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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Passengers kicked off Air Canada flight for refusing to sit in vomit-covered seats

By
Quinn Patrick
-
Source: Wikimedia

Two women were removed from their Air Canada flight prior to takeoff after they refused to sit in seats that were covered in a previous passenger’s vomit. The airline has since apologized for their removal. 

“They clearly did not receive the standard of care to which they were entitled,” said Air Canada in a statement to National Post.

The airline said it is “reviewing this serious matter internally and have followed up with the customers directly as our operating procedures were not followed correctly in this instance.”

The flight departed from Las Vegas to Montreal on Aug. 26, and Susan Benson, a passenger onboard who witnessed the exchange said that it was believed to be a passenger from a previous flight who had vomited on the seats.

Benson posted her witness account of the events on her Facebook, saying that flight staff had attempted to clean the vomit using coffee grounds and spraying perfume but by the time the passengers boarded the plane for the next flight, the seats remained wet with “vomit residue.”

The two female passengers who were assigned to those seats were upset by the fact that they were expected to sit on them.

“The flight attendant was very apologetic but explained that the flight was full and there was nothing they could do. The passengers said they couldn’t possibly be expected to sit in vomit for five hours,” wrote Benson.

Benson said that a supervisor eventually came to speak with the two passengers and reiterated the message that they were to sit in the seats, regardless of their state. 

The two passengers asked for blankets and towels so that they could continue cleaning the vomit themselves, according to Benson. 

“They got themselves settled with blankets and wipes and next thing we knew the pilot came down the aisle and very calmly knelt down and told the two ladies that they had two choices: They could leave the plane on their own accord and organize flights on their own dime, or they would be escorted off the plane by security and placed on a no fly list!” wrote Benson.

Benson wrote that the pilot accused the passengers of being rude to the flight staff and then gave them said ultimatum.

“They were upset and firm, but not rude,” wrote Benon, referring to the passengers’ treatment of the flight staff.

Once the pilot left the situation, the two passengers were escorted off the plane by security.

“For what? Refusing to sit in vomit for five hours! Air Canada literally expects passengers to sit in vomit or be escorted off the plane and placed on a no-fly list!” wrote Benson.

Enbridge announces $14 billion deal to buy US natural gas utilities

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Calgary-based energy company Enbridge Inc. has announced a $14 billion deal to purchase three U.S. utilities – a move the company has portrayed as a sign of long-term commitment to natural gas. 

On Tuesday, Enbridge announced it would purchase the East Ohio Gas Company, Questar Gas Company and the Public Service Company of North Carolina from Dominion Energy Inc. 

The company has pledged to use USD $9.4 billion in cash and USD $4.6 billion in debt to complete the deal. 

Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel told investors that the company hopes to shift to a balanced mix of crude oil and natural gas. Currently around 60% of the company’s holdings are composed of oil and other liquids.

“We remain firmly of the view that all forms of energy will be required for a safe and reliable energy transition,” said Ebel.

According to Ebel, natural gas is poised to play a critical role in advances towards a net-zero future. 

“We remain firmly of the view that all forms of energy will be required for a safe and reliable energy transition,” said Ebel. 

Should the deal be completed, it would make Enbridge one of the largest private companies on the continent to own gas utilities, employing over 7,000 people and delivering gas to nearly seven million people across North America. 

Reactions to the surprise deal were mixed and Enbridge stocks reacted by dipping 7% on Wednesday. 

“I do think the market was caught a bit off guard, as this wasn’t on my bingo card,” explained analyst Stephen Ellis from Morningstar. 

“Management had a realistic approach towards allocating capital, so a smaller transaction, perhaps a deeper investment in Canadian LNG, would have been more expected.”

Canada called out for sending trans cricket player to women’s competition

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Canadian women’s cricket team at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup is being called out for fielding a male-born cricket player who identifies as a woman to play as the opening batter for the international competition. 

Former Olympic silver medalist Sharron Davies was among those criticizing the decision to qualify 29-year-old Danielle McGahey.

Davies called the move “utter madness” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Utter madness. We’ve seen injuries here in the Uk against young girls caused by trans identifying males already,” wrote Davies. 

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), McGahey has fulfilled all of the criteria required to compete in a women’s category. 

An Australian immigrant to Canada, McGahey first transitioned in Nov. 2020 and only began a medical transition in May 2021. 

