Canadian News

The body of Kevin Mirshahi, a cryptocurrency influencer abducted in June, has been found at Île-de-la-Visitation park in Montreal's Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, the Sûreté du Québec said on Tuesday. Read More

The family of the man shot and killed by Hamilton police on Saturday has identified him as Erixon Kabera — a father of three, known for his kindness and dedication to Hamilton's Rwandan community. 

CBC has announced it's investing more in local and regional news. The coverage includes up to 25 journalists in more than a dozen communities and four new daily local podcasts.

A series of cameras installed inside and outside a West Island restaurant captured the moments when a 17-year-old girl was abducted, allegedly by two of her brothers, and forced into a waiting vehicle. Read More

Adam Gaudette's inked arms are a window into a fantasy-filled world of Star Wars and superheroes, a pleasant diversion from the pressures of being a professional hockey player. Read More

As Toronto readies for Taylor Swift's arrival this week, some crowd management and planning experts say additional safety precautions should be taken when tens of thousands of fans fill the city's downtown core on show nights.

The re-election of Donald Trump to a second term as president reverberates far beyond the United States, particularly affecting Canada, America’s closest neighbor and largest trading partner. This political shift will have a social and cultural impact on Canadian society the way it did during Trump’s first presidency when his political rhetoric legitimized and enabled hate and racism.

In recent years, the rhetoric surrounding migrants, refugees, and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights has grown increasingly toxic, with many trends in Canada tracking back to the US. Trump’s first term exemplified the weaponization of fear against minority communities for political gain (the Muslim ban), a tactic he employed again during the 2024 presidential campaign. He stoked anxieties about “the other” and used lies and unfounded claims to link them to potential economic turmoil and social disorder if he is not re-elected.

Trump’s initial political rise capitalized on the anger and dissatisfaction of many Americans, framing certain minority groups — Arabs, Muslims, migrants, and refugees — as enemies. This strategy rallied his base and emboldened hate groups, resulting in a notable increase in hate crimes across the US from 2015 (when he started his campaign) to 2021, when he instigated a riot in Washington DC to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential vote. According to FBI statistics, hate incidents surged during his presidency, highlighting the dangerous fallout of inflammatory rhetoric aimed at vilifying minority communities.

Canada witnessed a disturbing rise in hate directed at Muslims after Trump’s 2016 victory that culminated in the tragic 2017 murder of six worshippers at a Quebec City Mosque by a man influenced by Trump’s racist narratives.  In subsequent years incidents of hate continued to increase as did Trump’s rhetoric targeting certain minorities.

With Trump’s re-election, Canadians must brace for the potential fallout of strategies borrowed from Trump’s playbook by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre in Canada heading into the next election, which could include inciting anger, feeding rage, blatant lies, and exploiting and exacerbating societal divisions for political gain. Poilievre’s approach to date mirrors that of Trump and populist politicians in other Western democracies who seek to win by catering to the fears and basest instincts of their electorates. 

The connections between the rise of populism in Canada post-2016 and what could unfold during Trump’s second term are troubling. One cannot help but draw parallels between Trump’s 2016 victory and how it exacerbated social divisions as Conservatives changed their campaign style, and what could occur in Canada during his second administration, and its impact on the Canadian political ecosystem.

The socio-political implications of Trump’s return are concerning, particularly in light of statements from many former Trump officials labeling him a fascist and unfit to hold public office. Historically, the rise of authoritarian regimes often begins with the marginalization of vulnerable populations, which Trump did during his first administration, and during this presidential campaign. Comparisons between Trump and the emergence of fascist regimes in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s may seem extreme but history has shown us that the seeds of bigotry, hatred and social breakdown sprout in times of fear and uncertainty, especially when stoked by politicians.

As Americans navigate the implications of Trump’s second term, Canadians must also confront our interconnected realities. The political climate in the US directly influences Canadian policies and attitudes, particularly among conservative circles. The rise of hate and bigotry during Trump’s first presidency spilled over into Canada with deadly consequences resulting from conservative political rhetoric, and the same could happen again. Statistics Canada has reported increasing hate crimes numbers annually for the past decade, a troubling trend that represents only one per cent of actual incidents. If history and recent right wing political tactics are any indicators then Canadians should brace for a surge in hate related incidents as hate groups are emboldened by Trump’s re-election.

In the US it seems that hateful and bigoted political narratives have been normalized if Trump’s campaign and his victory are the barometer by which to measure such things.  If we are heading in the same direction in Canada, with similar political narratives becoming the norm, it is a threat to the fabric of our society.  Over the next four years, it is crucial for Canadians to remain vigilant and proactive in combating hate, particularly when it is enabled by politicians.  We must defend the values of inclusivity that define our nation, and resist any attempts by right wing political leaders to exploit fear and stoke prejudice against minority communities for political advantage.

