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Sunday, July 13, 2025

Only one in ten university students can access a residence bed: report 

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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Source: Wikimedia

Only one in ten students in Canada have access to post-secondary residence beds.

As it stands, an estimated 1.2 million students are renting in communities outside of institutions and increasing rental prices for all Canadians, according to a Desjardins report published Tuesday.

“As the demand for higher education continues to grow, the availability of affordable and adequate student housing has not kept pace. This disparity poses significant challenges not only for students but also for the broader community,” reads the report.

The federal government recently implemented a two-year cap on international student permits following rampant fraud dating back to 2018, which is expected to reduce the approved permits by 35% from 2023.

In 1992/93, 1,355,451 students were enrolled in post-secondary institutions across the country, according to Statistics Canada. By 2021/22, the total number of students had increased 62% to 2,196,468.

Comparatively, the number of international students has increased by 886% between 1992/93 and 2021/22, rising from 40,620 to 400,521. 

In 1992/93, international students accounted for only 3% of the total student population. By 2021/22, this had risen to 18.23% of the total student population. 

The federal government proposed further regulations on international students following the critique of the added pressures from the over one million study permit holders last year, around triple the 352,205 in 2015 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office. 

Desjardins’ report said that most student dormitories have an occupancy rate close to 100%, suggesting that students enjoy living in residences. However, the report argued that the pace of construction for student accommodations has not kept pace.

The national average of student beds available is 10.3% in Canada, well below other developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, at 30%, 27%, and 16%, respectively. 

Even the community with the best proportion of available student beds can’t keep up. Waterloo, Ontario, has beds for about 35% of its enrollment numbers. However, the town reported that 63% of its students found it difficult to find housing, and 45% found their expenses were higher than expected.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation defines affordable housing as costing less than 30% of pre-tax income. The report revealed that this is more or less impossible to find in any of Canada’s major cities.

A 2023 study on Waterloo students showed that over 60% of respondents had to settle for accommodations that did not meet their needs. Almost half said they could not afford other necessities like food, utilities, and phones. Around 15% of students reported needing a food bank, and a small percentage said they were homeless.

The report concluded that addressing the shortage of student accommodations will ensure that students have access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing while also contributing to a more stable rental market.

Findings from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Population showed that the number of international students living in unsuitable housing ranged from 25% to 63%, eclipsing the 13% to 45% of Canadian-born students aged 18 to 24 living in unsuitable housing — meaning a maximum of two people per bedroom.

“The student housing crisis is not just a student issue. It is a community, provincial, and national issue that requires collective action. Accelerating the construction of student housing can help achieve better outcomes for students and all Canadians,” concluded the report. 

True North previously reported that housing affordability reached an all-time low in Canada in Apr. 2024.

A previous poll from Rentals.ca showed that 92% of Canadian renters had difficulty finding affordable housing. Only 4% said they hadn’t. 

DOJ Russian influence scheme indictment involves Canadian influencers 

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Source: US Dept of Justice

A few Canadians were identified in a US Department of Justice indictment naming two Russia Today employees who allegedly used a US media company to amplify Russian government propaganda. 

It is alleged by the indictment that RT, a state-run Russian broadcaster that was banned in Canada and the US following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was involved in the plot to fund and covertly influence public opinion on behalf of the Russian government.

The two Russian RT employees face two conspiracy charges. They are charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which states that “agents of foreign principals” must publicly disclose their relationship with and funding from the foreign principal. They are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Canadian influencer Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donavan, founded Tenet Media, a year-old company that hosted prominent conservative influencers from Canada and the US. The company was left unnamed in the indictment, but facts referenced in the indictment have led media outlets to identify Tenet Media as the company in question. 

The indictment alleges that using alternate identities and shell companies, the Russia Today employees and the founders of Tenet Media “worked together to deceive two US online commentators” to produce content.  Chen and her husband, who were only identified as “Founder 1” and “Founder 2” are being accused of involvement, although neither Chen nor Donavan are facing criminal charges.

None of the charges or allegations have yet been proven in a court of law.

