Pierre Poilievre thinks it's a ‘scam.' But this protest highlights the flaws in our democracy
Taylor C. Noakes is an independent journalist and public historian. He is a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow him on BlueSky: @taylornoakes.bsky.social
Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
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Toronto Star
3 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Tribalism has been around for as long as humanity — but I can remember a time when there was room for more tribes
Protestors demonstrate outside a courthouse during the Hockey Canada trial, in London, Ontario, on May 2, 2025. Geoff Robins/ The Canadian Press flag wire: false flag sponsored: false article_type: Opinion : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false : Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
In the news today: Carney scheduled to visit B.C. Interior Tuesday
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed… Carney scheduled to visit B.C. Interior Tuesday Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to be in Kelowna, B.C., for an announcement at a lumber facility on Tuesday after attending the Vancouver Pride parade on the weekend and touring a military facility on Vancouver Island on Monday. Carney toured the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges facility near Nanoose Bay, outside Nanaimo, with officials from the Canadian Navy. He toured the Royal Canadian Navy vessel Sikanni accompanied by Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee and Commanding Officer Craig Piccolo from the testing facility. Carney on Sunday met with B.C. Premier David Eby and officials from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. The prime minister's visit to the province comes amid renewed tensions in the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S., which has placed anti-dumping duties on softwood products that the B.C. Council of Forest Industries has condemned as 'unjustified and punitive trade actions.' Here's what else we're watching… Vancouver Island blaze now wildfire of note The BC Wildfire Service says the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island has grown to more than five square kilometres in size as 'numerous' fire departments on the island converge on the blaze to protect properties and structures around Cameron Lake. Fire information officer Madison Dahl says the fire is now considered a wildfire of note, but growth was limited early Monday as helicopters equipped with night vision dropped water on hot spots and around the fire's perimeter. Dahl says crews are focused on keeping the fire from growing and affecting travel on Highway 4. The wildfire has nearly 400 area homes under an evacuation order, and residents of more than 230 other homes are on alert to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Air Canada flight attendants wrap up strike mandate vote Air Canada flight attendants are entering the final day of voting on whether to give a strike mandate to their union. The vote, which began July 28 and closes today, comes after the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees concluded the conciliation process with no deal reached. The union represents more than 10,000 flight attendants who have been in contract talks since the start of the year. It has said that despite sustained efforts, including in the conciliation process with a federally appointed mediator, key issues such as pay, unpaid work and pensions remain unresolved. Air Canada has cautioned the vote does not mean a disruption will happen, noting a potential strike can't take place until after a 21-day cooling-off period following the 60-day conciliation period. What happens after Canada Post workers vote no? Labour experts say another postal service strike is unlikely after unionized Canada Post workers rejected their employer's latest round of offers in a forced vote and the parties mull their next steps. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said Friday that the roughly 55,000 members represented by the union shot down the Crown corporation's latest proposal, which would've seen wage hikes of over 13 per cent over four years and restructuring to add part-time workers to the deal. Some 68.5 per cent of urban mail carriers who voted were against the deal, while their rural and suburban colleagues were 69.4 per cent against. Adam King, assistant professor of labour studies at the University of Manitoba, said the forced ratification vote ordered by the federal government and administered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board was a 'distraction.' Negotiations for a new collective agreement have been ongoing for more than a year and a half. The federal government asked CIRB to step in and scuttle a holiday season postal strike late last year, but the parties remain at an impasse. Japan's aging atomic bomb survivors speak out against nuclear weapons Eighty years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many of the remaining Japanese survivors are increasingly frustrated by growing nuclear threats and the acceptance of nuclear weapons by global leaders. The U.S. attacks on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and three days later on Nagasaki killed more than 200,000 people by the end of that year. Others survived but with radiation illness. About 100,000 survivors are still alive. Many hid their experiences to protect themselves and their families from discrimination that still exists. Others couldn't talk about what happened because of the trauma they suffered. Some of the aging survivors have begun to speak out late in their lives, hoping to encourage others to push for the end of nuclear weapons. Despite numerous health issues, survivor Kunihiko Iida, 83, has devoted his retirement years to telling his story as a way to advocate for nuclear disarmament. 'The only path to peace is nuclear weapons' abolishment. There is no other way,' Iida said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025.
Toronto Sun
15 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Montreal Pride chair resigns amid backlash for barring Jewish LGBTQ2+ group from parade
In a statement Monday, the organization said Bernard Truong informed the board of directors he was stepping down 'for personal reasons.' Published Aug 04, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read A huge crowd gathered for the Montreal Pride Parade in 2023. The 2025 edition of the parade happens Aug. 10. Peter Mccabe/The Canadian Press The chairman of the board of Montreal Pride resigned Monday as the organization continued to face mounting criticism for banning a Jewish LGBTQ2+ group from its annual parade. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In a statement, the organization said Bernard Truong informed the board of directors he was stepping down 'for personal reasons.' His resignation came as the group faced national backlash for excluding Ga'ava, a Jewish LGBTQ2+ organization, from the event. In response to his resignation, the board said it 'quickly convened' to ensure a smooth transition and appointed Marlot Marleau as the new chair. 'This change within the board has no impact on the activities of the Montreal Pride Festival, which are currently underway,' the statement reads. 'All teams, staff and volunteers remain deeply committed to delivering a unifying festival, true to its mission of amplifying the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and creating inclusive, safe and meaningful spaces.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The organization insisted the leadership change was unrelated to the controversy over the barring of Ga'ava from the parade. 'No, Truong's resignation is not related to that,' said Michael Grégoire from the festival's press relations team when asked about the timing. 'Bernard Truong is leaving the board of directors for personal reasons.' As of Monday afternoon, the board of directors webpage had been removed from Montreal Pride's website. According to his LinkedIn profile, Truong works as a senior director at Desjardins. On Friday, five federal MPs signed a joint letter condemning the decision to exclude Ga'ava, calling it 'profoundly hurtful' and urging organizers to reverse it. 'Ga'ava has long provided a vital space for queer Jews to express both their sexual and religious identities with pride,' the MPs wrote. 'Its exclusion sends a message that Jewish identity is not welcome in LGBTQ+ spaces.' Fierté Montréal has since confirmed the group was barred from marching after a complaint led the event's ombudsperson to intervene. Carlos Godoy, Ga'ava's president, told The Gazette that organizers accused the group of hate speech for labelling its critics 'pro-terror' and 'pro-Hamas.' He called the charge 'outlandish and ludicrous.' The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs was also reportedly excluded, although Fierté Montréal organizers have not publicly acknowledged that decision. Opinion Columnists Toronto & GTA NHL Wrestling
