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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Alberta University cancels ice hockey intramural to be ‘inclusive’

By
Rachel Parker
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Alberta’s Mount Royal University is cancelling its ice hockey intramural to be more “accessible and inclusive.”

In a statement, the university said it conducted an analysis to work towards “achieving an accessible and inclusive program where all feel they belong.” 

Mount Royal said evidence shows ice hockey creates a sense of belonging for some, but there are “critical areas that  require improvement.”

“Upon completion of these assessments it was determined that Ice Hockey intramurals be put on hold until we can implement strategies to ensure the ice hockey program we could potentially put forward in the future is equitable, inclusive, and accessible to program participants,” the university said in a statement.

As reported by The Counter Signal, the university said it assessed its ice hockey intramurals through its Accessible and Inclusive Programs Audit, an equity analysis, the Program Needs Assessment, informal feedback and observation. 

It considered a sense of belonging, participant behaviour, who the program was built with and for, equipment requirements, participant fees, ice time cost and more.

In an August 31 update, the university said its initial message caused some confusion. 

“Critical areas that require improvement include the cost of programming and accessibility,” reads the update. “Examples of these items include, but are not limited to: equitable cost of programming, providing accessible programs, and ice times being late into the evening at an off campus venue.”

Former player and student Conor Monaghan told The Counter Signal the university is caving to cancel culture. 

“I would say that cancel culture is playing a big factor in this,” Monoghan said. “Rather than having a conversation with the participants involved, the university has decided to completely extinguish ice hockey.”

Mount Royal did not provide students with a clear answer about whether ice hockey intramural will return. The university said it’s exploring options as to whether “inclusive and equitable opportunities for ice hockey will be possible in the future.”

It also said it’s looking into similar sport options like “floorball.” 

LEVY: Enough with the Covid theatrics – let the kids be kids

By
Sue-Ann Levy
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It’s been two and a half years since the pandemic’s first wave – and the on-again, off-again series of restrictions foisted on young students.

Many students are way behind because of online learning. The youngest ones have hardly experienced life – and certainly school – without masking. 

It is abundantly clear that students have suffered both academically and socially because of these restrictions. 

Most of us, and that includes their parents, just want to get on with living.

But as students head back to class this week, it seems some Ontario teachers and parents are not prepared to let it go.

In recent days the Twitter-sphere has run rampant with tweets from teachers and parents freakishly obsessed with mask mandates when their little (and big) ones return to school.

I have no problem if someone wants to continue to wear a mask, wherever they might be, although I find it particularly silly (and sad) that there are still those wearing them outside or inside their vehicles. 

It’s akin to Mask Theatre.

Still, this obsession is indicative of the tremendous job leftist doctors and politicians have done to pound fear into us. They have helped create a whole group of Covid-deranged, mask and vaccine-obsessed, self-righteous hypochondriacs who spend their time lecturing others about being respectful.

This mom, who goes by the Twitter handle @BikeMama appears to have ramped up her pleas to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to expand virtual learning and reinstate a mask mandate the closer it got to Labour Day. It should come as no surprise that she frequently tweets to David Fishman, a doctor who repeatedly fear mongers on Twitter and blocked me for calling him out.

Nothing beats this Toronto board teacher, identified as TorontoTeacherX only, whose succession of Twitter rants started in early August. The tweets seemed to suggest that she, or he, really had no interest in returning to school and certainly not in a classroom where masking is optional.

After ramping up his or her assault on the lack of mask mandate, he or she indicated that their students would earn special gold stars for wearing masks and those with the most stars at the end of the week would be taken to lunch on his or her own dime.

When the reaction to these tweets was critical – suggesting, quite rightly, that this was not an appropriate way to teach and was divisive – the entire account was deleted.

We managed to screenshot just one of the tweets.

This consultant, who describes herself as an advocate for hire, believes masks should be worn by all students and staff to ensure “inclusive” classrooms. 

That’s taking inclusivity to a whole new level.

