A former mayor of Vancouver is fighting back against cancel culture’s latest attempt to change history.
In January, the Vancouver School Board voted to rename the 120-plus year-old Lord Roberts Elementary School.
Former mayor and founder of the Global Civic Policy Society Sam Sullivan has come out against the school board’s decision as an attempt to erase history.
“Does renaming schools help reconciliation? Not according to the Reconciliation Commission itself. They say renaming schools harms reconciliation. The Chair of the Commission Murray Sinclair explained that it was counterproductive, producing anger, not harmony, revenge not reconciliation,” said Sullivan.
“I’m sure people could find something Lord Roberts did that offends our current sensibilities. He was born almost 200 years ago… Is the Vancouver school board practicing presentism, judging people from the past with the values of the present?”
Lord Roberts Elementary was named after Frederick Roberts, a military general who led Canadian troops in the Boer War.
Opponents of the name argued that Lord Roberts participated in establishing concentration camps following the conflict, but according to Sullivan, the historical record does not necessarily support this claim.
It was the civilian government that created the camps and when Lord Roberts returned from London to the conflict “he refused to have anything to do with running” them. Sullivan cited Mahatma Gandhi’s support for Lord Roberts at the time and his role in providing medical support to people on the ground.
“All of us understand there are situations where a name change is the right thing to do, but let’s have a proper process. Don’t pretend that a replacement building on the same lot is not a renaming. Let’s have a legitimate neutral historian involved, not a Google search by a bureaucrat or an activist,” said Sullivan.
“Let’s allow the alumni and the neighbourhood into the process because names have a deeply personal meaning to them. Let’s have all First Nations involved.”
The Canadian housing market has seen the average price of a home increase by 28% since the start of the pandemic caused by an undersupply in the market, even in the face of recent declines.
“Ground-oriented” homes, like single family homes and townhomes, have seen a 31% increase in price since March 2020 compared to a 17% increase in the price of apartments, finds a recently published study from the Fraser Institute.
The study concluded that the sharp rise in prices seen in the 2010s and exacerbated at the beginning of the pandemic is because not enough homes are being built to meet the demand by Canadians.
“The reality is simple: Canada is not building enough homes to keep up with population growth or basic demand,” said Steve Lafleur, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute.
The report found that the number of housing completions has dropped in the 2010s, remaining consistently lower than levels of home building in the 1970s.
Among the housing projects that are being completed, the number of detached homes have decreased, the number of semi-detached and row houses have stayed stagnant, and the proportion of apartment units built have increased.
The disproportionate rise in housing costs between single family homes and apartments have been attributed to the wrong types of homes being built in relation to the market’s demands.
“Not only is Canada experiencing a significant shortage of housing overall…but there also appears to be an important mismatch between the housing types preferred by many Canadians and their families, and the housing types being built,” reads the report.
“The combined number of single-detached, semi-detached, and row housing units completed annually in the 2010s fell to its lowest since the 1960s, when Canada’s population was less than two-thirds as large.”
The study also connects the rise in prices to a growth in the Canadian population, for which the housing market has not been able to meet the demands.
At the height of the housing market’s cost crisis, the average price of a home increased by 50% and over 60% in Ontario in just over two years. While the housing market has cooled off in recent months, the Fraser Institute’s study concludes it is “unclear whether and for how long these price reductions will persist.”
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada voted in favour of a strike for employees in administrative, technical, educational and operational services, which may affect a number of services utilized by Canadians.
Plus, following York Mills Collegiate Institute’s decision to host a drag queen event in front of a select number of students, a group of students organized a protest against the event on Wednesday afternoon.
And famed psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson says Alberta should separate from Canada if the federal government tries to take control over its provincial resources.
Tune into The Daily Brief with Rachel Emmanuel and Lindsay Shepherd!
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a rule to invalidate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the abortion pill Mifepristone.
As a result, Mifepristone, which is the equivalent of the Health Canada-approved Mifegymiso, could be taken off shelves in all U.S. states if the ruling is upheld in court, as reported by The New York Times.
In Canada, a pro-life group is applauding Kacsmaryk’s decision and believes it’s a step in the right direction to protect the lives of unborn children.
“We are very excited by the US ruling,” said Josie Luetke, Director of Education and Advocacy at Campaign Life Coalition in an interview with True North. “Even if the drug isn’t removed from shelves, this decision and resulting media coverage are opening up the conversation about the harms of chemical abortion.”