The late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once remarked that being America’s neighbor is akin to sleeping next to an elephant — we feel every twitch and grunt. Trump’s re-election is like that elephant having a nightmare, with flailing arms and legs that will inevitably leave Canada bruised and possibly bloodied.

While Americans have to live with him day to day for the next four years Trump’s re-election and the risks it poses to Canada’s sociopolitical landscape must be acknowledged, and we must recognize the dangers of the resurgent populism enabled by Trump’s victory and work wherever we can to counter it and the fascist narratives it promotes.

The post Trump’s re-election doesn’t bode well for tolerance in Canada appeared first on rabble.ca.

On October 31, The federal government’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, Deborah Lyons, released a handbook guide on the enacting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Far from a Halloween prank, this ghoulish handbook serves to suppress the growing movement for Palestinian liberation in Canada under the guise of protecting against antisemitism and honouring the holocaust. Yet under this handbook, myself and many other members of the Jewish community are at risk of serious consequences for our critiques of Israel. The handbook not only fails to protect Canadian Jews against antisemitism, but actually further serves to isolate and exceptionalize Jewish communities.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is a inter-governmental organization formed in 1998 for the purpose of remembering the holocaust. Particularly as the grandchild of a holocaust survivor, I think this is a noble and unproblematic goal. As part of fulfilling this goal, the IHRA proposed the following working definition of antisemitism in 2016: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

In and of itself, the definition is also quite innocuous. But in its examples of what might constitute antisemitism, this definition suddenly equates critique of Israel with antisemitism. Because of these examples, groups like Independent Jewish Voices and Centre for Justice and Peace in the Middle East have fought this definition’s adoption in Canada for many years. 

In addition to challenging the equation of antizionism with antisemitism, this federal handbook suggests that Jews in Canada are somehow special and entitled to different protections than any other identity group in Canada. While Canada has an anti-racism strategy, there is no special envoy for anti-Indigenous racism and no handbook on definitions of anti-Black racism. Canada has appointed a Special Representative on combatting Islamophobia, yet her webpage features no definitions, handbooks, or statements.

The handbook’s forward notes, “Antisemitism is described as the world’s “oldest hatred,” having existed in various forms for thousands of years. It is also known as the “canary in the coal-mine” for all forms of hatred and intolerance. In other words, antisemitism often leads to and intersects with other forms of prejudice and hate.” At a time when more and more Canadian Jews are calling for safety through solidarity and combatting all forms of white supremacy and fascism, Canada has instead declared us the chosen people.

Despite purporting to end “the world’s oldest hatred”, this handbook harms Jews by conflating Jewish people and the State of Israel. With Israel committing a genocide in Gaza for nearly 400 days, associating me with this maniacal regime put me at greater risk of experiencing harm in a society where people are rightly very upset at our government’s inaction. As many of us in the Jewish community have shouted that Israel does not speak for us, the handbook assumes all Jews must think the same way about the most controversial issue in our contemporary history.

As though telling me what to think and claiming I love genocidal countries was not bad enough, this handbook seeks to criminalize and punish me and every other member of Jews Say No to Genocide. The name of our group alone violates the IHRA definition and could be deemed an antisemitic hate group. This definition also calls me antisemitic for describing how my family’s experience of a holocaust has prompted me to not want to commit one myself. Indeed, it is no far stretch under the IHRA to claim rabble is a hotbed of antisemitism for publishing this piece. These claims of antisemitism against anti-Zionist Jews helps de-legitimize their Jewish identity in public discourse to preserve the façade of monolithic Jewish opinion. To me, that seems far more antisemitic than me saying the phrase ‘never again’ at a Palestine rally.

As repression against the Palestinian liberation movement in Canada continues to intensify, this handbook serves as yet another tool for curtailing our right to protest and speak out against the atrocities Israel is committing. As charges from the past year against protestors in Toronto are being dropped, the state is seeking new and creative ways to criminalize Palestinian solidarity. Hiding behind the same excuse used to found the State of Israel, the IHRA definition of antisemitism and the newly released handbook are merely another tool for distraction and repression.

Over a year into what many are calling a second nakba (Arabic for catastrophe), the public is no longer willing to take these claims of antisemitism at face value and cease their criticism of Israel. For those of us actually seeking to build safety for members of the Jewish community here in Canada, we must stand against this handbook and its implementation. We must demand a Special Envoy at Antisemitism that considers all members of the Jewish community and seeks to fight all forms of oppression.

The post Canada’s IHRA handbook won’t end antisemitism, only harm jews appeared first on rabble.ca.