In what can only be described as an act of absolute looniness, this mom showed up at her daughter’s Waterloo Catholic high school Tuesday with N95 masks and rapid tests.

Needless to say, she was quite taken aback when some staff laughed at her and she was asked to leave the school grounds.

Even former NDP MPP and queer Minister (of the church) Cheri diNovo had to get into the act.

Of course, that was a dog whistle to all of the hypochondriacs.

Look, as I’ve said many times, I lost my dad to Covid in November of 2020 during the disease’s second wave. He was 91.

I am triple vaccinated and took all the precautions when mandated.

But for heaven’s sake, enough already.

Let kids be kids and be permitted to move on.

Most Canadians have.

Edmonton will fine businesses offering single-use plastics next year

By
Rachel Parker
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The City of Edmonton is considering banning businesses from offering customers single-use plastic items like shopping bags and foam cups. 

The bylaw would reduce the number of single-use items used and discarded in Edmonton and begin to “shift the habits of Edmontonians, visitors, businesses and other organizations to make reusable alternatives their default choice,” a council report reads.

It would also “reduce waste and litter, increase recycling and responsible waste management, and encourage the use of reusable alternatives.”

According to the council report, Edmontonians discard an estimated 450 million single-use items annually, including shopping bags, takeout containers, cups, utensils and straws. 

“The majority end up being discarded in the garbage system, while others end up littering streets, parks and other open spaces such as the River Valley,” the report reads. 

The bylaw would mandate a mandatory minimum fee for new paper shopping bags and new reusable shopping bags. Customers must request utensils for single-use accessories made of any material — restaurants can’t just hand them out.

Restaurants must also serve dine-in drink orders in reusable cups and develop a policy to permit customers to bring their own reusable drink cups, the bylaw stipulates. Plastic shopping bags and styrofoam serviceware would be banned under the bylaw. 

A 2011 research paper produced by the Northern Ireland Assembly found that it “takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag.”

The city said complaints of non-compliance would result in outreach and education, followed by warnings. 

“Enforcement will be applied in cases of deliberate and ongoing non-compliance.”

City council would give Edmonton businesses nine months to prepare between bylaw approval and the date it takes effect. The city has scheduled July 1, 2023 for the bylaw to take effect. 

“The Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw is enforceable, however the City will use an education-first and escalating enforcement approach,” the report reads. “A variety of communication and outreach tactics will be used to raise awareness of the bylaw. 

The bylaw’s first reading was given by Edmonton City Council on July 4. 

The proposed Bylaw 20117 is a Charter Bylaw and will head to second and third readings after the public hearing has been held.

The Trudeau government has also placed a ban on single-use plastic items like straws, cutlery and takeout containers. However, unlike the federal measure which targets the sale and import of single-use plastics, Edmonton’s bylaw goes directly after businesses.

Earlier this month, more than two dozen plastic makers who’ve united under the banner of the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition asked the Federal Court to put an end to Ottawa’s impending ban. The $29-billion industry is already suing the government for listing plastic as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. 

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said he’s confident the government’s regulations will be upheld.

Guilbeault’s office has suggested Canadians use alternatives like wooden cutlery and paper straws.

A March 2021 study from the University of Florida published in ScienceDirect found that paper straws are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, hampered immune function, early puberty and reduced penis size.

“Vast majority” of businesses expect supply chain to worsen this year: StatsCan

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A Statistics Canada analysis of supply chains found that a “vast majority” of Canadian businesses expect the situation to worsen over the next three months. 

The Sept. 1, 2022 report titled Analysis on supply chains in Canada, third quarter of 2022 by Stephanie Tam, Shivani Sood and Chris Johnston painted a bleak picture for businesses as they struggle to acquire inventory.

“Similar to the previous quarter, of businesses that expect to experience supply chain challenges, the vast majority also expect supply chain challenges to either worsen or remain about the same over the next three months and businesses plan to use various strategies to address supply chain issues,” wrote analysts. 

Businesses are attempting to avoid further disruptions by partnering with new suppliers, substituting products and shifting to local sources. 

