Western Standard

Statistics Canada survey finds women and seniors most concerned about climate change Older women living in Canada's cities are the demographic most likely to express high levels of concern about climate change, according to a new Statistics Canada survey examining Canadians' attitudes toward the issue. The federal agency's report, Feeling The Heat: More Than Half Of Canadians Are Highly Concerned About Climate Change, found Canadians aged 65 and older, women and university graduates were more likely than other groups to report significant concern about climate change. Statistics Canada said 59% of Canadians aged 65 and older and 59% of women reported high levels of concern, while the figure rose to 60% among university graduates. Blacklock's Reporter said the agency noted that, contrary to common assumptions, seniors express... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

Bank of Canada survey finds businesses bracing for recession as economic confidence weakens Canadian businesses are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the economy, with nearly one in five now preparing for a recession over the next year as inflation, rising costs and geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on confidence, according to the Bank of Canada's latest Business Outlook Survey. Blacklock's Reporter says the surve found business sentiment has worsened since the first quarter as firms grapple with higher input costs and uncertainty stemming from the war in the Middle East. "Business sentiment has deteriorated," Bank of Canada analysts wrote. The share of businesses planning or budgeting for a Canadian recession over the next 12 months nearly doubled, climbing from 9% in the first quarter to 17% in the secon... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

Arctic ambassador fined for breaching Conflict of Interest Act Canada's Arctic ambassador has been fined for violating the federal Conflict of Interest Act after failing to provide required financial disclosure documents following her appointment, renewing scrutiny of what critics say are weak penalties for ethics violations. Blacklock's Reporter says Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein imposed a $400 fine on Virginia Mearns, who earns an annual salary of about $181,000, for failing to submit supporting documents within the 60-day deadline required under the Act after becoming Arctic ambassador last September. According to the commissioner's notice, Mearns was penalized for her "failure to provide within 60 days of appointment as part of a confidential report, supporting documents considered necessary to ensure compliance with the Act." T... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

Cabinet grants VIA Rail accessibility exemption despite disability complaints CALGARY — The federal cabinet has granted VIA Rail an exemption from key accessibility regulations for new passenger rail cars, despite years of complaints, regulatory citations and a Supreme Court ruling that found shortcomings in the Crown corporation’s treatment of disabled travellers. Blacklock’s Reporter reports that cabinet order 2026-0690, recently made public, exempts VIA Rail from several requirements under federal accessibility regulations that would otherwise apply to new rail cars the company plans to purchase. The order states the exemption will cover requirements related to the width of aisles and certain doors, dimensions of exterior stairs, the size of standard washrooms and the positioning of toilets. VIA Rail did not comment on the exemp... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

KOCH / MASON: A unilateral declaration of independence and the 51st State? Ottawa’s Clarity Act could push Alberta there Jim Mason holds a BSc in engineering physics and a PhD in experimental nuclear physics; he lived and worked in Alberta for 17 years and is currently retired and living near Lakefield, Ontario. George Koch is Editor-in-Chief of C2C Journal. On a mild though grey winter’s day just before Christmas, citizens of the Yugoslav Socialist Republic of Slovenia voted 95.7% in favour of becoming independent. Six months later, after negotiations regarding a looser “confederal” arrangement with their Serbian overlords in Belgrade broke down, the Slovenian Parliament issued a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI). That was on June 26, 35 years ago this week. Since then, Slovenia ... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

Declassified records reveal Canada kept Israeli VIP visits secret during 1976 Montreal Olympics Newly released government documents show Canadian officials quietly worked to keep visits by prominent Israeli figures out of the public eye during the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics, fearing publicity could increase the risk of "antisemitic" violence just four years after the Munich massacre. Blacklock's Reporter says the records, recently declassified by the Department of Foreign Affairs, reveal diplomats urged Israeli officials to avoid media attention surrounding visits by high-profile Israelis while Canada hosted the Games. "On each occasion the visit was treated privately and no mention of it was made in the press," states a confidential July 19, 1976 memo. Officials said their shared concern was that anti-Jewish gr... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

UPDATE: All suspects remain at large after Toronto street festival mass shooting kills two, wounds five VANCOUVER — Toronto police provided new details on the deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival during a late-night news conference Saturday, describing a complex, fluid, and chaotic investigation involving multiple suspects and clarifying that it was not an active shooter situation despite initial reports. > Moments before the disaster… festivals are for entertainment, dancing, interacting with people and we got a shooting that led to 2 deaths pic.twitter.com/quabbQZf9T > > — RTN (@RTNToronto) July 12, 2026 Police were called to St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue at approximately 8:12 pm EDT after reports of gunfire during the event. Officers located five people with injuries in addition to two individuals w... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

