fire investigator concluded it was a case of arson, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Gleanreagh Church, Barrhead, Alberta,

  • Barrhead RCMP and Barrhead Fire Services are jointly investigating two arson fires that caused extensive damage to two churches in the town on Thursday night, with the first incident involving a structural fire at The Glenreagh Church on Range Road 40 in Barrhead, reported to police around 7:52 p.m.

United Church, Barrhead, Alberta,

  • At 9 p.m., authorities responded to a second structure fire at The United Church on Range Road 54 in Barrhead, as indicated in a Friday morning news release; despite prompt efforts from fire crews, both blazes were swiftly extinguished, but both The Glenreagh Church and The United Church suffered extensive damage, with no reported injuries resulting from the fires.

God’s Lake First Nations Church, Gods Lake Narrows, Manitoba,

  • A church in God’s Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba was completely destroyed by a fire reported to the RCMP shortly before 4 a.m. on Sept. 3. Mounties are seeking tips and urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

Church of the Good Shepherd, Taloyoak, Nunavut,

  • The Anglican church in Taloyoak faced substantial damage in a fire on Oct. 3, nearly burning down, as reported by the Diocese of the Arctic in its weekly newsletter on Oct. 5, 2023. The Church of the Good Shepherd suffered considerable smoke and water damage, and an ongoing investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the fire.

Evangelical Free Church, Coronation, Alberta,

  • Coronation and Consort RCMP, on Sept. 5, 2023, at 12:57 p.m., responded to a 911 complaint of a structure fire at the Evangelical Free Church in Coronation, subsequently charging a local resident, with arson and mischief over $5,000.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Hamilton, Ontario,

  • A “suspicious” fire occurred at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Edgemont Street South, near King Street East and Ottawa Street South, prompting investigation by the Hamilton Police Arson Unit.

Blessed Sacrament Parish, Regina, Sask.

  • A church in downtown Regina was the target of an arson attack on Feb. 9. The fire, which started at the back door of Blessed Sacrament Parish around 3:40 a.m., was quickly put out by firefighters. Fire investigators confirmed that the fire was intentionally set and notified the police. A security camera video posted online by the church’s priest showed a masked person pouring and igniting a flammable liquid on the door before running away.

Saint-Bernard Catholic Church, St. Bernard, N.S. 

  • A vacant building next to a former church in St. Bernard, N.S., was destroyed by fire. RCMP are investigating the incident as arson. The building used to be a rectory for the Saint-Bernard Catholic Church, which was sold to a private owner in 2022. The former church was not affected by the fire, but the historical society president said there was smoke inside. No one was injured in the fire.

St. Stephens Church, Summerland, B.C. 

  • A 49-year-old man from Penticton is facing charges after allegedly setting fires at a church and a high school in Summerland in February. Gerrid Perret was arrested by Summerland RCMP and charged with breaking and entering, mischief and failing to comply with a probation order, according to a news release. The incidents occurred at St. Stephen’s Church on Saturday and Summerland Secondary School, police said.

St. George Anglican Church, Loon Lake Sask. 

  • An early morning fire destroyed St. George’s Anglican Church in Loon Lake, Saskatchewan, a building dating back to 1938 that still hosted monthly services. While no one was injured, the cause is under investigation.

House of Covenant International Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

  • Alex Donald Courchene, 28, has been arrested in connection with the September 14 church arson at House of Covenant International Church in Winnipeg, which killed a married couple, Geda Wodisso, 49, and Zenabu Gula, 38, who lived in an upstairs suite. Police stated that the victims were not known to Courchene.

St. Gerard’s Church, Powell River, B.C.

  • On February 24, residents of Wildwood discovered that St. Gerard’s Catholic Church had been vandalized with 36 broken windows and branches set on fire inside. Although further damage was prevented, the building suffered from smoke damage. 

Kasabonika First Nation Church, Kasabonika First Nation, Ont.

  • The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service is investigating a fire that destroyed a church in Kasabonika Lake First Nation as a case of arson. 

Sicamous United Church, Sicamous, B.C. 