When it comes to acquiring inputs or supplies, the construction industry has been the hardest hit with over half expecting issues in the next six months. 

“Nearly half of businesses in construction (47.8%) and manufacturing (43.9%) expect difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies domestically over the next three months,” wrote analysts. 

“Of the businesses expecting difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies domestically, over half (54.3%) expect these challenges to continue for six months or more, down slightly from the previous quarter (57.3%).”

The poll surveyed businesses across Canada in an online questionnaire from Jul 4. to Aug. 8. 17,013 different businesses and organizations took part in the survey. 

“Many businesses have not yet fully recovered from the prior tightening and closing

of borders, restrictions on the movement of people and goods, and lockdowns. As a result, the status of supply chains and the impact they have on their respective economies are of great interest,” the Statistics Canada report reads. 

“Widespread global supply constraints in combination with pent-up consumer demand resulted in inflationary pressures.”

Canada’s inflation rate reached 7.6% in July, a slight reduction from the 8.1% rate reported in June. Statistics Canada is expected to report data for August in the coming weeks. 

The Bank of Canada has indicated that it will hike interest rates again in the coming days by three-quarters of a percentage point. Additionally, high costs of food and transportation remain an obstacle for many businesses.

Western delays booster requirement to January 9, 2023

By
Andrew Lawton
-

Western University has delayed implementation of its controversial booster vaccine mandate, and will now give students, staff and visitors until next year to provide proof of vaccination before attending campus.

The university originally imposed an Oct. 1 deadline, though it’s now been pushed back more than three months to Jan. 9, the beginning of the winter term.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Western said the reason was Health Canada’s recent approval of Moderna’s bivalent vaccine specifically targeting the omicron variant of Covid-19, which Western said “prompted the university to conduct further consultation with experts.”

“Western has made and will continue to make decisions based on the best available data, science and advice from experts,” said Western provost Florentine Strzelczyk. “This booster deadline extension reflects the new Health Canada information and is supported by our experts. It also responds to the call from our student leaders to provide more time for students in residence to be vaccinated.”

Western now says students will have the option to get a booster or the bivalent vaccine later this fall to be “compliant” with the policy.

Western’s statement made no reference to the growing chorus of students and medical experts who have said its vaccine mandate – the only one of its kind at a Canadian post-secondary institution – is ineffective and harmful.

The university is still requiring students to provide proof of vaccination for a two-dose series “as soon as possible” if they didn’t last year.

An open letter from Students for Agency featured a scientific analysis by infectious disease specialists Drs. Zain Chagla and Martha Fulford, who noted in younger age groups vaccination can pose a greater risk than Covid, specifically with regard to myocarditis.

“Given the complex immunity landscape, the increasingly recognized harms for mandating boosters without significant benefit, it would be prudent to revise this policy, and instead focus on positive engagement with upcoming vaccine campaigns,” Chagla and Fulford wrote.

While the delay will give students who aren’t boosted the opportunity to complete a full semester, it would still interfere with anyone expecting to complete a full year on campus.

Students for Agency, the Western student group created to protest the mandate, said in a tweet the postponement is “not good enough.”

Western initially announced its three-dose mandate just two weeks before classes started, leaving students with little time to decide whether to withdraw or seek a transfer elsewhere.

Lawyer Lisa Bildy and the civil liberties charity the Democracy Fund have commenced a legal action against Western on behalf of several students affected by the mandate.

The Andrew Lawton Show | Trudeau is getting us ready for never-ending boosters

By
Andrew Lawton
-

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says “Covid’s not done with us yet,” urging Canadians to get boosted every six months to avoid restrictions, lockdowns and mandates in the winter. He said 80 to 90% of Canadians need to be “up to date” with their vaccinations for this to happen.

True North’s Andrew Lawton says the only way to get back to normal is to reclaim normal and not let governments dangle freedoms in front of you.