“This drug has killed dozens of women—a 19-year-old Canadian last year, a 23-year-old Argentine abortion activist in 2021, at least 28 women in the United States since 2000, and many more mothers worldwide.”
The FDA approved chemical abortion in 2000 and is now up for judicial review despite petitions from plaintiffs requesting them since 2002.
“The law requires an agency response within 180 days of receipt of the petition,” writes Judge Kacsmaryk in his ruling. “FDA waited 4,971 days to adjudicate Plaintiffs’ first petition.”
“Simply put, FDA stonewalled judicial review — until now.”
Kacsmaryk states that his decision to reject the FDA’s approval of the drug is due to a lack of review of the psychological consequences of the drug on the user.
“FDA ‘entirely failed to consider an important aspect of the problem’ by omitting any evaluation of the psychological effects of the drug or an evaluation of the long-term medical consequences of the drug,” writes Kacsmaryk.
“Considering the intense psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress women often experience from chemical abortion, this failure should not be overlooked or understated.”
When asked how the U.S. ruling could affect Canadians, Luetke argues that Canada is “moving in the opposite direction” of the US when it comes to pro-life policies but she remains hopeful.
“Nevertheless, we are hopeful that these developments south of the border may improve awareness and spur greater grassroots resistance to this human poison,” said Luetke.
The plaintiffs in the case are made up of doctors and national medical association representatives that provide healthcare for women who are pregnant or recovering from abortion. The group argues that the FDA did not follow regular protocols when approving the abortion pill.
During this week’s International Day of Pink – held to show solidarity against bullying and homophobia – teachers at one Toronto District School Board (TDSB) high school were asked to go the extra mile.
I’m not talking about stepping up their teaching of the basics to ensure their students fare far better on EQAO standardized tests.
No. A memo sent out to teachers the afternoon before the day – during which students and teachers are urged to wear pink shirts – asked them to “practice a pronoun refresher.”
That meant that teachers were to take time to reintroduce themselves to their classes using both their names and their preferred pronouns.
Here is an email that was sent to teachers at one TDSB high school today, advising them to “reintroduce” themselves to their class tomorrow, sharing their name and pronouns, and to invite students to do the same for #internationaldayofpink.
Students should also be asked to do the same, says the memo obtained by True North. That can either be done orally or by using name tags or providing an “exit ticket” before they depart the classroom that includes their names and pronouns.
No pressure there.
The memo, from an unnamed school, outrageously claims that if a student refuses to engage in this exercise in advanced wokeness, they “may hold homophobic or transphobic beliefs or may also be showing internalized homophobia/transphobia.”
What if they happen to have common sense and want no part of this inane exercise?
At least the memo writers (a staff advisor and the principal I’m told) say if students pass “respectfully,” that’s okay.
Geesh. That’s so kind of them.
I have watched the International Day of Pink receive a kind of cult following at the TDSB and other dangerously woke school boards like the Waterloo Region District School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
All of these school boards, plus various unions, tweeted out appropriate virtue signaling messages the day before and on the morning of the Pink Shirt Day.
Some teachers – who pride themselves as social justice warriors – tweeted messages that came dangerously close to pressuring students to wear the solidarity t-shirt, also inappropriate.
The International Day of Pink started in 2007 when a teenager faced homophobic bullying at a Nova Scotia high school for wearing a pink t-shirt. Students organized to wear pink as an act of solidarity. It is now a day of action. Everyone should feel safe & welcomed at school. pic.twitter.com/o1rzwCheBm
But this memo really crosses the line from education to indoctrination.
It is not the job of school officials to demand their students discuss how they identify, particularly in front of an entire class.
Frankly, this borders on gender-shaming.
It is also downright out of line for whoever wrote the memo to suggest those students who do not want to be part of the gender cult are transphobic or homophobic.
It borders on abuse.
Trouble is, woke school boards like the TDSB, dominated by activist bureaucrats and trustees, have so overstepped their boundaries that they can no longer perceive the harm of their woke edicts.
Clearly, they have signed on to the gender cult and have become absolutely intolerant of anyone who has not.
Sadly, many teachers go along with it for fear of being reprimanded by the board’s gender police.
As of Wednesday, almost half of the entire federal public service is geared up for strike action as a group of workers, which is called the Treasury Board group by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), is now in a legal strike position.
A spokesperson for Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said in a statement that their goal is to reach a deal at the bargaining table as soon as possible, and they believe “significant headway” had been made in the last week.
