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Monday, July 7, 2025

York University instructor boycotts classes to protest school’s condemnation of Hamas

By
Ari Blaff
-

An instructor at York University is refusing to lead social justice seminars she is being paid to teach, citing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“I am sure you have all been following the news about what is happening in Palestine, between the occupier (Israelis) and the occupied (Palestinians),” Dina Zaid Alkilani, a Ph.D. student leading a cohort of undergraduate students in the full-year course “Prospects and Perils of Globalization in a Social Justice Context,” wrote in a mass email on Oct. 18.

“Over the past ten days, York University, following the footsteps of the Canadian government, has spared no effort in condemning the acts of resistance by Hamas militants against Israel’s ongoing and violent occupation and apartheid regime.”

Alkilani’s email, addressed to the “Beautiful Minds” enrolled in the course, went on to rationalize the Palestinian terrorist group’s brutal attack that has claimed the lives of over a thousand innocent civilians.

“Tragic, indeed, what happened to the Israeli civilians, and Israelis understand now that violence only breeds violence,” the political science graduate student explained. She went on to accuse York University, “in an act of utter complicity,” of echoing the Canadian government’s condemnation of Hamas terrorism as part of a broader “Western genocidal propaganda camp.”

“As a Palestinian-Jordanian, Muslim and Arab, I refuse to be intimidated and/or silenced by such messages by YU or by the Canadian government’s genocidal and warmongering lies and propaganda against my people. I am NOT a ‘human animal’ nor are my people,” Alkilani said in closing her letter, apparently misrepresenting Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s reference to Hamas as “monstrous animals.”

“Those who refuse to speak out should feel eternal shame and disgrace,” the graduate student asserted before explaining to her students that she is voluntarily restricting her TA duties in light of current events. “Please keep submitting your journals as required. I have nothing to teach you now except that Humanity is a Myth.”

Before signing off, Alkilani shared a quote accusing Israel of being “1,000 times” worse than Hamas.

One pupil, speaking to True North on the condition of anonymity, explained that worsening conditions in class and on campus have led them to consider ditching the course.

“It’s my last course I would need to take,” the student wrote. “I want to drop it if this keeps going on, but then I’m out six credits. If I do drop it, though, the school better give me a full refund since this is complete bulls**t.”

Alkilani’s mass email letter feels detached from everyday life on campus, the student added. Less than a week earlier, three influential campus clubs – the York Federation of Students, York University Graduate Students’ Association, and Glendon College Student Union – released a joint statement denouncing “so-called Israel” and euphemizing Hamas’s butchery of children, pregnant women, and elderly as “a strong act of resistance.”

The solidarity statement even drew a rare condemnation from the university, noting that it was “widely interpreted as a justification for attacking civilians and a call to violence.” The college demanded the student unions immediately retract their statements and unequivocally condemn antisemitism, with the leadership compelled to resign immediately.

None of the student groups have removed the controversial post from their social media accounts as of Oct. 24. Neither York University, Alkilani, nor her faculty supervisor, responded to True North’s repeated request for comment.

For a Jew, recent developments on campus have been “awful,” the student explained. “There are daily protests, large groups of between 50-150 people at least.”

“I’m scared for my safety. The chants and scale of these gatherings” have led them to feel intimidated.

“Before, I would walk around campus and not notice who was around me, and lately, it just feels like I’m surrounded by people who want to hurt me or my family. This is not normal.”

Although the student is not visibly Jewish, they have decided to hide any signs of their Jewishness while at York. “I recently started to wear my Magen David (Star of David), but only ever under my shirt. I don’t think I’m very visibly Jewish (I’ve heard otherwise), but either way, the way things are going, I try to keep my Jewish identity to myself as best I can.”

Despite rising campus antisemitism and York’s pledge of diversity, inclusion, and tolerance for all, Jews are conspicuously absent from the university’s page announcing its latest “Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy,” shows masked staffers with orange “Every Child Matters” tshirts and hijabed women as the touchstone image.

As the student has learned in recent weeks, Jews are not welcome under the diversity banner. Only virulent expressions of anti-Zionism, as well as renunciation of their connection to Israel, will gain them admission to the club.