Chen has since had her contract terminated with The Blaze, a US platform founded by conservative pundit Glenn Beck, which hosted Chen’s commentary. Chen was an independent contractor with the company.

Both Chen and Tenet Media’s YouTube channels have been removed from the video hosting platform, with the company citing community policy violations.

Neither Chen nor Tenet Media responded to True North’s requests to comment.

The company that is being accused of being directed and funded by Russian agents is called “U.S. Company 1” in the report.

“U.S. Company-I describes itself as a ‘network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues.’,” the indictment reads. 

The sentence was sourced from Tenet Media’s website. The media group fielded popular US conservative commentators such as Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson and Canadian commentator Lauren Southern. Several of those involved have denied knowledge of the influence scheme or the source of the funds and have maintained that their content was in no way under the editorial direction of those accused. 

The indictment claims that “Founder 1” and “Founder 2” allegedly billed RT during their involvement.

According to the indictment, a false persona portraying a wealthy English financier named “Eduard Grigoriann” and his team was allegedly used by the RT employees during the scheme. The indictment alleges “nearly $10 million” worth of funds were laundered via foreign shell companies. Shell entities named in the indictment were listed in Dubai, Turkey, Mauritius, Czechia and Hungary.  

“These allegations clearly show that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme,” Rubin said in a statement shared on X. “I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period.”

Pool said on X that he was contacted by the FBI and agreed to assist the FBI in its investigation.

“The DOJ indictment literally says that commentators were deceived, that there was a rather sophisticated plan to manipulate the commentators of the platform, so they wouldn’t know what’s going on,” he said in an interview with US commentator Ben Shapiro.

Southern, a Canadian commentator who produced videos for Tenet Media, did not comment on the indictment and did not respond to True North’s request for comment before the deadline provided. Neither Southern nor the other commentators were named in the indictment or face criminal charges.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs minister, warned Canadians in a statement on Thursday that any Canadian working with the Russian State would be held accountable.

“Any Canadians who illegally assist in Russia’s persistent attempts to use disinformation, criminal and covert activities, and corruption to undermine our sovereignty and democratic processes will face the full force of Canadian law,” he said. “The Government of Canada takes the issue of foreign interference seriously.”

Notably, the Liberal government has not established a foreign influence registry akin to the one existing in the US despite facing calls to do so since 2021. The registry would require anyone linked to a foreign power involved in government or election influence to register their activities.

In June of this year, the government also announced that it would shield the names of MPs the national security committee accused of wittingly assisting foreign state actors on behalf of China and India.

Toronto man suspected in terror investigation caught close to U.S. border

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
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Source: Wikipedia

A Toronto-area man was arrested by multiple officers in tactical gear in connection with a terror investigation by the RCMP in Quebec near the U.S. border on Wednesday.  

According to police sources, the arrest occurred in Ormstown, Que. and three additional people have also been detained. 

However, investigators have yet to release further details. 

The arrest took place while the man was heading toward Roxham Road with plans to illegally enter the United States but was arrested beforehand around 5 p.m., near the intersection of Gale and Church streets.

Elizabeth Henshaw, an Ormstown resident, told Radio-Canada that she came home to find a man handcuffed on her front lawn as well as a woman in cuffs on her front porch, along with dozens of police officers.

“[The police] said it was confidential and they couldn’t tell me what was going on,” she said. 

According to Henshaw, police searched a nearby parked car before taking it away.

Ormstown is home to a small population of under 4,000 people and is a “very quiet little town,” said Henshaw. “It was very unusual, it was the talk of the town.”

The quiet town quickly changed when an RCMP vehicle intentionally crashed into another vehicle thought to be transporting a suspect in the case.

The RCMP confirmed that the operation was carried out by officers in Ontario, however, have yet to comment further on the operation. 

Man identifying himself as an international student is wanted by police after alleged sexual assualt

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
-
Source: Durham Regional Police

A man who identified himself as an international student is wanted by police after he allegedly sexually assaulted a female who was waiting for the bus at an Ontario college.

