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2021 Canada Day celebrations were a bit muted this year, not just because of the pandemic, but due to the discovery of three unmarked grave sites near residential schools in Canada. At this point more than one thousand graves have been discovered with ground penetrating radar. It’s expected many more will soon be uncovered. The residential school system in Canada saw indigenous children pulled from their traditional homes and family with the intent of driving out their culture and language. About two thirds of them were run by the Catholic Church although others were run by the United, Anglican and Presbyterian churches. The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report outlined the many abuses suffered by the children as well as the knowledge of these grave sites. But as that report aged, it seemed the knowledge of the horror dimmed in the public eye. Then when the first discovery was announced in Kamloops, there was wide-spread outrage and condemnation. It’s surprising that after six years, Canadians fina

Canada Day is just around the corner. It’s a celebration of the beginning of our Nation. Barbecues, parties, fireworks are all part of the tradition. But in light of the discovery of 215 bodies at a residential school in Kamloops and now 751 in Saskatchewan, for some people, there is nothing to be proud of or to celebrate.  The residential school system in Canada is one of the dark moments in our history. Between the government and predominantly the Catholic Church, the aim was assimilation. While tragic and deplorable, many countries have an inconvenient past. Does that mean you can’t celebrate the positive despite the negative?  The hashtag “cancelCanadaDay” has been picking up steam. Several communities are scrubbing their plans for July 1st. Should the holiday be cancelled?  Victoria, Penticton and Port Hardy have pulled the plug for this year. Kelowna and Belleville Ontario have also pressed pause. Several communities in New Brunswick are backing off plans for July 1st.  Our Unpublished.vote question ask

Locked up for 15 months, the Canada US border will remain closed to non essential travel for at least another 30 days. What will it take to see traffic crossing over to both sides? Vaccines are being distributed, cases are coming down as are deaths and hospitalizations. The border has been closed since March 2020 and it has had a devastating effect on business, in particular travel and tourism. Cross border towns in Canada and the US have felt it dramatically with much fewer customers. PM Trudeau is calling for 75% of Canadians to be vaccinated with their first shot which Canada just passed this weekend. 20 percent of Canadians now have their second shot. US politicians are getting antsy about reopening and have been putting a bit of pressure on the President. Apparently, Trudeau and Biden spoke briefly about it last week at the G 7 meetings. The US has also declared the border closed for another 30 days.Our Unpublished.vote question asks you. Do you support the reopening of the Canada—US border to non-essent

The grisly discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in Kamloops BC has stunned the world. The remains were found using ground penetrating radar. The RCMP has launched an investigation into the case.  The horrors of the residential school system was laid bare in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 2008, then PM Stephen Harper apologized to Canada’s aboriginal people for the pain and suffering they had endured.  Last week, many Canadians were watching Pope Francis after the announcement but there was no apology. The residential school system in Canada was primarily run by the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1997.  Surprisingly, few Canadians actually know about the dark history. It is an unbelievably tragic story. One that is a stain on this country’s history, yet so few know about it. Very little is taught about it in our schools. Last week, the House of Commons unanimously voted to have the federal government withdraw from its legal battle with First Nations children. The government is arguing

Since March 2020 as COVID-19 swept across North America, the longest undefended border in the world has been closed to all but non-essential travel. Border cities have really felt the effect of the closure, which dramatically reduced business.  Is now the time to open the border up?  14 months and counting, the Canada US border has been closed to non-essential travel. Travel is down 80 percent between the two countries since the pandemic began. The tourism industry on both sides of the border have been devastated by the closure and they’re looking for a clear path to re-open.  For many people on both sides of the border, the confusion as to who can cross and why has been unclear. Americans with seasonal homes in Canada can’t come across to their property. Yet, there are some Canadians who ignored the restrictions, flew to the US to get vaccinated.  Our Unpublished.vote poll question this week asks:  Do you support the reopening of the Canada—US border to non-essential travel?  Yes No Unsure  You can log-on an

Bill 96 is Quebec’s legislation which aims to make French the primary language of the province. Bill 96 would also declare Quebec ‘A Nation’—a move that would require opening up the Constitution. What could possibly go wrong? Premier François Legault says the main reason for the need is the declining use of French in Quebec. Supporters of Bill 96 see it as essential because there is so much English in North America. On the other side of the coin, is minority rights as anglophones in Quebec start to feel targeted. What has many concerned is Quebec’s plan to use the Notwithstanding clause to get what it wants. Constitutional law experts are at odds whether Quebec can unilaterally change the Constitution, which further muddies the water.Our Unpublished.vote question last week asked: Do you feel Bill 96 will violate the Canadian Constitution? 91.3%—Yes 5.5%—No  3.3%—UnsureJoining us to discuss Bill 96 today is: Peter Biro Lawyer, Founder of SECTION 1 Warren Kinsella, Columnist, former advisor to PM Jean ChretienD