“I’m not out here attacking them, but they feel they have the right to? It’s madness,” the exasperated student said.

Alberta man sentenced in the province’s first 3D-printed firearms trafficking conviction

By
Isaac Lamoureux
-

In a precedent-setting case, an Alberta man has been handed an eight-year prison sentence for trafficking 3D-printed firearms. 

Dustin Lyslo, 29, pleaded guilty to five charges earlier this year, including weapons trafficking and careless use of a firearm. He used 3D technology to produce plastic suppressors and receivers — essential firearm components. 

In Canada, while suppressors are categorically banned, receivers require an official license for legal acquisition.

“Members of the Camrose Police Service started the investigation in early 2021 resulting in the arrest and detention of Lyslo in the fall of 2022,” said Camrose Police Service. 

Tracey Wilson, the Vice President for the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights (CCFR), explained that the sentencing in other provinces has ranged from 2 to 17 years, depending on the eventual use of the manufactured firearm.

“Personally, I think his sentence should have been longer or stricter. The illicit manufacture and distribution of illegal guns puts us all at risk and is often used as political capital against licensed owners who follow the law,” she said. 

During the sentencing in Camrose provincial court, Justice William Andreassen emphasized the gravity of the crime.  

“This is more serious than trafficking traditionally produced firearms, which can be identified by serial numbers,” she said, according to CBC. 

“[Lyslo] set out to learn how to manufacture guns using the 3D-printing process and was willing to sell them, introduce them into the community,” she said. 

This sentiment underscores the heightened risk and difficulty in tracing these firearms compared to their conventional counterparts.

Over a span of three months in 2021, Lyslo was involved in the illicit manufacturing and unlawful transfer of at least seven of these 3D-printed firearms, according to an agreed statement of facts. 

Investigations unveiled Lyslo’s interactions with over two dozen people discussing the gun’s manufacturing. On 17 distinct occasions, he either deliberated or propositioned their unlawful transfer.

Law enforcement tied Lyslo’s illicit trafficking to a drug habit. 

In May 2021, a raid by the Camrose Police Service resulted in his arrest after a 3D printer, gun components, and approximately 10 grams of narcotics were discovered at his residence.

Half a year later, in November 2021, the RCMP, in collaboration with the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team, conducted a search on a travel trailer in Killam, Alta., located roughly 70 kilometres away from Camrose. Inside, they discovered Lyslo, a 3D printer, and parts of firearms that had been printed, among which was the upper receiver for an AR-15 style weapon.

In court, Lyslo expressed regret, apologizing to his family members present. Alongside his prison sentence, he has been imposed with a lifetime firearms prohibition.

While this case is a precedent for Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have previously witnessed analogous convictions. The proliferation of online guides and the simplicity of the production process have positioned 3D-printed ghost guns as a burgeoning issue in Canadian law enforcement circles.

Ghost guns are unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home. 

Robert Freberg, Saskatchewan’s Chief Firearms Officer, raised concerns about 3D printed firearms during Bill C-21’s recent senate hearing. He said that he believes the chief firearms officer in each province should be permitted to transfer existing registration certificates for handguns between licensed owners. 

“This would maintain the overall value of firearms and serve to reduce the potential of parting out existing handguns for compensation that could be possibly diverted into 3D manufactured firearms.”

He argued that individual pieces for guns held more value than fully-assembled firearms. These parts  have no serial numbers on them, so he argued that this creates more parts that can eventually build more 3D guns. 

He said that there are people in Saskatchewan currently in jail for manufacturing 3D guns, without even having the intention of distributing them. 

Wilson worries that this issue could get worse.

“This will continue to worsen as technology advances — it’s the genie you can’t really put back in the bottle,” she said. 

“As technology improves and advances faster than law enforcement we will see ghost guns become a more prominent public safety concern. I’ve spoken with members of RCMP/NWEST and the technology for 3D printing is making it more difficult to keep guns out of the wrong hands,” she added.

She advocates for strong sentencing for violators, a public education campaign, and investment in law enforcement training to combat ghost guns. 