“I am absolutely honoured. To be able to represent my community is something I never dreamed I would be able to do,” McGahey told BBC. 

The ICC’s criteria for transgender competitors includes a “written and signed declaration” from a medical professional that the athlete’s “gender identity is female.” 

“A lot of work with my doctor sending my medical information through to the ICC… they have a dedicated medical officer who looks over all of the information provided, and determines whether or not I have provided enough for an expert panel to make a decision,” said McGahey.

“The need to do blood tests every month is probably the biggest challenge because when you are playing cricket you are travelling a lot.”

Transgender UK journalist Debbie Hayton also penned an op-ed in the Spectator arguing that McGahey should not be allowed to qualify for a women’s event due to the natural advantage the trans athlete has as a result of testosterone levels. 

“Justin Trudeau’s Canada has, it seems, garnered a reputation for yielding to transgender ideology. Now, a Canadian woman has lost out, and the integrity of women’s cricket is at risk,” wrote Hayton. 

“While other sports have woken up to the folly of allowing transwomen to compete in women’s sports, cricket has been asleep at the wheel. Over the past three years, rugby Union, athletics, swimming – and now even chess – have brought in new policies that protect female competitions for the female sex.”

The Andrew Lawton Show | Police officer testifies he was ordered to give “not one inch” to Convoy organizers

By
Andrew Lawton
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Source: True North

On day two of the criminal trial of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, Ottawa Police Service Inspector Lucas Russell testified that he was under orders to give “not one inch” to the protesters, even while there were discussions underway to shrink the protest’s footprint to mitigate the disruption to downtown Ottawa residents.

True North’s Andrew Lawton says this means law enforcement and government officials were effectively choosing to keep the status quo they claimed to find so objectionable. Convoy lawyer Eva Chipiuk joins the show to discuss the latest on the trial, plus documentary makers Trish Wood and Jacqueline Bynon.

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Bank of Canada holds interest rate steady at 5%

By
Quinn Patrick
-
Source: CPAC

The Bank of Canada has decided to leave its interest rate unchanged, remaining at 5%, according to a statement released by the central bank on Wednesday. 

The statement went on to say that it was “prepared to increase the policy interest rate further if needed” while it “remains concerned about the persistence of underlying inflationary pressures.”

Core inflation metrics have shown “little recent downward momentum in underlying inflation,” according to the central bank’s statement. 

The Bank of Canada has also warned that rising fuel costs will likely lead to inflation being “higher in the near term” before it will settle back down again. 

In July, Canada’s annual inflation rate rose up to 3.3% from 2.8% in June. 

The Bank of Canada’s announcement to hold the rate at 5% comes when the country’s economy is beginning to slow. Consumers aren’t relying on credit as much when it comes to their spending and the housing market has steadily slowed for some time now. 

The policy rate set by the Bank of Canada dictates the cost of borrowing for Canadian lenders and instructs the rates consumers will have to pay on debt for things like mortgages. 

Since March 2022, rate hikes have steadily gone up in an effort to curb spending and slow down inflation, a tactic used by many central banks to curb inflation. 

Generally, it takes about a year to 18 months for the effects of interest rate hikes to be noticeable on the economy. There are also “lagged effects” from previous rate hikes which will continue to affect inflation down the road, noted the bank in their statement. 

The Bank of Canada announcement marks the third pause on interest rates they have made this year, following two consecutive hikes of 0.25% in June and July. 

The Bank of Canada also forecasted that inflation will go back down to 2% by sometime in 2025.

Metrics indicating strong wage growth, corporate pricing and inflation expectations will be used to monitor whether or not to raise or lower rates for their next decision. 

Bank of Montreal’s chief economist Doug Porter, told his clients in a recent statement that while future hikes are a possibility, the Bank of Canada is “likely done with rate hikes.”

Porter said that inflation will probably rise back up to around 4% by the end of the year, but the slowing economy will help to lower inflation back down to 2% in time. 

He also warned that it was too soon to be discussing interest rate cuts and that even talking about the rate pause could encourage consumers and markets to start spending in a way that jeopardizes the progress that the Bank of Canada has made thus far in keeping the economy stabilized. 

“Policymakers clearly do not want a repeat of earlier this year, when a short-lived pause sparked thoughts of eventual rate cuts, in turn firing up housing,” wrote Porter.

