Justin Trudeau once claimed Canada was a post-national country, and later that Canada was a genocidal nation. Canada and Canadian identity have been under attack by the left – and many of its harshest critics have taken over key institutions including academia and the media. Does Canada have a positive future? True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses with Aristotle Foundation founder Mark Milke in a conversation that also touches on history, philosophy, and the importance of free speech.
Some critics are once again calling on the British Columbia government to stop funding independent schools. This, they say, would mean more money for government-run public schools. But in fact, if the government stopped funding independent schools, it would likely cost B.C. taxpayers more money and severely damage the ability of many B.C. parents to choose the right school for their children.
About one in eight B.C. schoolkids currently attend independent schools, which deliver the provincial curriculum but often with alternative approaches in the classroom. That’s 13.2 per cent, a higher proportion than in any other province.
Families choose independent schools for many reasons. For some kids, their learning styles or interests don’t fit the one-size-fits-all model of government-run schools. Many kids are bored or have behavioural issues in government-run classrooms. Some kids crave enriched academics, some face significant learning challenges. And some families want a school that celebrates their religion or culture.
Currently, the B.C. government provides independent schools with between 35 to 50 per cent of the per-student grant provided to government-run public schools. In other words, some of the parents’ tax dollars follow their children to the schools of their choice. As a result, B.C. taxpayers currently pay only 35 to 50 per cent of the education costs for 13.2 per cent of B.C. schoolkids. So it’s a good deal for taxpayers.
What would happen if the government stopped funding independent schools?
Some kids will attend independent schools no matter what because their families can afford the tuition. Indeed, 7.7 per cent of independent schools in B.C. are in the “elite” prep school category with high tuition fees. But the remaining 92 per cent of independent schools, such as Montessori, are not elite and cater to families with household incomes roughly on par with families whose kids attend government-run public schools.
Without government funding, many of these families could not afford independent schools, which means their children would attend government-run public schools instead and taxpayers would be on the hook for 100 per cent of their education costs. Due to this influx of students, the government would need to increase education spending and likely raise taxes. That would be a bad deal for taxpayers.
Again, with or without government funding, the wealthiest families will always be able to choose their kids’ schools. It’s middle-income and lower-income families who most often don’t have that choice. Rather than eliminate funding for independent schools, like some critics suggest, the B.C. government could enhance equality by increasing per-student funding for lower-income children based on postal code or introducing education savings accounts for families. All B.C. kids deserve to attend schools they love—and leave schools they don’t. And as bullying and classroom violence have made headlines in recent years, families need options.
Finally, B.C.’s per-student spending on government-run public schools has increased by 12.8 per cent since 2012 (after adjusting for inflation) with a large proportion of that spending growth going to teacher compensation, not textbooks.
Meanwhile, according to data from international PISA student tests, B.C. math scores have declined significantly over the last 20 years, and B.C. has seen some of the largest declines among provinces in math, science and reading. Clearly, more spending on the government-run system has not improved student performance.
Thankfully, a rising tide lifts all boats. Research shows that when parents have more choice in the type of schools they want their kids to attend, student performance improves across the board—including in government-run public schools.
If the B.C. government wants to improve student performance, it should increase the number of school options available to all families, no matter their income level. If it defunds independent schools, it will only deprive middle- and lower-income families the ability to choose schools that best fit their needs, and make the education system more expensive for all taxpayers.
Paige MacPherson is associate director of education policy studies at the Fraser Institute.
In November, the Canadian housing market displayed signs of a slowdown, with most cities witnessing decreased home prices and income requirements, except for one.
Calgary stood out as an exception to this trend, experiencing an uptick in both the average home price and the income required for property purchases.
Ratehub.ca, a platform dedicated to comparing mortgage rates and financial products, revealed a noteworthy trend last month: a decrease in the minimum income required to purchase a home across nine of the ten cities it scrutinized.
However, Calgary stood as the lone exception, grappling with a setback in affordability as the average home price surged by $2,000 to reach $557,400.