  • Sicamous Fire Rescue responded to a suspicious fire at the address of Sicamous United Church where a fire broke out in the church’s attached thrift shop around 2 a.m. The incident has now been classified as arson. 

St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Greenwood, B.C. 

  • A massive fire in Greenwood destroyed multiple buildings, including the historic St. Jude’s Anglican Church, which dates back to 1901. The incident is under investigation. 

Acadie Street Church, Grande-Anse, N.B.

  • The Caraquet RCMP is investigating an arson that occurred at a church on Acadie Street in Grande-Anse, New Brunswick, on August 13, 2024. The fire, which was set intentionally, was quickly contained and caused no injuries.

Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish, Calgary, Alberta.

  • Calgary police are investigating an arson at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish, where a nativity display was set on fire on April 21, 2024. The fire caused minor damage, and the suspect, described as a man in his 20s to 40s, fled the scene. 

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kamloops, B.C. 

  • Firefighters responded to a fire at the historic St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Kamloops on Thursday morning. The church was first built in 1887. Investigators are looking into the cause, with police treating it as a possible arson after a burning shopping cart was seen near the fire’s origin.

First Presbyterian Church, New Westminster, B.C. 

  • On July 4, firefighters responded to two fires including one at First Presbyterian Church in New Westminster, B.C. where flames were visible on the exterior. The fire is currently under investigation.

VANDALIZED 

St. Augustine’s Parish, Vancouver, BC.,

St. Jude’s Parish, Vancouver, BC.,

St. Joseph’s Parish, Vancouver, BC., 

St Joseph’s Church, Kamloops Indian Band, BC., 

Cathedral of Mary Immaculate, Nelson, BC.,

St. Luke’s Parish, Calgary AB.,

Sacred Heart Church & Columbarium, Calgary AB.,

Grace Presbyterian Church, Calgary AB.,

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, Calgary AB.,

St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, Calgary AB.,

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Calgary AB.,

St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary AB.,

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, Calgary AB.,

All Nations Full Gospel Church, Calgary AB.,

Holy Trinity Church, Calgary AB.,

St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, Calgary AB.,

St. Bonaventure Church, Calgary AB.,

Our Lady Queen of Poland Catholic Church (Polish) – Kosciól Matki Bozej Królowej Polski, Edmonton, AB.,

Holy Rosary Catholic Church (Polish) – Kościół Różańca Świętego, Edmonton, AB.,

Horse Lake Mennonite Church, Duck Lake, SK.,

St. Paul Co-Cathedral, Saskatoon, SK.,

First Presbyterian Church, Brandon, MB.,

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Fisher Branch, MB.,

Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph, Ont.,

Merciful Redeemer Parish, Mississauga, Ont.,

Cathedral Of St Peter-In-Chains, Peterborough, Ont.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Sault St. Marie, Ont.,

Basilica Cathedral, St. John’s, NL.,

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Victoria, BC

First Hamilton Christian Reformed Church, Hamilton, Ont.,

Mount Tzouhalem Cross, North Cowichan, BC

St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Bridgewater, NS.,

St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, New Westminster, BC.,

St. Joseph’s Church, Radium Hot Springs, BC.,

Paroisse Sainte-Anne-Des-Pins, Sudbury, Ont.,

St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, London, Ont.,

Ukrainian Orthodox Church Of All Saints, Kamloops, BC. 

St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, Brandon, MB.

St. Francis Xavier Mission Catholic Church, Kahnawake, QC.

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Prince George BC.

St. Philip Anglican Church, Oak Bay, BC.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Victoria, BC.

Hedley Grace Church, Hedley, BC.

Milton United Church, Hatley, QC.

Emmanuel Christian Church, Richmond, B.C.

Rapha Christian Centre, Windsor, ON.

Anglican Church, Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.

Sacred Heart Church, Langton, ON.

St. Elijah Romanian Orthodox Church, Lennard, Manitoba,

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Lennard, Manitoba, 

Faith City Church, Thunder Bay, Ontario

St. George’s Chapel, Gore’s Landing, Ontario

Trinity Anglican Church, Barrie, Ontario

St. Martin de Porres Catholic Parish, Ottawa, Ont. 