According to a Durham Region Police Service’s news release, police are looking for a male who allegedly groped a female at the bus loading area in front of the main entrance of Durham College’s Oshawa campus on Wednesday.

Police said at approximately 1:10 p.m., the suspect sat beside a female on a bench while she was waiting for a bus after class.

“The suspect engaged in conversation, identifying himself as an international student enrolled in the accounting program.  The suspect groped the victim before she could get onto a bus,” the police report said. “The suspect followed the victim onto the bus and attempted to sit with her. However, she was able to move and sit near the driver for safety before contacting police.”

Based on the information obtained during the investigation, police are looking for a Brown male with a thin build, approximately 18-25 years old. He wore glasses, a blue golf shirt, blue pants, and black and grey shoes.

DRPS is asking anyone with cellphone, dashcam, surveillance footage, or information about this incident to contact D/Cst. Fitzgerald of the Special Victims Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5316.

Anonymous information can also be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

A look at the eligibility criteria for obtaining an international study permit in Canada shows that students must “obey the law” in order to study in Canada.

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, if an immigrant to Canada is found within reasonable grounds to engage in serious criminality, they could become inadmissible. The Canadian Border Services Agency can issue an order of removal for the offender.

Despite vowing to reduce the number of study permits the government issues in 2024 by 35% at the beginning of the year, the Liberal government has issued more international study visas in the first five months of 2024 than it did the previous year.

According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, Canada approved 216,620 study permits for international students in the first five months of 2024. In comparison, 200,205 international student permits were issued by the same time last year.

The IRCC figures show that 682,430 international students held new study permits in 2023. The government would have to issue 238,851 fewer study visas that it did the previous year to reach its goal.

The recent surge of migrants comes as Canadian civil society groups raise concerns about border security after a father-son terrorist attack was thwarted in Richmond Hill, Ont. The father, Ahmed Eldidi, was allegedly involved in an ISIS terrorist mutilation video before being let into the country.

Off the Record | How can it get any worse for Trudeau?

By
Kris Sims
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Source: Facebook

Lagging poll numbers have made Prime Minister Justin Trudeau one of the most disliked prime ministers in Canadian history. But things got significantly worse for Trudeau this past week.

First, his political ally Jagmeet Singh broke up the NDP’s coalition agreement with the Liberals. While it still seems like Singh is going to prop up the government for the foreseeable future, the likelihood of an election has increased significantly.

Then a group of LGBTQ activists turned their backs on Trudeau, saying he has to step down in order to stop a Poilievre government from being elected.

And then Trudeau lost his own national campaign director, who allegedly told the prime minister that he can’t win a fourth term.

Tune into Off the Record with guest host Kris Sims, William McBeath and Cosmin Dzsurdzsa!

Population growth caused by record immigration continues to outpace employment rate: Statistics Canada

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
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Source: IRCC (X) - "largest citizenship ceremony in 20 years" - Jul 23, 2024

The Trudeau government’s immigration plans continue to have a detrimental impact on the Canadian economy as Canada’s population continues to grow, according to Statistics Canada’s August Labour Force Survey.

Statistics Canada revealed that while the economy added a modest 22,000 jobs last month, the added jobs were quickly outpaced by the country’s rapid population growth.

As a result, Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 6.6% last month, up two percentage points from July.

Educational services, healthcare, finance, real estate, insurance, social assistance, rental and leasing all saw an uptick in employment. 

Meanwhile, natural resources, utilities, scientific, technical and professional services all saw a decline. 

According to the survey, the student unemployment rate average of 16.7% between May and August was the highest recorded since summer 2012, excluding the pandemic summer of 2020.

“The employment rate—the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed—decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 60.8% in August,” reads the survey. 

“The fourth consecutive monthly decline and the 10th decline in the past 11 months. On a year-over-year basis, the employment rate was down 1.2 percentage points.”

Temporary foreign workers have filled many jobs that have traditionally been occupied by students, with low-wage TFW positions skyrocketing in recent years, up 291% this year, compared to 2018. 

