Calls to ban books are on the rise in Canada. So is the opposition to any bans
Most Canadians ‘stand with authors … stand with a child’s right to read,’ says writer whose book was pulled Danny Ramadan recalls self-censoring his writing in Syria before his arrival in Canada 10 years ago. Now, as an advocate for LGBTQ+ refugees and an author exploring belonging, displacement and identity, he says navigating book challenges is a somewhat expected part of being published. Still, when an Ontario school board shadow-banned his children’s title Salma Writes a Book last fall — the school libraries carried it, but restricted students’ access — Ramadan was floored.Read more
For man switched at birth, path toward reclaiming lost Métis identity takes a step forward
‘I felt I was officially Métis,’ says Edward Ambrose, 68, after obtaining MMF citizenship A Winnipeg man who was switched at birth and grew up believing he was of Ukrainian heritage says he is one step closer to reclaiming his lost Métis identity. Edward Ambrose obtained his Manitoba Métis Federation citizenship during a ceremony with MMF president David Chartrand last week. “I couldn’t hold it, I had to cry,” Ambrose told CBC News. “Handing me the citizen card, I felt I was officially Métis.” Ambrose, 68, and Richard Beauvais learned in 2022 that theyRead more
Doug Ford government introduces Get It Done Act. Here’s what’s in it
New legislation would shorten environmental assessments for highways, allow quicker expropriations Premier Doug Ford’s government introduced a major new piece of legislation on Tuesday designed to speed up construction of new highways in Ontario by shortening their environmental assessments. The bill, the Get It Done Act, directly echoes the slogan that Ford’s Progressive Conservatives campaigned on during the 2022 election. Hinted at in three successive announcements over the past week, the bill is a grab bag of legislation, including measures completely unrelated to Ontario’s environmental laws, such as freezing the fee for renewing a driving licence. The bill’s heftiest provisions wouldRead more
Sask. small town reeling after house fire kills 2 seniors and 3 children
Family described as loving and kind A Saskatchewan town of around 1,100 people is reeling after a house fire killed two seniors and three children. Craik RCMP responded around noon CST on Sunday to a fire on Ottawa Street in Davidson, Sask., about 110 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon. The Davidson Volunteer Fire Department was already there when the Mounties arrived, according to an RCMP news release. An 80-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman were removed from the house and brought to Davidson Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, police said. The remains of theRead more
As unruly guests disturb the peace, Muskoka Lakes considers licences for short-term rentals
Renters say responsible property owners are being punished for the actions of a few bad apples The Township of Muskoka Lakes, which covers a popular part of Ontario’s cottage country, is moving one step closer to clamping down on short-term rentals like Airbnbs and VRBOs in the area. At a public meeting Tuesday, dozens of residents shared their thoughts on a proposed bylaw that would require cottage owners to apply for a licence allowing them to rent their properties. The proposed bylaw classifies a short-term rental as a dwelling usedRead more
He died trying to save a woman in a home in Peawanuck, Ont., where firefighting resources are limited
NDP MP presses Indigenous services minister for more firefighting resources for First Nations Michael Ranger says his stepson is dead after trying to save someone’s life in a community that critics say lacks resources to fight fires. Jared Guerard, 26, was one of two people who died in a house fire in the remote Cree community of Peawanuck, Ont., on Feb. 1. Ranger said his stepson was outside the home when the fire started and rushed into the burning building because a young woman was unaccounted for. “He went in looking for her andRead more
Seniors unclear on whether they can drop their private dental insurance for national plan
Ottawa says those with dental coverage are ineligible but the rules are less clear on dropping existing plans Eligible seniors are now receiving letters inviting them to sign up for Canada’s $13 billion national dental care plan — but there’s a catch. Those who currently have private dental insurance do not qualify for the national plan. And according to a government website explaining the plan, anyone who opts out of “available benefits” is “still considered to have access to dental insurance.” That seems to mean that switching from a private plan to the publicRead more
Yukon skier makes history with ‘sensational’ upset win at world championship meet
Sonjaa Schmidt, 21, is the 1st Canadian woman to win gold at U23 Nordic World Ski Championship event A young cross country skier from Whitehorse has been proclaimed a “star in the making” after she unexpectedly made history by winning gold at a world championship meet this week. Sonjaa Schmidt, 21, was not favoured to win the women’s sprint at the U23 championship — in fact, she barely qualified for the quarterfinal heats at the event in Planica, Slovenia. Once in the quarterfinal, though, Schmidt was unstoppable — cruising to the semifinal, and thenRead more
Saskatchewan actor revelling in breakthrough role as Qavvik in True Detective: Night Country
Joel D. Montgrand’s love for acting was started after unexpectedly landing lead role in high school musical The latest season for one of television’s most beloved crime drama series has a Saskatchewan connection. Joel D. Montgrand is playing the role of Eddie Qavvik in True Detective: Night Country, the fourth season of the HBO anthology series. Montgrand, who is from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, which is near Prince Albert, spent most of his youth in La Ronge. He has been grinding his way through the acting business hoping to land aRead more
Selina Robinson steps down as B.C. cabinet minister over comments on Middle East
Premier David Eby says Robinson has significant work to do to address the harm she’s caused British Columbia Post-Secondary Education Minister Selina Robinson is stepping down amid an outcry over her remarks that modern Israel was founded on “a crappy piece of land.” Premier David Eby says Robinson’s “belittling” remarks were incompatible with her remaining in cabinet, although she will stay in the NDP caucus. “The depth of the work that Minister Robinson needs to do, in order to address the harms that she’s caused, is significant,” Eby told an impromptu newsRead more