The pause on interest rates means that Canadian homeowners won’t have to deal with even steeper mortgage rates, however those set to renew will have to face the spike in the cost of borrowing, which will mean higher monthly payments. 

The likelihood that interest rates will return to the pre pandemic lows of 0.25% has an almost “zero chance,” according to mortgage broker Ron Butler of Butler Mortgage. 

“That’s not happening,” said Butler, in a radio interview with Anthony Furey on AM640 Toronto, according to Global News.

Butler said it would take an “unbelievable catastrophe” like another Covid-19 pandemic before the Bank of Canada would return to such “ultra low” interest rates.

“The truth is the Bank of Canada has learned a lesson that … these incredibly low rates where interest is almost zero … They can’t do that anymore,” said Butler. “It’s too dangerous for house prices. It’s too impactful on the economy.”

RCMP propose allowing Mounties to use pot up to 24 hours before shift

By
Quinn Patrick
-

The RCMP will consider revising its policy on how long an officer can use recreational cannabis before they return to work from 28 days prior to duty to 24 hours. 

The current policy, which has been in place for the last five years when Canada first legalized recreational cannabis, requires Mounties to abstain from consuming pot for four weeks prior to duty. 

The Canadian Press obtained an internal RCMP briefing note via the Access to Information Act which said that it was recommending a 24-hour restriction period for Mounties prior to reporting for duty, with certain exceptions. 

The policy change could be used as a catalyst for recruiting new officers, by making the policy for Mounties similar to that of other police forces that have a less restrictive approach to cannabis use. 

The current policy is under review however the final decision has yet to be made, according to RCMP spokesperson Robin Percival. 

The current four-week policy is in effect not just for officers but also reservists, telecommunication operators and firearm technicians.

The 2018 policy on substance use reasoned that the prohibition of use for members such as first responders in rural and remote communities was partly because they can be called back into work on very short notice. 

“All RCMP employees must be fit for duty when reporting for work, which includes not being impaired by alcohol or drugs,” reads a notice on the RCMP website. 

“Science shows that cannabis can intoxicate beyond initial consumption and that there are no established safe limits or data on how it affects performance. Without established scientific information about cannabis impairment, the RCMP policy is taking a careful approach at this time, to ensure workplace and public safety is maintained at all times.”

One recreational cannabis user, named Talyor, 32, told the Canadian Press he is eager to join the RCMP but would like to see the policy changed. He did not want his full name published for fear that it might hinder his chances of becoming a Mountie. 

In an interview with the Canadian Press, Taylor said he enjoyed recreational cannabis use weekly as a means to relieve stress and alleviate certain physical pain. 

“In my family, we were always raised to respect authority and police and that they’re your friend, and they’re there to help,” said Taylor.

“And from all the situations where I’ve had contact with them, they’ve been great to me, and that’s the uniform I’d like to wear and kind of give back to my community. They have strong Canadian traditions, but they’re just so behind in their policy. I think as the times change so must the policies.”

The news of a potential policy revision sparked a newfound interest in joining the force. 

“I can honestly say if they made this announcement tomorrow, that they’re changing their policy, I’d apply tomorrow,” said Taylor.

RCMP Commissioner Micheak Duheme said that the risk of impairment from cannabis varies depending on the person, how often they use it and the quality of the product they use, according to a briefing note from earlier this year. 

The note said that RCMP statistics regarding Code of Conduct allegations over the last five years found known impairment occurrences were below 0.15% within the 18,000 regular force members. 

“Policing organizations that initially had a zero tolerance or 28-day restriction have or are moving towards either a fit for duty or 24-hour abstinence requirement, or a combination of both.” said the note.

The note also mentioned the fact that the National Police Federation, an organization that represents rank-and-file Mounties said that among their most common inquiries during recruiting sessions “pertained to our policy on the recreational use of cannabis.”

The potential move to a 24-hour restriction period prior to duty would apply to all RCMP safety-sensitive positions, however specialized occupational groups would be excluded from the proposed policy change. 

Those groups include air marshals and pilots, emergency response team members, and security detail for the prime minister and the governor general.

Inflation making more post-secondary students reliant on parents: RBC survey

By
Quinn Patrick
-

More and more post-secondary students are staying home with their parents while they complete their education compared to the previous decade, according to a new poll by RBC.