Also, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is taking the federal government to court over the ArriveCAN app. Lawyers Sayeh Hassan and Eva Chipiuk join the show live to talk about their Charter challenge.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW

Hypothetical railway blockade justified Emergencies Act use

By
Andrew Kozak
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Attorney General David Lametti justified the use of the Emergencies Act to crack down on the Freedom Convoy based on the hypothetical scenario that protesters would block railways, according to Department of Justice records obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

“Threats were made to block railway lines which would result in significant disruptions,” staff wrote in April 23 briefing notes for Lametti. Railways “serve customers in almost every part of the Canadian economy,” said the department.

“The result of a railway blockade would be significant,” wrote staff. “Canada’s freight rail industry transports more than $310 billion worth of goods each year on a network that runs from coast to coast.”

There was no mention of the radical 2020 Wet’suwet’en railway blockades or why cabinet did not invoke the never-before-used act then.

Freedom Convoy protesters did not blockade any railways.

Rail blockades in support of hereditary Wet’suwet’en First Nation chiefs lasted several weeks in February 2020. The blockades cost Canada $283 million in damages and resulted in over 1000 layoffs according to a 202 Parliamentary Budget Office report Estimate of the Impacts of the February 2020 Rail Disruption. 

Federal regulators counted more than 50 blockades across the country, including a camp on the Canadian National Railway main line in Belleville, Ontario. Lines in Hamilton and Winnipeg were also blockaded. Protesters also blocked cross-border bridges in Cornwall and Sault Ste. Marie.

“The protest blockades have significantly worsened rail service at this time when the rail system was already experiencing strain,” the Department of Agriculture wrote in a 2020 briefing note Grain Transportation. Authorities were told of “significant vessel lineups at the Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.”

The blockades ended once then-Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller met with protestors and pledged a $7.2 million grant to the unelected Wet’suwet’en chiefs.

Briefing notes from department meetings also expressed fears that the Freedom Convoy would turn violent.  

“Two bomb threats were made to Vancouver hospitals and numerous suspicious packages containing rhetoric that references the hanging of politicians and potentially noxious substances were sent to offices of Members of Parliament in Nova Scotia,” wrote the Department of Justice. “A link to the convoy has not yet been established in either case.”

Staff acknowledged they had no evidence to justify their fears. 

Out of 230 people arrested during the Freedom Convoy, 119 faced charges with mischief being the most common infraction. 

Hearings for the commission investigating Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act have been postponed to October 13 due to the commissioner’s health.

Candice Bergen to retire from politics next election

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Conservative Party of Canada interim leader Candice Bergen has revealed that she does not intend to run for office in the next federal election.

Bergen told the Toronto Sun that while she intends to retire from politics, whoever the CPC chooses as the next leader of the party will have her wholehearted support. 

“Serving the constituents of Portage—Lisgar for fourteen years has been the honour of my political life,” a statement by Bergen reads.

In an interview with the outlet, Bergen reflected on her political career which included granting Indigenous women matrimonial property rights. 

“I’m still very happy that we passed real matrimonial rights for Indigenous women,” said Bergen of Bill S-2 which passed in 2013.

Bergen also praised her party’s role in government and its past leadership. 

“So many friends, so many good MPs losing their seats and Stephen Harper was such a great prime minister,” said Bergen. 

“I’ve been very privileged to do this job and my kids’ lives are richer as a result of it.” 

As for her political exit, Bergen plans on finishing her term as an MP for the time being and is looking forward to what her future life holds. 

“I will wholeheartedly be supporting whoever takes my place as leader after Sept. 10. I’m incredibly optimistic about the future of the Conservative movement in Canada. When Conservatives are strong and united, Conservatives win,” said Bergen.

“I am humbled and grateful for every leader I have worked with and learned so much from.”

The CPC is set to elect its next leader on Saturday. Current polls place Pierre Poilievre in the clear lead with 57% of Conservatives preferring the Carleton MP over other candidates. 

Parole Board claimed mass stabbing suspect was not a threat to public safety

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Parole Board of Canada claimed that the suspect involved in the largest mass stabbing in Canadian history was not a risk to public safety in February.