St. George Memorial Church, Oshawa, Ont.

If you think we missed something, please submit a tip in the form below and we will make sure to add it to our comprehensive list.

OP-ED: Canadian parents don’t want schools to push students into political activism

By
Michael Zwaagstra
-
Source: Unsplash

Field trips are often the highlight of a child’s school experience. But a recent “field trip” in downtown Toronto was memorable for all the wrong reasons, highlighting the disconnect between a government school board pushing kids into political activism and the strong parental preference that schools eschew political bias.

Last week, several schools in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) sent their students to a day of action by the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation, ostensibly so students could listen to the speeches and learn about mercury contamination in rivers.

While the permission letter that went home to parents stated that students would not take part in the protest, video footage and eyewitness testimony tell a different story. And the protest morphed into geopolitical issue far from downtown Toronto. Not only were students encouraged to chant anti-Israel slogans such as “From Turtle Island to Palestine, occupation is a crime,” but pictures from the event show students carrying handmade protest signs amid a heavy police presence.

Children as young as eight participated. No matter what one thinks about the current Israel/Hamas conflict, most people agree that eight-year-old kids are not old enough to comprehend the complex issues behind it. At the very least, they should not be coopted into a political protest, especially something so potentially volatile it requires a heavy police presence.

When the TDSB apologized, the vice-president of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto union local said the apology was racist, amounted to the board not standing with teachers and children, and said the organizations that expressed concern (namely, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center) were “spying on our children.”

Perhaps inconveniently for some, “our children” in this case belong to their parents, and those parents did not provide informed consent. Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop has ordered an investigation into the field trip. But clearly, by allowing its schools to participate, , the TDSB has demonstrated once again that it has lost sight of what should be the primary focus of every school—teaching and learning.

Students attend school to learn how to read, write and do math. They should also learn about the history of our country, form good character and civic responsibility, develop an understanding of science, and gain an appreciation for music and art. These are things that all parents, regardless of political affiliation, can agree upon.

The moment any government public school departs from these common goals, they risk losing the trust of parents.

Indeed, a 2024 Leger poll (commissioned by the Fraser Institute) found that 76 per cent of parents of K-12 kids in Canada believe students should hear both sides of controversial issues, or they should be avoided entirely.

Another 91 per cent of parents believe classroom material and discussions should always be age-appropriate, and 81 per cent believe schools should provide advance notice if controversial topics are discussed during class or formal school activities.

In this case, the TDSB field trip respected none of these strong parental preferences. 

Of course, if students or families wish to get involved in protests on their own time, that’s perfectly fine. And students should be allowed to write about the Middle East conflict for their English essay assignments and talk about these issues in class, so long as teachers ensure that the discussion remains balanced and parents receive a heads-up.

Finally, this fiasco underscores the importance of school choice. In Ontario, no portion of parents’ tax dollars follow their kids to the school of their choice, unlike in other provinces including Manitoba where independent schools are more accessible to families of all income levels. If Ontario families can’t afford full tuition at an independent school, their kids likely attend the local government public school, like those within the TDSB.

If the Ontario government helped fund independent schools, more families could afford them and those independent schools would be accountable to those families. And with increased competition for students, TDSB administrators might listen more to parental concerns about political bias.

Canadian parents are right—no school should ever push students into political activism. Education must be about academics, not activism.

Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute, and Paige MacPherson is Associate Director of Education Policy at the Fraser Institute.

Canada sees record high asylum claims from international students

By
Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
-
Source: X

Nearly 13,000 international students applied for asylum in Canada while studying abroad in the first eight months of 2024. 

From Jan. 1- Aug. 31, 12,915 asylum claims were made by those on international study permits or study permit extensions, making up 10.8% of the 119,835 refugee claims in the same period. In August alone, 1,785 international students applied for refugee status.

This marks a marked surge in the number of international students applying for asylum in Canada. In the entirety of 2022, only 4,880 international students applied for asylum, an increase of 2.65 times in just the first eight months of 2024. Back in 2018, only 1,835 international students applied for asylum. 