Government data also indicates that Canada is on track to wildly surpass last year’s record. 

“The Temporary Foreign Worker program was designed to address labour market shortages when qualified Canadians were not able to fill those roles,” said Employment Minister Randy Boissonault in a statement last month. 

“Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritize Canadians workers and ensures Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy,” added Boissionault.

Provincially, Alberta saw its unemployment rate “increased by 0.6 percentage points to 7.7%, as more people searched for work” in August.

The employment rate was little changed in Nova Scotia and Manitoba, coming in at 6.7% and 5.8%, respectively. 

Prince Edward Island saw its employment rate drop by 0.7%, bringing it to 8.2% last month.

“Newfoundland and Labrador was the lone province to record an employment decline in August (-2,400; -1.0%), pushing the unemployment rate up 0.8 percentage points to 10.4%,” reads the survey. 

Employment was little changed in Quebec remaining at 5.7% and Ontario also saw little employment change in August, following an increase of 22,000 jobs in July. 

The Daily Brief | LGBTQ community turns on Justin Trudeau

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: Facebook

LGBTQ activists are calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down from running in the next federal election, claiming that his lack of support is putting their community at risk.

Plus, York Catholic District School helped transition a child without parental knowledge.

And Calgary city councillors and Mayor Jyoti Gondek are furious with the Alberta government after the province announced they would pull $1.53 billion in funding for the city’s Green Line LRT project.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and William McBeath!

Jagmeet Singh refuses to say he has no confidence in Trudeau’s Liberals

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
-
Source: X

Despite ending the NDP-Liberal coalition Wednesday and terminating any official support Jagmeet Singh’s NDP had for Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party, Singh refused to say whether he lacked confidence in the Liberal government.

Singh held a press conference on Thursday morning to answer questions on what the end of the NDP-Liberal coalition means for Canadians as parliamentarians prepare to return to the House of Commons in a couple of weeks.

“Justin Trudeau has let Canadians down, and Canadians are done with his endless disappointment and delay. Trudeau liberals can’t deliver change,” Singh said in his speech. “They are too weak and too selfish to stop Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives.”

When reporters asked Singh if the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion against the Liberal government when parliament reconvenes on Sept. 16, Singh repeatedly avoided the question, saying his party would consider voting with non-confidence on each motion in the house.

“We are ready to fight an election whenever it happens, and we’ll take the choice to Canadians,” he said. “For any question around votes, we’re going to make that determination on a vote-by-vote basis. So we’re going to see what the government presents, and as an opposition party, we’ll look at it, and then we’ll make our decision.”

When asked whether his party, which shares funds with the provincial NDP parties, has the funds for an election right now or would trigger an election when parliament reconvenes, he repeated the same line about an early election being more likely.

“I’ve ripped up the supply and confidence agreement with Justin Trudeau, and we know that that makes the election timing more uncertain and, frankly, more likely,” Singh said. “We know that the next election is going to be about a very important choice for Canadians, between Pierre Poilievre, who wants to destroy our health care system, tear it down, or New Democrats, who want to fix our health care system and build it up for people.”

In a speech delivered Wednesday in Nainomo, B.C., the Conservative leader challenged Singh, saying if he believes the Liberal government, which he propped up for two years with a coalition, is making life less affordable – Singh should call an election.

“If you’re serious about ending your costly Carbon Tax Coalition with Trudeau, then commit today to voting for a carbon tax election at the earliest confidence vote in the House of Commons,” Poilievre said in Nainomo. “That way, we can have a carbon tax election where Canadians will decide between the costly coalition of Trudeau and Sellout Singh that tax your food, punish your work, take your money, double your housing costs and unleash crime and drugs on your street or common sense conservatives who will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime.”

He continued on X, calling Singh a “sellout,” accusing him of keeping Trudeau in power long enough to rake in a pension and a “stuntman” for officially ending the NDP-Liberal coalition though remaining non-committal on triggering an early election.

“He refuses to commit to voting non-confidence to trigger a carbon tax election. So yesterday’s video was all a stunt!” Poilievre said on X.