“I think ensuring a license is required for the purchase of hard to print ‘essential components’ would go a long way in slowing the advancement,” Wilson said. 

Detective Mathew Wilton, a detective who took part in the Lyslo investigation, acknowledged the steep learning curve the case presented for Camrose police. He said the police service has been staying on top of the practice as it becomes more prevalent, according to CBC.

“The court case here today, I think helps demonstrate for offenders to be aware of what the results are and what will happen if they’re engaged in this activity,” he said. 

Catch and release justice system “major factor” in Alberta rural crime surge

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: Morinville News

Rural Alberta towns are desperate for a solution after a surge in property crime has affected residents and local businesses, as RCMP data show. 

From January to June 2023, Airdrie, Alta. saw a 73% spike in break and enters compared to the year prior. 

Lac La Biche also experienced a spike in break and enters and vehicle thefts, with both crimes rising by over 40%.

Cpl. James McConnell with the Airdrie RCMP said there was no one simple cause of the increases.

He added that often a few individuals are responsible for a large number of offences.

“It seems like it’s not proportional, but we would expect to see an increase in that type of crime with an increase in population,” said McConnell.

In Lac La Biche, business owners in the industrial area have been targeted by thieves who break into their properties and steal their vehicles. 

Lac La Biche Coun. John Mondal pointed to a confluence of factors behind the recent crime wave, including economic hardship. 

“Inflation has a lot to do with it. Job losses have a lot to do with it,” Mondal said.

“And this is catch and release. Which means the RCMP does their job, they bring the person to the justice system, but then they get released. That is one of the major factors.”

To fight back against crime, the community has created a network on social media to share information and advocate for change, but residents feel abandoned by a justice system that releases criminals to reoffend.

One of the business owners, Darrell Cadieux, said town residents use WhatsApp to communicate with each other and report any suspicious activity. 

He said he also installed a surveillance system that helped him identify a truck that was involved in a theft attempt at his lot.

“During Covid, things kind of simmered down a bit. But then, my gosh, last fall it started taking off and from there we’ve just about tripled in the county. We’ve got everybody in both these industrial parks, and I’ll probably expand it a bit larger,” said Cadieux. 

“It’s important because just knowing what is going on with your neighbours gives you a little bit of knowledge and some peace of mind in some respects.”

Alberta vows referendum for income tax reform, opioid crackdown

By
Isaac Lamoureux
-

The Alberta government says referenda for tax and pension reform and a crackdown on the opioid crisis are top of mind as the legislature reconvenes.

“Albertans did make their voices very clear. They voted for a government that would continue making life more affordable, improving government services and defending our province from federal interference,” said UCP Government House Leader Joseph Schow.

The government plans to expand the Alberta Taxpayer Protection Act, which requires a referendum before a government can introduce a provincial sales tax, to encompass all personal and business taxes.

“It’s important for Albertans to know that if any government or future governments were to increase personal or corporate income taxes, it would have to be done via referendum,” emphasized Schow.

Additionally, Schow announced the extension of the fuel tax cut to the year-end. 

Danielle Smith’s UCP government has also maintained a referendum will be necessary before Alberta would withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan.

“Should we move forward with a pension, it’s going to be with (Albertans’) support via a referendum,” Schow said. 

The coming legislative session will include proposed legislation to defend vulnerable Albertans by the government strengthening their case against those who contributed to the creation of the opioid crisis.

The UCP’s forced drug treatment bill, the Compassionate Intervention Act, will not be coming this fall, but Schow said another flagship drug bill will be.

The forthcoming Opioid Cost Recovery Act is set to strengthen Alberta’s case against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and consultants who the government says have contributed to the ongoing crisis. 

“We are committed to recovering as much cost as possible from those who have played a large part in creating this problem, and we want to make sure that we’re reinvesting this money and all the damages back into supporting those who are suffering from the cycle of addiction” said Schow.

In a past move to address the mounting costs and consequences of the opioid epidemic, the Alberta government joined a class-action lawsuit in 2019 targeting opioid manufacturers and distributors.

This legal action, spearheaded by the British Columbia government, accused drug manufacturers of deceptively marketing opioids as less addictive than other pain medications, a decision that helped fuel a nationwide crisis. 