Of the 278,250 international study permits granted in Canada for the first three fiscal quarters, the plurality of international students have come from India, reaching 107,385. Runners -up include Nigeria at 15.685, China at 30,240, and the Philippines at 13,905. 

The granting of refugee status is reserved for those who have been prosecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution from their home country and is not a means for bypassing the normal immigration process.

The figures for international students applying for asylum come as the Trudeau government has rapidly increased the number of international study permits being granted. 

Between 2015 and 2024, the number of international study permit holders in Canada spiked by nearly three times from 352,305 to 1,040,985. 

To combat concerns with the international student program, the Trudeau government has announced a modest decrease to the cap on annual internal study permits from 485,000 to 437,000. 

The Trudeau government has also said that their government will begin to reject international student visas for schools that are not keeping active enrolment record. 

In July, Immigration Minister Mark Miller admitted that the international student program was being abused by those seeking a “cheap way” to come to Canada, and that more international students should be returning to their country of origin. 

However, the Trudeau government has shown few signs that they are cutting the number of international study permits granted, as in the first five months of 2024, Canada approved 216,620 study permits while 200,205 study permits were granted in the same period in 2023.

Canadian media should refocus on storytelling, not gov handouts: broadcasting CEO

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

CBC Gem and other Canadian broadcasters are seeing dismal viewership, which some studio CEOs believe is a consequence of over-relying on government handouts and not producing enough original storytelling. 

C21, a global entertainment community for international publishers and digital businesses held a panel discussion entitled View From the Top in Toronto last week, where several industry CEOs gathered to talk about the problem of getting Canadian eyeballs on their content. 

The focus was on how to let new and innovative Canadian stories take centre stage as opposed to emphasizing ticking the right boxes to secure government financing.

“We don’t really lead with our storytelling here. We talk about it a lot – we say the story is everything – but a lot of the things that make the Canadian industry what it is today are commodities,” said Blink49 Studios CEO John Morayniss.

According to Morayniss, the Canadian content system is driven by financial incentives and various funds to get shows greenlit, instead of prioritizing new voices to develop projects. 

“The tax credit is a commodity, the low Canadian dollar is a commodity, even the production infrastructure we have in Canada is a commodity – it’s not a unique, defining principle or value. But what is unique about Canada is the culture,” he said. 

CBC’s executive VP Barbara Williams noted that of what little viewership Canadian broadcasters do get, it’s primarily from international streaming platforms, with less than 4% taking place on local services. 

“If you are wanting someone to stream your show, you’ve got to get past the fact that 96% of it is happening on a foreign platform, not on a Canadian platform,” said Wiliams. “We don’t exist to the audience we’re all excited about hoping will discover our show.”

According to data from CBC/Radio-Canada, 98% of Ontario viewers watched foreign-owned platforms between September 2023 to June 2024, with YouTube being the dominant source accounting for 32.9% of viewership.

TikTok and Netflix were a close second and third for top platforms, at 16.6% and 14.1%, respectively. 

The other top platforms were Prime Video (13.6%), Instagram Reels (10.2%), Disney+ (3.7%), Twitch (2.5%), Facebook video (1.5%), Apple TV+ (0.8%) and Bell Media-owned Crave (0.6%), CBS News (0.5%), Fubo TV (0.4%), Tubi (0.4%), Paramount+ (0.4%), Pluto TV (0.2%), DAZN (0.2%) and Discovery+ (0.1%). 

However, CBC’s streaming services came in last, accounting for only 0.35% of the total.

While Williams acknowledged to the panel that CBC has “kind of lost the thread of where the audiences went,” she doesn’t beleve that it’s “a reflection of what we make.”

“We make a lot of outstanding stuff,” she said. “But of those many [challenges], one of them is the tsunami of foreign services that have just taken over our audience. We make all this stuff that we’re all excited about, and no wonder we can’t get it discovered.”

True North contacted CBC to get their insight as to why this might be the case.

“In the face of the significant dominance of global streamers, CBC is not alone in trying to get traction with our streaming service (Gem). That said, we keep trying different strategies with our content, marketing and distribution platforms to attract more viewing,” CBC’s Head of Public Affairs told True North. 