Consequently, potential home buyers in Alberta’s largest city found themselves needing an extra $660 in income to meet the costs of an average-priced home, marking a departure from the trends observed in October.
Hamilton, on the other hand, experienced a substantial drop in the average home price by $23,400 to settle at $805,700.
James Laird, co-founder of Ratehub.ca, highlighted Hamilton and Toronto as the two cities experiencing the most substantial declines in home values and income requirements.
“Home values and the income required to purchase a home decreased in nine out of the 10 cities we looked at,” explained Laird.
“Hamilton continued to see the most improvement, with $4,160 less income needed to purchase a home. Toronto remained close behind with $3,850 less income required. Both these cities saw big home price declines, with a $23,400 drop for Hamilton and $22,300 for Toronto.”
According to Laird, the rest of the country can expect the trend of home values dropping to continue.
“Affordability improved for the second month in a row due to home values dropping and mortgage rates holding steady in November,” said Laird.
A recent report from the Fraser Institute reveals a concerning trend emerging regarding charitable giving in Canada.
The study, titled “Generosity in Canada: The 2023 Generosity Index,” found a significant decline in the proportion of Canadians contributing to charitable causes, marking the lowest level in two decades.
According to the findings, a mere 17.7% of Canadian tax filers claimed charitable donations in the 2021 fiscal year, representing a stark decrease from the 25.4% reported in 2004.
The study further underscores a reduction in the percentage of income Canadians dedicated to charitable contributions, dropping from 0.58% in 2001 to 0.55% in 2021.
Jake Fuss, the director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the report, expressed concern over the implications of the decline in charitable giving for Canadian society.
“The holiday season is a time to reflect on charitable giving, and the data shows Canadians are consistently less charitable every year, which means charities face greater challenges to secure resources to help those in need,” said Fuss.
The provinces were also ranked based on their generosity, considering both the percentage of tax filers making donations and the share of income contributed.
Manitoba secured the top spot, with 19.7% of tax filers donating and a corresponding 0.74% of income dedicated to charitable causes.
In contrast, Quebec found itself at the bottom of the generosity scale, with only 15.4% of tax filers donating and a mere 0.26% of income allocated to charity.
“A smaller proportion of Canadians are donating to registered charities than what we saw in previous decades, and those who are donating are donating less,” said Fuss.
“This decline in generosity in Canada undoubtedly limits the ability of Canadian charities to improve the quality of life in their communities and beyond.”
About one in every seven Christians faces persecution worldwide, thousands of churches were attacked, and thousands of Christians were killed for their faith.
The annual World Watch List from Open Doors, an organisation supporting persecuted Christians, found that 5,621 Christians were murdered for their faith. The report also found that 4,542 Christians were detained and 2,110 churches were attacked.
Open Doors estimates that about 360 million of the world’s roughly 2.3 billion Christians live in countries where they suffer high levels of persecution, with Christians living in Asia and Africa facing a significantly higher chance of facing persecution.
The World Watch List is an annual compilation of the top 50 worst countries when it comes to persecuting Christians for their faith.
The world’s worst offender of Christian persecution is North Korea, as those discovered to practise Christianity or possess a Bible can be sent to a prison camp, face torture, or be killed on the spot, along with their families.
Open Doors reports that life for North Korean Christians has gotten harder, as North Korea’s anti-reactionary thought law and the discovery of several underground churches have furthered the persecution of Christians.
Of the 5,621 Christians who were killed for their faith in the past year, the vast majority of these murders happened in Nigeria
In a country of over 210 million people with roughly half of them identifying as Christian, Open Doors reports that 5,014 Christians were murdered, mostly in northern Nigeria by Islamist militant groups and ignored by government officials.
The top 10 persecutors of Christians are North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Sudan. Other notable countries who made the list include, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, and Nicaragua.
While Canada avoided inclusion on the top 50 list, Canada has seen an increase in anti-Christian sentiment in recent years.