All apologies to those who glaze over when discussion arises about language or “Distinct Society”, with flashes of Meech Lake and Charlottetown. With Quebec’s Bill-96, that could be where we’re headed.  Quebec provincial Bill-96 will firmly entrench the French language as the only official language of the province. Quebec Premier, Francois Legault, wants to open up the Constitution to recognize the Province as a nation. On the horizon, there may be a Minister of French language as well as a Commissioner of French to enforce the new language rules.  Bill-96 also comes with generous use of the “notwithstanding clause” to get what it wants. It brings up a number of questions… What about Quebec anglophones and their rights? As well, can a province open up the Constitution to make changes and do it without a debate?  Our Unpublished.vote question asks:  Do you feel Quebec’s Bill 96 will violate the Constitution? Yes, No or Unsure.  You can log-on and vote starting Sat. May 29th at http://unpublished.vote.   Podcas

What started off as an update to the Broadcasting Act in Canada, has ballooned into a “war of words” over the possible infringement on your freedom of expression. Bill C-10 has become a political football on Parliament Hill. Will it get across the goal line?The Broadcasting Act has not been touched since 1991. Long before Facebook, YouTube, Netflix and our lives relied on the internet. Broadcasters have seen these giants swallow up ad revenues and eyeballs from traditional media, radio and television. Those broadcasters have to ensure a certain amount of Canadian content and contribute to a fund for Canadian artists.Social media has enveloped our world. It is your feed whether Twitter or Instagram and if you have thousands of followers, should that be monitored by a government agency? The CRTC regulates traditional broadcasters but it can’t touch the internet. Our Unpublished.vote question asked:Do you think Bill C-10 be passed as is or be amended?The result: Amend: 96.4%As is: 3.6%Unsure: O%However you’re wa

For the first time since 1991, the federal government is updating the country’s Broadcasting Act. Little did they know the firestorm that would arise against Bill C-10.  Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has been the one feeling the heat, online and elsewhere over his Bill, which attempts to bring some regulation to the Internet and support for Canadian content. Social media companies like YouTube, Google and Netflix contribute nothing to Canadian content, unlike traditional broadcasters. Or at least that’s what the government is saying. Bill C-10 intends to bring them under regulation and have them support Canadian creativity. The argument has devolved into a dispute whether it would limit or monitor your social media feeds.  The cry of “censorship “ has rang out across the country as people worry about curbs to their freedom of expression. It has also become a political football as the Conservatives cite C-10 as Orwellian.  __________________________________________________________ Our Unpublished.vote qu

The first Federal budget in more than two years promises big spending to get Canada back on the road to recovery. The Liberals have said the pandemic has exposed some glaring gaps between the “have” and “have nots”. $100 million in new spending, with a focus on a National Childcare Program, eventually getting to $10 a day. It also comes heavy with debt and deficit. The massive spending Budget has passed its third reading now in the House of Commons. While it may seem like it’s a done deal, the Liberals still need to pass the Budget Implementation Act. It will be a confidence vote which means the Grits could still lose it, which would mean we would be heading to the polls later this spring. The NDP has been propping up the government thus far, but it will be interesting to see whether they stand with the Liberals or pull the plug on Parliament. The key question is will they? Our Unpublished.vote question last week asked: Do you expect the federal budget to be passed or will it fail and lead to a federal electi

The numbers in the proposed 2021 Federal Budget are jaw dropping in their scope. The Liberals unveiled their plan for getting Canadians out of the pandemic and on the road to economic recovery. Will it lead to a federal election?More than $100 billion in new spending for job creation, business support, and the jewel in the crown, a $30 billion investment over five years to set up a National Childcare Program with the ultimate goal of getting the cost down to $10 a day. Modelled a lot like Quebec’s current program.This Budget is their first in more than two years. The NDP has been propping up the Liberals thus far and it will be interesting to see if they will do so again or trigger an election.Our Unpublished.vote question asks: Do you expect the Federal Budget to be passed or will it lead to a federal election—Yes, No or Unsure?You can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote to email your MP and have your voice heard.Guests:1. Warren Kinsella, Political commentator2. Jim Stanford, Director, Centre for

The leaves are bursting from their buds. Early season flowers are starting to bloom, and in the minds of some Canadians, it is time for a spring federal election. Will we see one?Canada remains in the grip of the 3 rd wave of the pandemic as case numbers rise and lockdowns become the norm. We haven’t been to the polls as a nation since 2019 when the Liberals scored a minority government. Since then, the pandemic has swamped our consciousness.There are rumblings across the country about a possible spring election. We will see a federal budget on April 17th which will be a confidence vote. The Grits have been propped up by the NDP so it will be interesting to see which side of the budget they land.Recent polls have put the Liberals as much as seven points ahead of the Conservatives if an election is called. Some might see an election call as being “opportunistic “. Tonight’s Guests:1. Stephanie Plante, The Centre for Security, Intelligence and Defence Studies;Carleton University2. Karl Nerenberg, Parliament Hil

Imagine an election campaign full of ideas, thoughtful debate, some respectful to-and -fro, without going to the lowest common denominator. Perhaps, that would engage more voters to turn out at the polls. Section 91 of the Canada Election Act aimed to take the misinformation and innuendo out of election campaigns. It could bring charges against a person for sharing misinformation, whether they know it’s false or not. The federal court in Ontario ruled Section 91 was unconstitutional because it infringed on a person’s right to free expression. It’s an interesting dilemma as it appears that it would allow the spread of misinformation because it’s protected by the Charter. The federal government has said it will not appeal the decision. How it will impact the next election, whenever that is, is still to be seen.  Joining us on Unpublished TV for this discussion:  1.     Eve Gaumond, graduate student Laval University / an affiliate to Quebec's Observatory on the Societal Impact of AI and Digital Technologies 2.  