Hours after mischief charges were dropped against a London, Ont., doctor who protested the Liberal government’s Israel policy by squirting ketchup at a member of parliament’s constituency office, Dr. Tarek Loubani repeated the protest.

200 Preston St., 613-233-2104, italianpastryshop.ca Read More

Once the City of Ottawa identifies a new way to suck money from people, its appetite gets larger every year. Not satisfied with a one per cent penalty that effectively doubles a vacant property’s tax, the city now wants to gradually increase the potential penalty to five per cent. Read More

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has sent labour disputes at ports in Quebec and British Columbia to binding arbitration and has ordered people back to work after the disputes reached what he called a "total impasse."

The six-team women's pro soccer league is set to kick off in April with teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

An alleged member of the Sicilian side of the Montreal Mafia has been denied parole while he serves a three-year sentence for stabbing a man during a fight outside a bar in Old Montreal on Aug. 1, 2020. Read More

Pressure on Welby had been building since Thursday, when release of the inquiry’s findings kindled anger about a lack of accountability at the highest reaches of the church.

Weber's career ended prematurely because of a long list of injuries.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford appears to be dipping his toe into new territory — talking about removing Mexico from the North American trade agreement.

In 2018, the Tommy Douglas Institute at George Brown College in Toronto welcomed then Senator and former head of the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada, the Honourable Murray Sinclair as its keynote speaker.

Through his poignant address about the impacts of Canada’s colonial history and the residential school system on the lives of Indigenous Peoples and the meaning of reconciliation, we experienced first-hand the brilliance, integrity, kindness and humour of this truly remarkable individual.

The Honourable Murray Sinclair passed away on the morning of November 4, 2024.

In his memory, we bring you his 2018 keynote address on Community, Education, Change: Indigenous Ways of Knowing.

Reflecting on reconciliation, Sinclair said:

“Reconciliation is a process which is building. It’s not a spectator sport. It involves everybody. And everybody is implicated in it .. No neutrality exists here. .. And understanding it is part of the educational process. And understanding the implications it has for you is part of the challenge that we also need to face. And all of that has to do with knowledge. All of that has to do with dialogue as well, and developing consensus and agreement about where we’re going to go as a country… We have to talk about what kind of relationship we’re going to have going forward. . And that means we have to think differently. We have to think better. ”

rabble.ca had previously shared Sinclair’s keynote address here.

About today’s speaker:

The Honourable Murray Sinclair served the justice system in Manitoba for over 25 years. He was the first Indigenous Judge appointed in Manitoba and Canada’s second.

Sinclair was Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba and Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As head of the TRC, he participated in hundreds of hearings across Canada, culminating in the issuance of the TRC’s final report in 2015 and its 94 Calls to Action. He also oversaw an active multi-million dollar fundraising program to support various TRC events and activities.

Over the years, Sinclair has been invited to speak throughout Canada, the United States and internationally, including the Cambridge Lectures for members of the Judiciary of various Commonwealth Courts in England.

He served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Manitoba. In 2021, Sinclair was appointed 15th Chancellor of Queen’s University, later becoming Chancellor Emeritus and Special Advisor to the Principal on Reconciliation of Queen’s University in 2024.

Sinclair has received numerous awards and honours, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, The Mahatma Gandhi Prize for Peace, the Mandela Award, the Manitoba Bar Association’s Equality Award and its Distinguished Service Award, Canada’s World Peace Prize, and the Meritorius Service Cross. He has also received honorary doctorates and degrees from universities across Canada.

Sinclair was appointed to the Canadian Senate on April 2, 2016 where he served as a Senator for five years. In 2022 Murray Sinclair was appointed a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba in 2024.

Most recently Sinclair published his memoir, Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation.

The Honourable Murray Sinclair passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loved ones on November 4th, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to the Murray Sinclair Memorial Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation.

About this series

Transcript of this episode can be accessed at georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute or here.

Image: The Honourable Murray Sinclair / Used with permission.

Music: Ang Kahora. Lynne, Bjorn. Rights Purchased.

Intro Voices: Ashley Booth (Podcast Announcer); Bob Luker (Tommy)

Courage My Friends Podcast Organizing Committee: Chandra Budhu, Ashley Booth, Resh Budhu.

Produced by: Resh Budhu, Tommy Douglas Institute and Breanne Doyle, rabble.ca.

Original Editing and Recording by: Victoria Fenner and Emily Parr

Host: Resh Budhu.

The post The Honourable Murray Sinclair: 2018 keynote address on Indigenous Ways of Knowing appeared first on rabble.ca.

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault has been called to testify before the ethics committee for a third time after new court documents revealed more ‘Randy’ texts.

Calgary (8-5-3) has points in four straight (2-0-2) to move within two points of the Pacific-leading Kings (9-5-3).