DUR: The abortion pill supply chain next door By early afternoon, the neighbourhood has settled into its familiar rhythm. Children drift toward the park. Parents linger on benches. Traffic comes and goes.  Across the street stands the old Grand Trunk School. It still echoes with the ghosts of children who once filled its classrooms. The nearby park rings with the laughter of children alive today. Facing them is another building. Its purpose is not immediately obvious. Only a two-way street separates them. Yet between them a great chasm has been fixed. An unmarked white delivery van turns onto the street. No one gives it a second glance. Why would they? It is simply another delivery van making another stop in another Calgary neighbourhood on another ordinary day. The van rolls quietly toward the building. Its destination bears an unassuming name: Kensingto... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

Old Age Security costs set to hit $276 billion as Ottawa defends retirement age at 65 CALGARY — Ottawa is defending its decision to keep Old Age Security (OAS) eligibility at age 65 despite projections that pension costs will more than double over the coming decades, arguing that raising the age would have pushed thousands of low-income seniors into poverty. According to a Department of Employment briefing note obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, roughly 20% of Canadians aged 65 and 66 depend on Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments for most of their income. “A department study shows approximately 20 percent of 65 and 66 year olds rely on Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits for a majority of their income,” the note stated. Officials warned that increasing the eligibility age wou... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

VARDHAN: Merit is losing to DEI in Canada's universities Harsh Vardhan is a graduating Political Science student at the University of Lethbridge, Interim President of the Political Science Association, and Executive Member of the Ethics Bowl Society. He will be pursuing a Master's in International Relations at the London School of Economics this fall. Last month, the University of Lethbridge posted a job advertisement for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Genomics in Precision Health. The position was federally funded, prestigious, and open to applicants from across the country. It was also restricted by explicit written policy to candidates who self-identify as racialized individuals. White applicants need not apply. That university is not alone. At the University of New Brunswick, a federally funded Quantum Sensors Physics Chair was closed to all but... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

List of Liberals' taxpayer-funded projects under 'Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program' Just one click away, and Canadians are able to get an inside peek into what the feds are spending their hard-earned taxpayer cash on. However, few have the desire to search endlessly on the feds website, so instead the Western Standard has done this for readers — scoping out the feds' Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (CAHAP) Projects, which the feds claim are aimed at "building on Canada's strength as a diverse and inclusive society." So without further ado, here is the top six list of "grants and contributions" the government spent in 2026, from least to most expensive. 1. Egale Canada Based in Toronto, Egale Canada (EC) received $100,000 from taxpayer funds to spend on their "Speak, Love: Building Connections and Streng... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

Take Canada's citizenship test: would you make the cut? If readers were wondering if they could pass Canada's citizenship test — they're about to find out... The Western Standard has compiled a few questions to test readers' knowledge of Canada, but first, some facts about the test itself. After applicants have submitted their required forms, they will have to take Canada's citizenship test — a 20-question test where they only need 15 points to pass. And on top of that, if applicants cannot pass the first time, they will have three attempts to do so. The feds state people can take the test three times within a 30-day period. The test is described as including questions about Canada's "history, geography, economy, government, laws, and symbols." Test takers may choose whether to take the test in English or French. However, the test does not assess offic... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

MORGAN: If Canada must nationalize pipelines to build them In 2018, when the Trudeau government painted itself into a corner leading to the purchase of the Trans Mountain Pipeline by taxpayers, Danielle Smith’s commentary on the issue was critical and uncompromising. In an article written for Global News, she said, “I hope I’m wrong, but we may be witnessing the biggest boondoggle in Canadian history.” At that time, the estimate was that an expansion of the pipeline would cost $7.4 billion on top of the $4.5 billion in tax dollars spent to purchase the existing pipeline. Smith estimated that with government delays and general ineptitude, the cost of the pipeline would likely rise to $20 billion. The future premier probably thought she was being cruel in her pessimism, and it turns out her prognostication was incorrect. The fina... westernstandard​.news • Jul 12, 2026

TV5 Québec seeks another taxpayer bailout as cable revenues collapse French-language television channel TV5 Québec is asking Parliament for millions of dollars in additional taxpayer funding, saying declining cable subscriptions and falling advertising revenue have left the broadcaster facing a financial crisis. In a submission to the House of Commons finance committee, TV5 management said shrinking revenues have undermined the network's ability to produce and promote original programming. “Significant decline in revenue undermines the financial model and ability to spend on original productions and their promotion,” the submission said. “This results in a decrease in both the volume and value of production.” The broadcaster said the number of cable subscribers has steadily declined, contributing to a 17% drop in revenue since 2019. A... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026