However, Morayniss argues that funds granted for Canadian content must prioritize new voices and projects and not be blown on production financing. 

“The real problem in Canada is there’s not enough R&D (research and development). We rush to production, and probably spend too much on production,” he said, adding that Canada’s best talents will continue to head south of the border unless the system fosters an environment more conducive to risk taking.

“I hate to say this, [because] we have some of the most talented people in Canada, but when you run [projects] through the system, there’s something that tweaks, and there’s a certain level of mediocrity,” said Morayniss.

“It’s not [every show], but the system itself forces us to make some compromises, and if I’m a storyteller and I want to stay in Canada – I don’t want those compromises. My observation is that we have to figure out a way to eliminate or minimize the creative compromises we have here in Canada.”

Canada’s birth rate falls to record low, among lowest fertility rate in the world

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: Unsplash

Last year Canada’s birth rate reached a new low, driven by fertility decreases in a majority of provinces.

According to Statistics Canada data, in 2023 Canada placed among several countries with the lowest fertility rates in the world.

The data, released Wednesday showed that the province with the lowest fertility rate was British Columbia, at a rate of 1.00 children per woman. The birth rate for the entire country was 1.26 children per woman in 2023. 

“Canada has now joined the group of ‘lowest-low’ fertility countries, including South Korea, Spain, Italy, and Japan, with 1.3 children per woman or less. In comparison, the total fertility rate for the United States was 1.62 per woman in 2023,” reads the Statistics Canada study. 

A fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is required for a population to grow naturally, as 2.0 would be the minimum requirement to sustain the population. The only province or territory in Canada with such a rate in 2023 was Nunavut, at 2.48, followed by Saskatchewan at 1.63.

Canada’s fertility rate has been falling year-over-year since 2008 when it was 1.70. Statistics Canada began tracking the data in 1991 when the fertility rate peaked at 1.72.

Additionally, the average childbearing age in Canada has been increasing steadily since the data began being tracked when it was around 27.5. It has since increased to over 31.5 years old. 

This trend of declining fertility and delayed childbearing has been the subject of numerous studies.

Cardus conducted a previous extensive research study in Jan. 2023 on why half of Canadian women were falling short of their fertility desires, which concluded with four key takeaways.

The first key finding concluded that, on average, women in Canada had about 0.5 fewer children than they wanted by the end of their reproductive years. 

“Nearly half of women at the end of their reproductive years have had fewer children than they wanted,” added the study.

Also, the study concluded that women with the number of children they desired were happier than those who did not have as many children as they wanted. 

The reasons for women not having as many children as they wanted varied, but the study said that some key factors were that women found children burdensome, that parenting was intensive and time-consuming, and that women valued self-development over having children.

“The view that parenting is demanding is a bigger factor for low fertility than is housing or childcare costs,” reads the study.

However, the study concluded that fertility rates and desires rose in Canada with income, unlike most other countries.

“Children increasingly come as a capstone to material and relational success, and thus later in life, rather than as a building block for family life,” reads the study. 

“The timeline that most women follow for school, work, self-development, and marriage simply leaves too few economically stable years left to achieve the families they want,” it added. “This dynamic leaves Canadian women with fewer children than they would like, alongside reduced life satisfaction.” 

According to the World Bank Group, the global fertility rate in 2022 was 2.3. Based on those same numbers, only 25 countries ranked below Canada in fertility rate. Over one hundred countries ranked above them.

As countries’ average income rose worldwide, their fertility rates fell, despite the opposite occurring in Canada.

In 2023, a total of 351,878 births occurred in Canada, almost exactly the same amount as the year prior. 

The country’s fertility rate was highest for mothers between the ages of 30 to 34 years old and lowest for those between the ages of 45 to 49 years old.

The Cardus study recommended that policymakers shift their focus from unwanted children to “missing” children, meaning children that women want but do not have, which far outnumbers the former.

However, it’s not so simple, considering maybe women are valuing self-development over children, only to regret that decision later in life.

“Unless Canadian women see children as part of the process of self-development and discovery, rather than a prize for successful completion of it, the capstone model will continue to weigh on many women’s ability to achieve their family aspirations,” reads the study.

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