“Inflation is straining the finances of post-secondary students, significantly driving up the number who will now be relying on their parents for a place to live and the funds to complete their schooling,” RBC said about its results.

RBC surveyed 1,000 people aged 18-29 using an online Ipsos poll, from June 29 to July 12.

The survey found that 47%, nearly half of the respondents, said they would be living in their parents homes during the school year.

That number is up 36% when compared to 2013.

The number of post-secondary students who are relying on their parents for financial support has also risen to about 43%, whereas in 2013 that number was only around 29%.

The RBC report said that it expects around 45% of students will graduate from their post-secondary institutions with as much as $20,000 in debt. Again, a big jump from a decade ago when that number was 30%.

Students aren’t just relying on their parents for financial aid but also acquiring help to develop their financial goals, according to Jason Storsley, who works for the RBC youth and young adult team.

RBC said that a margin of error cannot be assigned to the poll because online surveys are not regarded as valid random samples. 

The Daily Brief | Has Justin Trudeau broken our immigration system?

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: Facebook

The trial of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber commenced on Tuesday morning in an Ottawa courthouse.

Plus, a retired army commander says “climate change” warrants a new disaster relief force.

And despite the shut down of the illegal Roxham Rd. border crossing, the number of asylum and refugee claimants entering Canada has surged.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Lindsay Shepherd!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

No jail time for illegal gun owner because great-grandfather was in residential school

By
Quinn Patrick
-

A man convicted of a gun crime has been given a conditional sentence instead of prison time, after the judge factored in his Indigenous heritage, and specifically his great-grandfather’s experiences as a residential school survivor.

The judge felt the grandfather’s experiences have affected the defendant and his family through generations.

The man was arrested in 2019 in possession of an illegal handgun and pleaded guilty to two firearm-related charges in 2022.

The judge acknowledged that during the time of the man’s arrest, he was attempting to visit sex workers at the hotel and that he carried the firearm for the purposes of protection.

“I infer that he only armed himself with the handgun on that day because he was worried about being robbed or threatened by the sex-trade workers or their associates,” said justice Burnstein, adding the defendant wasn’t using the gun for further criminal purposes like drug trafficking. 

The judge also noted that the man had previously owned the firearm legally, though his license had expired in 2017.

“While that does not in any way excuse his offences on Nov. 15, 2019, this fact does mitigate some of the harm otherwise associated with possessing handguns,” said Burnstein in his decision. “Unlike ‘outlaws’ who possess illegal handguns, (the man’s) possession did not contribute to the criminal underworld’s black market for firearms.”

Burnstein stated that in addition to those other mitigating factors, the most significant individual factor considered in the man’s sentencing was his Indigenous heritage, which linked back to the fact that the man’s great-grandfather was a residential school survivor. 

“The impact of his great grandfather’s negative experience with Canada’s residential school system can be readily traced to (his) childhood estrangement from his abusive alcoholic father,” said Burnstein. 

Since the 1999 Gladue case, Canadian judges have been required to weigh the trauma associated with Indigenous heritage in sentencing Indigenous offenders.

The man’s great-grandfather lost the family’s legal status under the Indian Act after refusing to put his children in a residential school which caused the family to lose connection with their Mohawk heritage, the judge found. Burnstein said the defendant endured a “profound negative impact” as a result of being estranged from his father and culture during his upbringing.

“Furthermore, as he was growing up, (the man) was frequently the target of racial slurs by neighbourhood peers and would sometimes be forced by older tougher boys to fight because of his apparent Indigenous heritage.” said Burnstein. 

Burnstein stated that had he would have sentenced the man to an 18-month prison sentence had it not been for the aforementioned mitigating factors. 

“To put it bluntly, Indigenous offenders like (this man) have sacrificed enough,” stated Burstein. 

“They need not be sacrificed again on the altar of deterrence and denunciation when a lesser restrictive sentence would reasonably accomplish the same objectives. In the absence of any particularly aggravating factors in a case involving a first-time (firearm) offence, I am satisfied that imposing a conditional sentence on an Indigenous offender whose life has been negatively impacted by the ‘legacy of colonialism’ would almost always better promote the notion that Canada is ‘a just, peaceful and safe society’ than would a period of actual imprisonment.”

The man received a conditional sentence of two years less a day with house arrest and he may only leave his house for the purpose of attending work. 