It’s said minority parliaments last, on average, about 18 months before voters are called back to the ballot box. We are rapidly approaching 18 months since the Liberals won a minority election. Is it time to head back to the polls?  It was October 2019 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Grits won 157 seats and a minority government. Little did anyone know that a global pandemic would grip the planet not long afterwards. Since then, the federal budget has ballooned while the government tries to keep people afloat during the lockdowns.  There have been rumblings about the want for an election. And, now with a Budget to come on April 17th, the vote on it will be a confidence vote which could bring down the government.  On the Unpublished Cafe this week, we’ll take a look at the prospect of a federal election call with Lori Williams, Associate Professor and Student Advisor Department of Economics Justice and Policy Studies Mount Royal University. As well, Stephanie Plante at the Centre for Security, Inte

After more than a year of physical distancing, quarantine and lockdowns in the Covid pandemic, vaccine passports are seen as something to bring us together...or divide us even more. GUESTS: Lori Turnbull Director School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University Marcus Kolga Founder Disinfowatch.org / Sr.Fellow MacDonald-Laurier Institute Francoise Baylis University Research Professor Bioethics Dalhousie University Marvin Ryder Assistant Professor DeGroote School of Business McMaster University.

PUBLISHED: 22/01/2021Honesty in politics. It’s something voters want and look for. Considering the vitriol and abuse in the last few elections, it would be refreshing to have more. Last year, the federal government introduced Section 91 of the Canada Elections Act. Those against the law feel it brings a “chill” to political discourse. On the other side of the coin, those in support see it as taking on “fake news”. The law has been struck down in court, but we do not know whether it will be appealed.———————————— GUESTS:Christine Van Geyn - Director of Litigation at Canadian Constitution Foundation -https://theccf.ca/staff/Duff Conacher - Co-Founder at Democracy Watch -https://democracywatch.ca/biographies/Nelson Wiseman - Professor Political Science at University of Toronto https://policyoptions.irpp.org/authors/nelson-wiseman/Réal Lavergne - President at Fair Vote Canada -https://www.fairvote.ca/author/real-lavergne/———————————— REFERENCES: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/elections-misinformation-court-free-

PUBLISHED: 19/02/2021We’ve passed the one year mark of the pandemic this week in Canada.Economically, the country has been savaged by the lockdowns to curb the spread, in particular now that there are more contagious variants. Vaccines are being distributed giving many the impression that we are out of the woods, but the economic recovery will be much slower. Can vaccine passports help open up the economy again?The Canada US border has been closed for non-essential travel for a year now. It has had a hue impact on the travel and tourism sectors. The federal government had urged Canadians to avoid non essential travel, but some ignored it anyway. The airline industry has been crippled by the pandemic and many countries are now looking at “vaccine passports” to get people moving again. But is it a “silver bullet”? It certainly opens up possibilities.————————————GUESTS:Karl Moore - Associate Professor in Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University - https://www.mcgill.ca/desautels/karl-mooreQuito Maggi

Is there anything else that fires up Canadians more than gun legislation? There is no middle ground. Both sides of the debate are entrenched in their views. Almost one year ago, one of the worst shooting attacks on Canadian soil saw 22 people killed in Nova Scotia over a 16 hour period. The guns in question were illegal in this country originating in the USA. In response to the carnage is Bill C 21, new gun legislation that bans more than 15 hundred types of assault rifles as well as new thresholds for muzzle energy. It would also allow municipalities to legislate a handgun ban in their jurisdiction. The previous gun registry turned into a financial sinkhole. Will Bill C-21 be any different?

PUBLISHED: 05/03/2021The tug of war over language is again pulling in two different directions in Canada. Who will win? The Prime Minister has said he is concerned about the decline in the use of French in Quebec. While it may appear there are fewer French speaking people in Quebec, the same holds true for English. Anytime language becomes an issue in this country, the rhetoric ramps up. At issue this time, is the Province of Quebec wants Bill 101, to apply to federally regulated businesses in Quebec, which is a federal jurisdiction.  ———————————— GUESTS:Christian Bourque -  Executive Vice President Leger 360 - https://leger360.com/profiles/christian-bourque-2/ Twitter: @BourqueC Jean Johnson - President at Fédération des Communautés Francophones et Acadienne du Canada - https://fcfa.ca/notre-equipe/ Twitter: @Jean_H_Johnson Kevin Sharr - Vice-President at Quebec Community Groups Network - https://qcgn.ca/2020-2021-bod/ - Twitter: @QCGN  ———————————— REFERENCES:https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government