A manhunt is currently underway to find Myles Sanderson after him and his since deceased brother Damien Sanderson killed 11 people and injured 19 at 13 locations around the James Smith Cree Nation and the nearby village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon.

Global News is now reporting that parole officers claimed that Sanderson was a “law-abiding citizen” when freeing him. 

“The Board is satisfied that your risk is manageable in the community, if you live with your [redacted] maintain sobriety and employment, and continue with developing supports, including getting therapy,” wrote the board.

Sanderson has a storied criminal past including drug charges and gang associations. He is currently being sought for three counts of first-degree murder. 

In total, the 31-year-old Sanderson has been convicted of 59 different crimes. His violent past includes threatening somebody with a gun before forcing him to rob a restaurant in Nov. 2017.

Sanderson was also arrested in June 2018 by police. During the arrest, Sanderson assaulted a police officer by kicking them in the head. 

He was sent to federal prison for four years but in Feb. 2021 was placed into an Indigenous healing lodge and eventually freed by Aug. 2021. 

“To your benefit, you do seem to have maintained sobriety, obtained employment, engaged a therapist, were engaged in cultural ceremonies, had obtained a home for your family, and appeared to have been making good progress on reintegration,” parole officers claimed.

“It is the Board’s opinion that you will not present an undue risk to society if released on statutory release and that your release will contribute to the protection of society by facilitating your reintegration into society as a law abiding citizen.”

Sanderson’s clean stint didn’t last long and by May of this year, Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers declared him “unlawfully at large” prior to the stabbing spree. 

“Considering your Indigenous background, the Board notes that there are factors from your background that may have contributed to your involvement in the criminal justice system,” wrote the Parole Board. 

On Monday, Regina Police Chief Evan Bray stated that authorities were “very confident” the suspect was in Regina. The manhunt for Sanderson is still ongoing. 

Canadians’ least favourite province is Quebec: poll

By
Harrison Faulkner
-

A recent Leger poll reveals that Quebec is viewed the most unfavourably by the majority of Canadians.

When asked which province was their least favourite outside of their own, Quebec was the clear choice.

21% of respondents listed Quebec as their least favourite province. Alberta was second with 10%, followed by Nunavut, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The most popular response was “prefer not to answer” at 24%.

30% of those surveyed in Atlantic Canada, 31% of people in the prairies and a quarter of Ontario and B.C. residents chose Quebec as their least favourite. 

When asked why they disliked Quebec so much, respondents overwhelmingly said it was the people who live there.

When asked “what is it about that province/territory that makes it your least favourite?” 49% of respondents marked “the people.” 17% also said Quebec was too expensive and another 15% said they “don’t know anyone there.” 

In terms of the most preferred province, 30% of respondents picked British Columbia, with many people indicating geography and landscapes (65%) and nature and wildlife (60%) as their rationale for liking the western province.

In August, a report from Statistics Canada revealed that compared to English and other languages, French is becoming proportionately less significant in the lives of Canadians.

While the use of English as the first official language of Canadians rose 74.8% to 75.5% from 2016-2021, the use of French as a first language dropped from 22.2% in 2016 to 21.4% in 2021. 

Despite the federal and provincial governments pushing English-speaking Canadians to learn French, the trend of proportionately fewer Canadians knowing and primarily speaking French is happening across Canada in all provinces, including Quebec. 

Despite Quebec premier Francois Legault’s strict language policies meant to preserve the French language in the province, English has become a more important language in the day-to-day lives of Quebec residents. 

In the Nord-du-Québec region, the percentage of residents whose first official language is French is only 31.1%, a 3.6 percentage point decline from 2016.

Legault has openly admitted that French is on the decline in his province and that Bill 96’s passage was intended to reverse the trend.

“When we look at the statistics, the language most used in the home is in decline, the language most used at work is in decline,” said Legault to reporters this past June.

“It becomes a question of time. If this decline continues, it will take how many years before French is not used a lot?”

What is Canadians' favo… by Ctv Montreal

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