Statistics Canada yesterday suggested updating decade-old estimates on the number of Canadian citizens abroad who are eligible to vote and claim federal benefits. It follows Parliament’s passage of a bill that created 115,000 new citizens: "Definitely we could benefit from updates." READ MORE
Green electricity regulations are “unworkable,” “not achievable,” “unacceptable” and threaten reliable supply, says a report to senators by Canadian utilities. The Department of Environment has acknowledged ratepayers face increasing costs under its Clean Electricity Regulations: "The regulations will create unacceptable reliability and affordability challenges across Canada." READ MORE
Cabinet yesterday confirmed it disbanded the office of the Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia headed by former Toronto Star columnist Amira Elghawaby. It followed disclosures Elghawaby lobbied to install Muslim prayer rooms in federal buildings and advocated for employees “speaking out on Palestinian issues.” READ MORE
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty’s department has struck nearly 2,000 contractors from its list of accredited Indigenous suppliers. It follows complaints that companies falsely claimed First Nations, Métis and Inuit ownership to land millions in contracts: "Which ones were asked to pay back money due to misrepresentation?" READ MORE
The Department of Health in a briefing note acknowledges its “safe supply” drug policy led to public disorder. The issue was “highly polarizing,” it said: "Several municipalities and Indigenous communities have declared states of emergency." READ MORE
Federal election monitors yesterday said Conservative candidate Joe Tay needed private security due to threats by Chinese Communist Party agents in the 2025 campaign. However authorities said they had no reason to believe foreign interference affected the outcome in Tay’s riding, Don Valley North, Ont.: "What possibly could it take before the threshold would be met to say this is not a free and fair election?" READ MORE
Levels of public service were mediocre even before job cuts, a Liberal MP yesterday told the Commons government operations committee. MP Iqra Khalid (Mississauga-Erin Mills, Ont.) complained federal employees were "already not doing that great." READ MORE
As a Sunni Muslim we learned we were on the correct path and everyone else was going to hell. Minorities were suspicious people who harboured questionable loyalties. I immigrated to Canada at 19. I went from being a member of a privileged majority to a visible minority. Sometimes it was a sideways glance or remark: “He’s a Muslim,” “He’s an Arab”. I’ve lived on both sides of prejudice. The insight it’s given me is invaluable. There is no substitute for empathy and courtesy.