Amid domestic and international news reports that unmarked graves of indigenous children had been found at residential schools, many churches in Canada have been burnt down or vandalised. True North has kept track of every church that was attacked.
Since the announcement, 83 churches across Canada have been targeted.
A viral petition calling for a non-confidence vote against Justin Trudeau’s government has closed, amassing 386,698 signatures in the month it was open for Canadians to sign.
Petition e-4701, initiated by Melissa Outwater from Peterborough, Ont. and sponsored by Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri, called for a vote of no confidence and a federal election within 45 days should the vote pass.
The petition, which was launched Nov. 24, closed Christmas Eve. True North had previously covered the petition when it surpassed 121,000 signatures in its first six days.
Outwater said that she created the petition based on advice given by Trudeau himself.
“When he was testifying in the Emergency Act inquiry. He let Canadians know that we have a democratic process, and we should be using it,” said Outwater.
Ferreri said she would present the petition in the House of Commons and send a clear message that Canadians are demanding change.
“The facts speak for themselves,” Ferrari said. “Justin Trudeau has delivered record high food bank usage, homelessness, skyrocketing housing prices, an opioid and mental health crisis, a violent rise in crime and multiple ethics violations.”
Ferreri explained the petition’s take-up by saying “misery is a powerful motivator.”
“Clearly this petition is elevating the voices of Canadians who are sick of the Trudeau imposed misery and want a leader and a government they can trust,” she said. “Trust is built on actions, not words. Each time someone, especially a leader, doesn’t do what they say or, even worse, gaslights his followers, he destroys the trust.
The petition claims that the citizens of Canada have lost confidence not only in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but also in the “Liberal/NDP coalition.”
“Canadians have waited eight years for action, and what they’ve been handed is suffering.”
“Misery is a powerful motivator, and clearly, this petition is elevating the voices of Canadians who are sick of the Trudeau-imposed misery and want a leader and a government they can trust,” said Ferreri.
With nearly 387,000 signatures, it has become the most signed electronic petition in Canadian history. The previous record was petition e-4649, which called for an immediate ceasefire for the Israel-Palestine conflict. That petition amassed 286,719 signatures.
Although the petition reflects escalating dissatisfaction with the government, it does not compel Parliament to act.
Furthermore, despite the possibility of a non-confidence vote in the House of Commons, the NDP has demonstrated reluctance to withdraw from its supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals. This arrangement ensures their support until 2025, coinciding with the next federal election.
Saint Mary’s philosophy professor Mark Mercer is slamming his “cash-strapped” university for hiring an elite firm to run a snitch line.
Earlier this year, the mid-sized Halifax university announced the launch of an “anonymous whistleblower hotline” for people to anonymously disclose concerns about suspectedimproper activity, such as a breach of any university policy or regulatory requirement, as well as financial or research misconduct.
The university has hired elite accounting firm Grant Thornton to run the system.
In an email to True North, the university said the reporting system “provides a mechanism for university members to confidentially and/or anonymously disclose concerns.”
“The safe disclosure policy applies to all employees, students, volunteers, contractors and suppliers of Saint Mary’s, and works in tandem with our other codes and policies on conduct, such as Research Policies, the Code of Student Conduct Policy, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Policy and others,” the statement continued.
Posters promoting the new system have popped up around the university’s campus.
Photo of campus poster promoting the new “anonymous whistleblower hotline”
Photo of campus poster promoting the new “anonymous whistleblower hotline”
In an interview with True North, Mercer said he is worried about the effect the snitch line will have “on the culture of the institution” amid members of the woke class defining “unacceptable behaviour” as anything that they don’t like.
“I think the effect of the university promoting this is to make us look like we’re not a collegial place,” he said. “We’re not a place where when people disagree, they either have critical discussions with each other or ignore each other.
“Now we go to an authority as a way of resolving these things.”
For Mercer, the snitch line is entirely consistent with “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) ideology.