Carney denies Senate appointment for Liberal organizer was patronage Prime Minister Mark Carney is rejecting accusations that the appointment of longtime Liberal organizer Tom Pitfield to the Senate was political patronage, insisting the new senator was chosen for his expertise rather than his role in the Liberal Party. Questioned by reporters, Carney said Pitfield's background in technology and entrepreneurship made him a strong addition to the upper chamber. "Tom Pitfield is an entrepreneur," Carney said. "He's a philanthropist. He's got deep technological knowledge, knowledge about technology." Blacklock's Reporter said asked directly whether the appointment was a reward for helping him win the election, Carney replied: "Absolutely not." The prime minister said Senate appointments are intended to fill gaps in the chamber's collective ex... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026

Federal Court upholds mandatory retirement age for Navy personnel CALGARY — A Federal Court judge has upheld the Canadian Armed Forces’ mandatory retirement age of 60, rejecting a challenge from a veteran naval officer who sought to remain in uniform beyond the age limit. According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Federal Court Justice Phuong Ngo ruled there was no legal basis to overturn the longstanding retirement policy, finding military commanders acted reasonably when they denied a second extension request from a senior naval officer. “The parties do not contest that age 60 is the compulsory retirement age for all Canadian Armed Forces members,” Ngo wrote in the decision. The court heard that exceptions to the rule are considered individually and granted only in limited circumstances. The case was brought by Robert Snook, a St. John’s-based capta... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026

One in five Atlantic Canadians say family members left region for work, federal survey finds More than one in five Atlantic Canadians say a family member has left the region in the past five years because they could not find suitable work, according to new federal research that also found widespread pessimism about the region's long-term economic prospects. Blacklock's Reporter says the survey, commissioned by the federally appointed Atlantic Economic Panel, found 21% of respondents had a relative move away from Atlantic Canada in search of employment. The highest rate was recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador at 25%, followed by Nova Scotia at 21%, New Brunswick at 20% and Prince Edward Island at 12%. When asked about the region's future prosperity, only 41% of respondents believed Atlantic Canada would eventually be... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026

WAGNER: Pierre Trudeau deliberately politicized Canada’s courts In recent decades, Canadian courts have increased the strength of First Nations claims, expanded access to abortion, and enhanced the scope of LGBTQ rights. In other words, they’ve made some very important political decisions. For most of Canada’s history, though, courts played a very limited role in political issues. Policy wasn’t within the courts’ purview. However, a deliberate change was made in the 1970s. Canada had a prime minister who wanted the courts to become involved in law reform and law-making. His name was Pierre Trudeau. Trudeau’s repurposing of Canada’s judicial system is explained by Ian Brodie in his 2002 book, Friends of the Court: The Privileging of Interest Group Litigants in Canada. As Brodie writes, “When Pierre Trudeau entered federal politics in the mid-196... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026

Carney appoints Liberal organizer to Senate amid past scrutiny over taxpayer-funded contracts CALGARY — Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed longtime Liberal organizer Thomas Pitfield to the Senate, a move that revives questions about past taxpayer-funded contracts awarded to a company he co-founded. As first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, the appointment comes almost five years after Liberal MPs used their majority on a Commons ethics committee to shut down an investigation into public payments made to Pitfield’s Montréal-based firm, Data Sciences Inc. In announcing the appointment Tuesday, Carney praised Pitfield’s experience and contributions to public policy. Pitfield played a role in Carney’s 2025 election campaign and was a co-founder of Canada 2020, the Ottawa-based think tank once chaired by the Prime ... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026

MACLEOD: Lich, Barber, and the dangerous criminalization of protest Canada’s justice system has now sent its message, and it is not subtle. Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were not murderers, arsonists, violent revolutionaries, or even criminals. They were two Canadians who helped lead a peaceful protest against government mandates during one of the most heavy-handed periods in modern Canadian history. For that, the Crown vigorously pursued them for years, seeking prison terms of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber. For leading what became known as the “Freedom Convoy” on October 5, 2025, both received conditional sentences involving house arrest, curfews, and community service. One would think that would be the end of it. But no, this vindictive government has decided to appeal their sentences, renewing the original request of lengt... westernstandard​.news • Jul 11, 2026