PSAC president Chris Aylward did not say when a strike could happen. Legally, the union now starts a 60-day window to call a strike.
The union also didn’t share how many of its 123,856 members voted in favour. But he said an “overwhelming majority” voted for a strike mandate.
A different bargaining group of about 35,000 PSAC workers at the Canada Revenue Agency voted in favour of strike action Friday ahead of mediation talks set to take place later this month.
That means 155,000 federal public servants represented by PSAC—more than half the total number of federal civil servants—now have a strike mandate. It would be the largest strike in Canadian history if they go through with it.
There have only been two Canada-wide federal public service strikes in the last 30-plus years, in 1991 and in 2004.
The 1991 strike delayed grain shipments, flights and cross-border travel, while the 2004 strike involved hundreds of picket lines set up at federal offices, tax centres, ports, airports and border crossings.
In the late summer of 2004, strikes by Parks Canada workers temporarily shut many national parks as well as the Rideau Canal.
The Treasury Board said the government was “disappointed” about the strike vote and that there was “lots of room to reach a fair and reasonable agreement for public servants.”
The Treasury Board last shared an offer to increase wages by 2.06% on average over four years, up from an average of 1.7% per year. The union’s last public proposal was 4.5% for 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The minister’s office statement Wednesday said a labour relations board report two months ago also gives “a realistic path to an agreement.”
It recommended wage increases of 1.5% in 2021, 4.5% for 2022 and 3% for 2023.
In January, the union announced strike votes for the Treasury Board group due to a disagreement with the department over proposed wage increases that are outstripped by the rate of inflation.
Aylward said Wednesday most members make between $40,000 and $65,000 a year and they are struggling with the inflated cost of living.
“PSAC members are feeling squeezed along with everyone else,” Aylward told a news conference Wednesday.
“Our members have been without a contract since 2021. Today, an overwhelming majority of our members have told us they can’t wait any longer, and they are prepared to strike to secure a fair deal that won’t see them fall behind.
“Our members don’t take the decision to strike lightly. They know that a strike will be difficult for them and for the Canadians who depend on the services they provide. But they’re exercising their bargaining power because they just can’t wait any longer. … They’re sending a message to the government that they won’t be taken for granted,” Aylward said.
“The Government of Canada values the important role its employees play in delivering services to Canadians and is committed to reaching collective agreements that are both fair to employees and reasonable for Canadian taxpayers,” Treasury Board Secretariat said in a statement.
“It remains our goal to reach an agreement at the bargaining table as soon as possible,” the statement said.
Wages are the main issue of contention between the government and the union, with PSAC asking for a 13.5% raise over three years and Treasury Board offering 8.25% over four years.
“When the federal government, Canada’s largest employer by far, suppresses wages for its workers, what they’re really doing is pushing down wages for all workers across all sectors,” Aylward said.
A report by an impartial Public Interest Commission recommended a 9% raise over three years, but Aylward said that wasn’t sufficient.
“Is it a path forward? Yes it is,” he said. “Is it going to settle this round of bargaining? No it will not.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempted to dispel anger from Prairie premiers on Wednesday surrounding recent comments on the Natural Resources Transfer Act made by Justice Minister David Lametti.
During an Assembly of First Nations meeting last week, Lametti promised he would “look at” the agreement after several chiefs called for it to be rescinded, fielding accusations of attempting to override constitutional rights which give provinces autonomy over natural resources.
“Let me be very clear. The Minister of Justice said no such thing. If you actually look at his remarks it is very clear that we’re talking about the importance of the federal government living up to our responsibilities under UNDRIP,” claimed Trudeau.
“It’s something that unfortunately the Prairie premiers have not taken seriously and they are instead trying to elevate fears that have absolutely no grounding in truth.”
Now PM Justin Trudeau is saying that Justice Minister David Lametti said "no such thing" when he said he would "look at" rescinding the Natural Resources Transfer Act.
I've clipped Lametti's comments where he lietrally says "I do commit to looking at that" to the end of this vid pic.twitter.com/pADD445st0
Lametti made the comments in response to statements by Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council and Chief Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
“I take from Chief Brian also from Chief Don Maracle the point about the Natural Resources Transfer (Act) … I obviously can’t pronounce on that right now but I do commit to looking at that. It won’t be uncontroversial is the only thing I would say with a bit of a smile,” said Lametti.