The lawsuit, which was joined by several provinces including Ontario and Newfoundland, seeked to recover costs dating back to 1996, the year OxyContin was introduced in the Canadian market. 

Alberta, alongside other provinces, saw the fruits of collective legal actions against opioid manufacturers. A recent milestone was the $150 million settlement from Purdue Pharma (Canada) in June 2022. 

The government’s plans come amid growing concerns over the opioid crisis’ toll on Alberta’s communities. Schow explained how families have been devastated by this addiction crisis.

“These are brothers and sisters. These are family members. And it is incumbent upon us as a government and as citizens to look after them,” said Schow, in part quoting an Indigenous chief from Siksika. 

Schow told a reporter there was no planned legislation regarding the potential involvement of political parties in local elections.

Feds say they’re preparing international student visa crackdown

By
Quinn Patrick
-

The federal government says it’s prepared to crackdown on “bad actors” in the international student program if the provinces won’t.

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Friday that provinces need to get serious about abuse of international student visas, which are rife with abuse either from forged university acceptance letters or dubious colleges accepting students without really educating them.

Miller’s announcement came in response to an investigation that uncovered over 100 cases of fraudulent student admission letters this summer.

In June, the immigration department launched a probe into a student visa fraud scheme that had been ongoing since 2017. 

The probe investigated 2,000 incredulous student visas and discovered that approximately 1,485 applicants had issued fake letters of admission into colleges and universities. The majority of which had come from India, China and Vietnam. 

Schools that accept international students will now have to confirm each individual applicant’s letter of acceptance with immigration officials as of Dec. 1 2023, according to Miller.

The minister said that the department will also be keeping a watchful eye on the schools themselves.

Additional plans are in the works to implement a new system that will benefit post-secondary institutions which offer higher standards of services and support for international students by September 2024. 

Applicants with those schools will be given priority in relation to having their study permits processed.

LAWTON: Doctors unite to oppose censorship in medicine

By
Andrew Lawton
-
Source: Pixaby

This weekend, doctors, lawyers, and journalists are meeting in Cape Breton for the second Free Speech in Medicine conference, to address issues often censored by regulatory bodies, employers, and governments. Organizer Dr. Chris Milburn joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss the importance of open discussion in a medical environment where many are afraid to express their opinions.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW

LAWTON: Military bans prayer on Remembrance Day (ft. Tom Marazzo)

By
Andrew Lawton
-

Earlier this month, the Canadian Armed Forces issued a directive that prohibits chaplains from reciting religious prayers and mentioning God during official public functions and ceremonies, including Remembrance Day. Veteran Tom Marazzo joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss the implications of this directive, and its impact on the traditions and values that many veterans hold dear.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW

Nova Scotia offering health workers cash prizes for ideas on how to improve care

By
Quinn Patrick
-

The Nova Scotia government is taking an unorthodox approach to improving their suffering healthcare system by offering financial prizes to employees in the healthcare sector who can come up with plausible solutions. 

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced the Healthcare Improvement Challenge on Wednesday, offering 50 prizes of $1,000 each to health workers who come up with actionable ideas to better the system.

“We have no shortage of talented people who work across the spectrum of healthcare in our province,” said Houston in a statement to  Global News. 

“They live and breathe the system daily, and many of them have great ideas that can improve health care for patients and for their colleagues.”

The Healthcare Improvement Challenge is now open for submissions and Houston said they are looking for ideas that are attainable and ones that require little to no funding.

Submissions will be accepted until Nov. 22 and each eligible entry will then be thrown into a random draw.

Prize-winners will first have to answer a skill-testing question before they can receive the money.

The best 20 ideas will be selected by a review panel who will then present them for a provincewide vote to narrow down what will be the top 10 priorities for improvement.Canada’s healthcare system has been struggling for a long time, leading some Canadians to seek out private alternatives.

Average Ottawa families living on minimum wage spend 75% of income on food, rent

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: Pexels

Ottawa Public Health’s annual affordability report, which measures the average cost for families to afford a nutritious diet shows, that a family with two minimum wage earners spend a vast majority of their income on food and rent. 

