All students deserve a learning environment that is free of political indoctrination
If you’ve been around for a while, you probably remember the phrase “politically correct.” Being called politically correct was not a compliment. Instead, it meant that you had an unhealthy obsession with not offending anyone, even if you had to say some rather silly things in the process. For example, instead of saying husband or…
'He does not think beyond the pipeline. He does not think beyond the cause of the day'
American actor Mark Ruffalo took another uninformed swipe at the Coastal GasLink pipeline this week, claiming via Twitter that “the cleanest river in North America is about to be sacrificed to the oil and gas industry” because of project construction. Earlier this year, Ruffalo joined other celebrities to demand that RBC cease funding Coastal GasLink,…
Bill C-11 is terrible news for Canadians, creators and consumers alike
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking Canada on a headfirst dive toward government censorship, with the Senate the only obstacle standing between Canadians and the vast ocean of government control. As Trudeau’s censorship law makes its way to the Senate, the stakes are high. Calling Bill C-11 a censorship bill is not hyperbole. “Bill C-11…
From the UK to Sweden to Italy, progressive parties are losing ground
Queen Elizabeth II’s death may have consumed most of the oxygen over the past couple of weeks, but other interesting things are happening. Across the Atlantic, three (non-Ukraine) developments stand out. United Kingdom U.K. political governance has four great offices of state – prime minister, chancellor of the exchequer, foreign secretary and home secretary. And…
A secretariat to oversee equity officers won't empower students from disadvantaged backgrounds
Earlier this year, a group called Equity Matters asked the province of Manitoba to establish an education equity secretariat to oversee equity officers working in Manitoba schools. Equity Matters wants to ensure that all Manitoba students are reflected in the curriculum and at all public education system staff levels. They don’t want any student to…
There is no place for the state in the kitchens of the nation
During the current campaign in Quebec, one political party recently proposed a protein shift in the public cafeterias and institutions by offering a menu made up of 50 per cent plant-based protein meals. In the same vein, the party also suggested that 70 per cent of food products served in public institutions be local. Local…
How do you manage a crisis with little time between the story going public and reporters calling?
“I’m on deadline!” the harried journalist yells. This is a euphemism for “I’m very busy.” There were also literal deadlines. An old-fashioned newspaper went “to bed” because the printing press was bolted to the floor on what was called the “bed.” The presses started running in time to get the newspaper out the door. It…
Singling out oil and gas doesn’t make sense
Canada’s strategy to single out greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry could make it harder to meet overall reduction targets, according to two leading energy analysts. Neither of Ottawa’s two proposed policies to cap and reduce oil and gas emissions would allow carbon market trading with other industries. That’s a problem, says…
Telling someone to "do the research" may in fact do more harm than good
The expression that beauty, or art, is in the eye of the beholder means that it’s the viewer who decides. The same is true of the beholder of news stories. More simply, new research shows us, again, that news consumers see what they want to see. The latest research data comes from the ongoing conflict…
It didn't take long for the left-leaning social media mob to begin attacking prominent and known conservatives
For many people, social media sites offer regular doses of interaction, news coverage, research materials and time wasting. Users often get instant gratification, endless hours of frustration or, in some instances, both. One of the many negative aspects of social media – like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Sina Weibo, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp –…
Another sign of out-of-touch elitism
Proof of vaccination is required for students who want to reside at the University of Toronto. No, this wasn’t cut-and-paste from a 2021 article – it’s an actual requirement for the fall of 2022. Anyone who plans to live in residence at the University of Toronto must show proof of vaccination. Not only that, but…
Fascism involves fear, unquestioning loyalty, intimidation, hatred of minorities, violence, and manipulation of democratic structures
It’s very odd to hear pundits on the far-right calling an FBI raid on Donald Trump’s private compound evidence of a “police state.” Usually, people on the left make such accusations toward agents of public order in the United States. What’s happening to the world? We no longer understand the difference between leadership and manipulation.…
Regulatory bodies should stick to their core purpose and stay out of politics
The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) serves as the regulatory body for public school teachers in Ontario. When a complaint comes in, the OCT is obligated to investigate and, if the teacher is found guilty, decide on an appropriate consequence. By investigating complaints against teachers in that province, regulatory bodies such as the OCT play…
We have to be able to engage respectfully with those who hold different opinions
The constant quest for truth is a fascinating journey. One of the most powerful truths ever stated was made by Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, who explained that there are only two races of people, the decent and the indecent, and they’re found in every group. I tend to lean to the left of the political…
Hardworking Canadians are going to have to drag this government kicking and screaming to get any relief at the pumps
By Franco Terrazzano and Kris Sims The Trudeau Liberals must be patting themselves on the back every time they pass a gas station; after all, these unaffordable pump prices are precisely what they want. Inflation hasn’t been this high since the Pierre Elliot Trudeau government back in the early 80s. Canadians are struggling to afford…