Poilievre also reposted a letter from Colin Reynold, the Conservatives Elmwood—Tanscona Candidate in an upcoming Winnipeg byelection, to the riding’s NDP candidate, Leila Dance, calling on the NDP to vote with the Conservatives to trigger an election.

“When your leader, Sellout Singh, agreed to join the costly coalition to keep Justin Trudeau in power, he promised it would “make people’s lives more affordable.” Yet by his own admission, the NDP-Liberal coalition has been a disaster for working Canadians,” the letter said. “If elected, I will vote non-confidence in the Trudeau-Singh government to trigger a carbon tax election…will you commit to doing the same?”

The Liberal Party also took shots at Singh on X for leaving the coalition saying the possibility of an early election helped them achieve its best fundraising email of the year.

“It’s clear: Canadians are disappointed that the NDP abandoned progressive policies and put important programs like dental care, pharmacare, and $10-a-day child care at risk of Conservative cuts,” the party said on X. “While the NDP follows Pierre Poilievre, we’ll put progress over politics and keep delivering for Canadians.”

Ratio’d | Illegal Indian migrants are SURGING the US border

By
Harrison Faulkner
-

New US Customs and Border Protection data shows that a record number of Indian migrants were aprehended in June trying to enter the United States illegally by foot. For the first time in history, more Indian migrants were caught entering the United States illegally through Canada than through the southern border with Mexico. Human smuggling rings are targeting migrants at a record rate to get them across the border undetected and the United States is sounding the alarm.

This is yet another consequence of Justin Trudeau’s open borders policies where anyone and everyone can seemingly secure a visa and use Canada as a jumping off point to illegally enter the United States.

Watch the latest episode of Ratio’d!

Trudeau’s campaign director quits, doesn’t believe fourth term win possible

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: X/X

The Liberal’s national campaign director has quit his role ahead of the next election because he believes that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cannot win a fourth term, sources say. 

The Liberals’ federal campaign director Jeremy Broadhurst privately told Trudeau that he would be leaving the position last month, anonymous sources reported to the Toronto Star. 

Broadhurst allegedly told the prime minister that he didn’t think he could win the next election and that Trudeau should acquire a new campaign director who did think a fourth term was possible. 

According to one source within the Liberal party, Broadhurst also told Trudeau that he no longer had the fight in him to continue.

News of his departure was allegedly kept from many senior staff and caucus until recently. 

Broadhurst could not be reached for comment. 

Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford told the Star “Your sources aren’t good,” however, she did not deny the information. 

The Liberals’ national director Azam Ishmael claimed that Broadhurst “hasn’t” resigned but refused to confirm whether he tried to quit.

Ishmael wouldn’t confirm whether he was leaving. As of only days ago, Broadhurst was still slated to brief Members of Parliament at national caucus meetings in Nanaimo, B.C. next week. 

The Prime Minister’s Office declined True North’s request for comment. 

Broadhurst was appointed to the role last year, tasked with ensuring that the Liberals’ messaging, money, candidates, volunteers and advertising would be ready for the upcoming election slated for October 2025. 

However, with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announcing he was pulling his party out of the Liberal-NDP coalition on Wednesday, it’s possible that an election could be triggered earlier.

An official announcement of Broadhurst’s departure is expected on Thursday, however, he may stay on until later September, according to sources.  

Broadhurst had a longstanding reputation as a Liberal loyalist, being personally selected to be the party’s national director by Telford following the Liberals’ landslide victory in 2015. 

He went to become a senior advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office and served as advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

He has also been credited by insiders as being a key player in the last two federal elections.

Thus far, no replacement has been announced. 

Despite his plummeting poll numbers and Singh pulling his support, Trudeau has remained adamant that he will be leading the Liberals into the next election, and he still holds leadership support from many members of his cabinet. 

However, several Liberal MPs recently added their names to a growing list of those who will not be seeking re-election next term over the summer, including several cabinet ministers. 

Among those who are stepping down, several hold seats in key ridings where the support is neck and neck with the opposition.

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