The Justice Minister’s remarks led to a flurry of condemnations both from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and premiers Danielle Smith, Scott Moe and Heather Stefanson.
“The federal government cannot unilaterally change the Constitution. It should not even be considering stripping resource rights away from the three Prairie provinces,” the premiers said in a joint statement.
“The prime minister needs to immediately retract these dangerous and divisive comments by his justice minister.”
Meanwhile, Poilievre labelled the statement an “attack” on resource workers.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is questioning “Special Rapporteur” David Johnston’s ability to be objective in his investigation of Chinese election interference.
In a short letter sent to Johnston and made public through Twitter, Poilievre asked the “Special Rapporteur” appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau how he will investigate the Trudeau Foundation – of which Johnston was a member – and their acceptance of an alarming $200,000 donation from a businessman connected with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“Explain this,” says Poilievre. “How will you investigate Beijing’s donation to the Trudeau Foundation when you were part of the Trudeau Foundation?”
Poilievre’s letter comes shortly after the Trudeau Foundation’s President and CEO Pascale Fournier resigned, along with the entire board of directors. The president and board said the revelation that the foundation had accepted a large sum of money from China has politicized their work and made it impossible for them to continue in their roles.
“In recent weeks, the political climate surrounding a donation received by the Foundation in 2016 has put a great deal of pressure on the Foundation’s management and volunteer Board of Directors,” reads the statement.
“The circumstances created by the politicization of the Foundation have made it impossible to continue with the status quo, and the volunteer Board of Directors has resigned, as has the President and CEO.”
Poilievre responded to the resignation of the Trudeau Foundation’s board and CEO by demanding an investigation to find out who got paid, and who gained influence within the Trudeau government from the donation.
It is not clear that Johnston’s mandate from PM Trudeau allows him to investigate Beijing money given to the Trudeau Foundation.
The announcement of Johnston’s mandate says that he will be tasked with “assessing the extent and impact of foreign interference in Canada’s electoral processes” through examination of classified and unclassified government documents deemed relevant.
Johnston resigned his membership in the Trudeau Foundation after his government appointment.
Despite what radical LGTBQ activists and the legacy media claim, many Canadians are very uncomfortable with drag queens dancing in front of students. This was clear today in Toronto as students protested a drag queen event.
Following York Mills Collegiate Institute’s decision to host a drag queen event in front of a select number of students, a group of students organized a protest against the event on Wednesday afternoon. The protest was organized by Save Canada, a non-profit organization that is opposed to radical gender ideology in Canadian schools.
Protest organizer Josh Alexander said his organization takes issue with the fact that kids are being indoctrinated in the education system with gender ideology.
True North’s Harrison Faulkner spoke to parents and students today outside of the Toronto high school.
Pro Life Alberta says the Alberta government must stop funding abortions after Premier Danielle Smith announced that a re-elected UCP government would not change existing funding for medical services.
On Tuesday, Smith announced that her government would not de-list any medical services or prescriptions now covered by Alberta health insurance “without exception.”
Pro Life Alberta says Smith’s statement means about 12,000 babies will die from abortion in 2023, just as the year before, at taxpayers’ expense.
“Enough is enough already. Abortion is not healthcare. And Albertans shouldn’t be footing the bill for an elective — and highly unregulated — ‘procedure’ that ends the life of a child in the womb,” the party says.
“The more who learn the ugly truth about abortion the more who will stand up and say ‘enough-is-enough!’”
Smith’s healthcare spending promise counters weeks of NDP attacks saying the premier plans to privatize healthcare. One NDP advertisement claims the premier plans to start charging Albertans for visits to the family doctor — a claim the premier has refuted.
Pro Life Alberta says the NDP will continue to attack Smith on healthcare spending. Meanwhile, her statements make an enemy of her friends in the pro-life movement, it says.
“Unless Danielle Smith comes out with some kind of policy that will advocate for Alberta’s preborn, Danielle Smith is forcing the hand of pro-life Albertans to oppose her leadership.”
“To sacrifice the preborn for political power is not worth the price.”
Pro Life Alberta is a registered political party that typically does not run candidates in provincial elections. Rather, it uses its status to draw attention to the pro-life movement.
Canada currently has no laws restricting abortion at any stage of a woman’s pregnancy.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) released statistics confirming 87,485 induced abortions in Canada in 2021. Surgical abortions accounted for nearly two-thirds (63%) of abortions while medical abortions using oral treatments such as Mifegymiso made up 37% of abortions in Canada.