Burnstein said he felt the conditional sentence would help the man build a better relationship with his son.

“Courts should strive to break, rather than perpetuate, the cycle of paternal estrangement, which has sadly been so prevalent among descendants of residential school survivors,” said Burnstein.

Burnstein also noted during his sentencing decision that while the Indigenous population in Canada has remained constant, their representation in the prison population continues to grow. 

In 1998, Indigenous people made up 12% of the country’s total prison population and by 2008 that number had risen to 20%. 

As of 2022, Indigenous people account for 32% of the total number of people that are incarcerated. 

‘Non-binary’ Quebec teacher demands children use gender neutral language

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
-

A “non-binary” public elementary school teacher’s demand to be referred to as “Mx. Martine” rather than “Mr.” or “Ms.” has become a cultural flashpoint in Quebec.

Ecole de Richelieu principal Christine Derome wrote a letter to parents of grade five and six students informing them of one of their teachers’ “non binary” gender identity.

The letter explained that grade five and six teachers “benefit from a one-day reduction in their duties per cycle,” and that on these days, students will be taught by Mx. Martine Laviolette.

“Mx is pronounced ‘Mix’ and is the gender-neutral equivalent of ‘madame’ and ‘monsieur’, and is used among other things to refer to non-binary people (whose gender identity lies outside the male/female binary system) and people who simply prefer not to be addressed by their gender,” the letter said.”

The principal said she would be explaining the teacher’s naming preference to students on the first day, accompanied by a “discussion about openness, differences, gender names, etc.”

Derome added that “Mx Martine invites us to use the feminine to talk about her” as the gender neutral pronoun “iel” (French equivalent of they/them) is sometimes difficult to use due to the constraints of the French language. “It will be her pleasure to guide us through this learning process in a respectful and inclusive way.”

The letter was leaked and posted to social media, where it received strong backlash, which the school district subsequently told the legacy media included hateful, violent and defamatory comments, and that such comments led to the police being contacted.  

Marie-Claude Huberdeau, general director of the Centre de services scolaires (CSS) des Hautes-Rivières, told La Presse that comments about the teacher were “of a violent, hateful, defamatory and intolerant nature in a way I’ve rarely seen.”

“And that’s unacceptable,” 

Richelieu-Saint-Laurent police told La Presse they had opened an investigation into comments made online about the teacher.

“One or more parents shared the letter on social networks and there was a snowball effect,” said Sgt. Jean-Luc Tremblay. “In some cases, there was apparent aggression [in the comments], perhaps even of a criminal nature.”

Responding to the controversy, Quebec’s education minister Bernard Drainville said “let’s calm down now. There’s no reason to start insulting, intimidating and threatening anyone.”

Drainville did however not seem keen on embracing gender ideology, noting that he was “a little taken aback” when he first heard about the teacher. 

“Do we need to think about a way of naming or calling a teacher or a member of the school staff who doesn’t consider themselves Mr. or Mrs.? Of course we need to think about that. And I’m going to think about it, but I don’t have an immediate answer for you on that.”

Parti Quebecois leader Paul St. Pierre Plamondon meanwhile said “please, let’s not come across attacks targeting one person. We don’t want to live in that kind of society.” 

He however added that he would not be compelled to use gender neutral language. “No one is going to force me to call someone else “mx”. I’ve never heard of “mx”. I think that the French language, social conventions cannot be imposed by one person on everyone, all the time.”

“Suppose my gender identity wants me to be called Y or W, I can’t impose it on others.”

Conservative Party of Quebec leader Eric Duhaime also reacted to the teacher’s demands. 

“Elementary school children will have ‘inclusive writing’ explained to them… Can’t the teacher just be called Martine, rather than Mx. Martine? Wokism is entering daycares and schools with full force. The CAQ is doing absolutely nothing to bring back common sense.”

In France, gender ideology language has also been the subject of mainstream controversy.

In 2021, France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, a former teacher, called out French dictionary Le Robert after it added the gender neutral pronoun “iel” to its lexicon.

“There are two pronouns, he and she,” said Mrs. Macron. “The (French) language is so beautiful. And two pronouns are good.” 

She added that “learning French is already difficult. Let’s not add complexity to complexity. It’s a cultural position,”

French education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer shared similar sentiments, “you must not manipulate the French language, whatever the cause.” Blanquer also said genderless pronouns are a woke expression. 

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