The 2023 Nutritious Food Basket Survey paints a bleaker picture than last year as the inflation and affordability crises further drive up the cost of basic food items. 

Comparing the costs of 61 different food items across 12 local grocers, analysts broke down the results to find that the average family of four would spend $1,153 a month on groceries in 2023. 

This is a $65 increase when compared to last year where the average cost was $1,088. 

When taking into account specific income scenarios, families on social assistance like Ontario Works earning an average of $2,794 would have to spend 111% of their earnings – potentially getting into debt – so that they can afford housing and meals. 

Those earning minimum wage while providing for two kids would spend 75% of their estimated $4,160 income on rent and foodstuff. 

Single parents with two children were found to spend 97% of their average $2,560 income on shelter and food, while one-person households on social assistance worth $865 a month would have to spend 175% to afford food and rent every month. 

“To effectively address the root cause of household food insecurity, income-based policy interventions are necessary, such as guaranteed basic income, adequate social assistance rates, minimum wage at the level of a living wage, and reduced precarious employment,” said Ottawa’s medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches. 

Estimates show that one in seven households faced food insecurity last year. 

A report released earlier this year by Children First Canada found that 1.8 million kids in Canada were suffering from food insecurity in 2023 – a 30% increase when compared to last year.

“It’s alarming to see we’ve fallen so far behind. I think many of us grew up at a time where Canada was a world leader for children,” said Sara Austin, founder and CEO of Children First Canada.

Average home in Canada costs 141% more than median family income: report

By
Quinn Patrick
-
Remax

The average cost of a home in Canada is now 141% higher than the median household income, according to a new report published on Thursday.

The data, compiled by Rates.ca, found that a Canadian family earning the median household income of $79,876 would be able to reasonably afford a home costing $315,000. However, the average home in Canada is now going for $757,600.

In Toronto and Vancouver, the housing market lists an average of $1 million per home. 

Additionally, mortgage insurers won’t insure a home over $1 million, which means interest rates can be raised and more is asked of the initial down payment, noted the report. 

Including the uninsured mortgage costs, the average home price in Toronto is 162% higher than that of the median family income. In Vancouver, that disparity shoots up to 195%.  

Population growth and increased income are among the contributing factors, according to Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) deputy chief economist Aled ab Iorwerth.

“But now, as demand is going up, these cities are quite slow in increasing their housing supply,” he said.

Provinces like Alberta offer more affordable housing in their major cities when compared to Toronto and Vancouver, however the median income of a Calgary family would still need to be 43% more to afford the cost of an average home in the city. 

“While Alberta overall is generally considered more affordable than Ontario and British Columbia, Stampede City has seen heavier interprovincial and international migration in the past few months, resulting in a rise in the cost of housing,” read the report.

“Another reason for the rapidly heating housing market is Calgary’s emerging reputation as a high-tech hub, which has attracted a post-pandemic bump of new residents.”

The only major Canadian city where a median-earning family can afford the cost of an average home is Edmonton. This is due in part to Edmonton’s efforts on new construction and a slowing economy which has alleviated the pricing on houses. 

“Following the significant decline in oil and gas prices in 2015 (to) 2019, economic activity in Edmonton moderated a fair bit,” said Taylor Pardy, chief economist with the CMHC.

“This has allowed housing supply to catch up and maintain that ample supply for much of the past decade, leading to flat or even declining prices in certain segments of the housing market.”

In Atlantic Canada, the average cost of housing varies but in its larger cities, home values remain some of the highest in the county. 

In Halifax, the average home costs 83% more than the income of a typical household due to imbalances in the supply chain.

“Demand for housing in the last few years has grown due to higher-than-normal population growth,” said CMHC economist Kelvin Ndoro in the report.

“However, the supply of new housing units has not kept pace with demand, and some factors that can affect supply of housing can be construction costs, land prices, land-use regulations, and interest rates.”

While much more affordable in cities like Saint John, N.B. and St. John’s, Nfld., where the average cost of a home is around $300,000, that figure is still 7% higher than the median household income. 

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