“One of the goals is something like comfort on campus for people from historically marginalized groups. And the means is to involve authorities and to level sanctions, to make people afraid to say or do things that are taken by the powers to be productive uncomfortability.”
Mercer also slammed the university for going “all out” with the initiative at a time he says faculty are instructed to make cutbacks due to a lack of financial resources.
In its statement, the Saint Mary’s media relations team did not address criticisms about the program’s cost.
It should be noted that Saint Mary’s is not the only university to have introduced a snitch line.
As previously reported by True North, Ottawa’s Carleton University, which mandates the use of preferred pronouns, has an online portal to report instances of “misgendering.”
Enbridge Gas has stepped forward with a crucial lifeline for fire departments across Ontario.
The company’s $250,000 donation is part of the Safe Community Project Assist program, specifically designed to provide financial aid to struggling fire departments in the form of training and expertise.
Among the beneficiaries of the donation was the Markstay-Warren Fire Department, encompassing three stations and relying on a team of 55 volunteer firefighters, serving a wide area in northern Ontario.
Recognizing the department’s dedication to community safety and its commitment to quality training, Enbridge Gas’s contribution was lauded for bolstering firefighting capabilities during a time of need.
“Fire departments train every single day and that’s why it’s important for them to have access to the right materials to keep their members and the public safe,” said Ontario Fire Marshal and chair of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, Jon Pegg.
“Safe Community Project Assist helps departments afford some of these training tools and improves the ongoing learning that occurs across Ontario.”
The Safe Community Project Assist program, established in 2012, has enabled 344 grants to be distributed for firefighter training.
Enbridge Gas has extended a helping hand to 50 fire departments across Ontario this year, ensuring that they can continue to provide essential services without compromising on training and preparedness.
“Empowering fire departments with the right tools ensures daily training excellence, fostering safety for both members and the community,” said Markstay-Warren department fire chief Mark Whynott.
“Safe Community Project Assist is a crucial ally in fortifying Ontario’s firefighting expertise.”
This injection of funds from Enbridge Gas will enable the Markstay-Warren Fire Department to acquire much-needed training materials for volunteers.
As you unwrap your presents, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and spend time with your loved ones, let’s take a look at the wildest Christmas-related stories of 2023.
Tune into the Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Isaac Lamoureux!
In the heart of Boston Common, a towering Canadian Christmas tree stands as a bright emblem of friendship between two cities forever bound by a tragic historical event.
Nova Scotia’s annual Tree for Boston tradition, spanning over a century, sees the province generously gifting Boston with a majestic Christmas tree.
The roots of this exchange trace back to the fateful year of 1917 when Halifax was ravaged by one of the largest man-made explosions before the atomic bomb.
The cataclysmic event occurred when a French cargo ship laden with explosives collided with a Norwegian vessel in Halifax Harbor, creating a devastating fireball that claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 people, injured 9,000, and left entire neighbourhoods flattened to rubble.
Compounded by a blizzard that hindered rescue efforts, the survivors were left destitute and freezing. In the face of this unprecedented disaster, Boston emerged heroically.
Swiftly responding to the call for aid, Bostonians organized trains laden with relief supplies, medical personnel, and volunteers. They played a central role in helping Halifax rebuild.
In a gesture of appreciation, Halifax sent its first Christmas tree to Boston in 1918—a simple yet heartfelt token of gratitude.
Although the tradition paused for a period, it was rekindled in 1971 by the Nova Scotia Christmas Tree Council, and it has since become an enduring annual tradition.
Each year, a carefully chosen tree is harvested from the verdant forests of Nova Scotia and embarked on a journey to Boston. Transported by truck, the tree arrives in Boston for a festive ceremony attended by dignitaries and citizens from both sides of the border.
This towering evergreen is far more than a festive decoration. It stands as a living testament to the resilience of two communities that have faced adversity together.
The tree selected for this year was donated by the Gourley family in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia and was erected in Boston’s city centre this November.
