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 finally remember. 

We realize we’re past the holiday, but the Cancel Canada Day movement grew across the country as many reflected on the tragic discovery. 

Our Unpublished.vote question asked: 

Do you feel Canada Day celebrations should be cancelled in light of the discoveries in Kamloops and Saskatchewan?

Yes: 12%
No: 87.5 %
Unsure: 0.5%

However you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—I would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email your MP to tell them why.

Joining us to discuss the issue and where it could lead is: 

• Melissa Mbarki Policy Analyst and Outreach Coordinator, Indigenous Policy Program, Macdonald-Laurier Institute @MelissaMbarki
   
• Karl Nerenberg, Political Reporter @Rabble.ca

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 asks:

Do you feel Canada Day celebrations should be cancelled in light of the discoveries in Kamloops and Saskatchewan? Yes, No or Unsure. 

You can log on and vote anytime at Unpublished.vote and email your MP to tell them why you think what you do. 

Guests: 

• Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail columnist
• David Pratt, Vice Chief of Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations 
• Ellis Ross, Liberal MLA for Skeena and a former chief with the Haisla Nation

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-essential travel?

Yes 88.2

No. 11.7

Unsure 0.1. 

Guests:

1. Maryscott (Scotty ) Greenwood. CEO Canadian American Business Council
2. Mark Agnew VP Policy & International Canadian Chamber of Commerce
3. Beth Potter President & CEO Tourism Industry Association of Canada
4. Marvin Ryder Professor DeGroote School of Business McMaster University @DeGrooteBiz

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 against compensating children engaged in a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. While the vote was unanimous, it was non-binding and many of the Liberal cabinet abstained from voting. 

The story of residential schools in Canada is horrific. It is something that needs to be taught in school across the country. Just because it’s uncomfortable, doesn’t mean it should be ignored or sanitized. Far too often this is the approach Canada has taken. 

Coming up on the Unpublished Cafe, we’ll take a look at the impact of the discovery on Indigenous people across the country. And, we’ll hear from an expert on Church Apologies and why he feels the Catholic Church has no choice. 

Guests: 

1. Pam Palmater, Professor and the Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University / Mi’kmaw citizen and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation

1. Joanna Quinn Director and Graduate Chair, Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction; Associate Professor, Department of Political Science at Western University
2. Jeremy Bergen, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies, Director of Theological Studies, University of Waterloo

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 and vote any time starting Saturday, June 12th at Unpublished.vote. Don’t forget to email your MP to tell them why you think what you do. 

Guests:

In this edition of the Unpublished Cafe, we’ll hear from Mark High of the Canada—US Business Association. And Beth Potter, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada will join us as well. 

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%—Unsure

Joining us to discuss Bill 96 today is: 

• Peter Biro Lawyer, Founder of SECTION 1
  
   
• Warren Kinsella, Columnist, former advisor to PM Jean Chretien
• Daniel Weinstock, Professor, Faculty of Law and Chair, Katharine A. Pearson Chair in Civil Society and Public Policy, McGill University
• Marion Sandilands, lawyer for QCGN

If you haven’t already voted in this week’s poll question on this topic, you can still log-on and vote now at: http://unpublished.vote//issue/1123/bill-96-protecting-the-french-language#.YL4ZKNfO9GE.link

References: 

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-bill-96-notwithstanding-clause-1.6042446
• https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2021/05/31/on-quebecs-bill-96-canada-must-protect-minority-rights.html
• https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/the-real-problem-with-quebecs-new-language-
  
   
• https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-bill-96-language-legislation-infringes-on-civil-liberties
  
   
• https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/brace-yourself-quebec-s-bill-96-8123560/
  
   
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-by-allowing-quebec-to-change-the-constitution-trudeau-is-opening-up-a/
  
   
• https://torontosun.com/opinion/kinsella-seeing-past-trudeaus-bill-96-shell-game
  
   
• https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/bill-101-constitutional-curveball-puts-ottawa-on-the-spot-politically-experts-say-1.5427507
  
   
• https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/french-in-quebec-constitutional-experts-warn-of-divisive-debate-ahead
  
   
• https://nationalpost.com/news/experts-divided-on-whether-quebec-can-change-constitution-to-claim-nationhood
  
   
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-quebec-seeks-to-amend-constitution-with-new-language-law/
  
   
• https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/26971
  
   
• https://lfpress.com/opinion/columnists/ravary-quebecs-bill-96-is-about-survival-of-a-people

Have your say on the Unpublished Media network at >>  UnpublishedOttawa.com

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. 

Podcast Guests: 

1. Jack Jedwab, President & CEO Association of Canadian Studies

1. Francois Charbonneau Associate Professor, School of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ottawa
2. Marlene Jennings President Quebec Community Groups Network

References: 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-quebecs-bill-96-creates-opportunity-for-federal-liberals-senator-says/

https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/lise-ravary-bill-96-is-about-the-survival-of-a-people

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/legault-says-he-is-not-surprised-some-anglos-unhappy-with-bill-96

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/conrad-black-quebec-language-law-is-a-political-gambit

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/kinsella-bill-96-will-ruin-lives-in-quebec-and-radically-change-canada

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-francois-legault-just-set-a-constitutional-trap-for-justin-trudeau/

https://westmount.org/en/bill-96-message-from-the-mayor-of-westmount/

https://www.mtlblog.com/en-ca/news/montreal/bill-96-in-quebec-9-french-language-reforms-proposed-by-the-caq

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/protesters-denounce-new-language-bill-in-montreal-calling-it-insufficient-to-protect-french-1.5439213

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/kiff-quebecs-bill-96-is-a-much-needed-defence-of-the-french-language

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-s-bill-96-could-make-french-the-only-language-needed-to-get-a-job-1.6027517

https://cultmtl.com/2021/05/quebec-and-bill-96-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-french-language/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-canada-constitution-changes-language-bill-1.6031828

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/anglos-allophones-less-proud-to-be-quebecers-due-to-bill-96-poll

https://globalnews.ca/news/7877142/quebec-language-reform-canadian-constitution-experts/

https://globalnews.ca/news/7896966/bloc-quebecois-motion-quebec-nationhood-constitutional-change/

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/trudeaus-comments-on-constitution-spark-backlash-among-quebec-anglos

https://torontosun.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-quebecs-bill-96-reignites-language-issue

https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/26971

https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/a-sneak-attack-on-language-rights/

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/may-2021/quebecs-attempt-to-unilaterally-amend-the-canadian-constitution-wont-fly/

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 watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—we would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email your MP to tell them why.

Panel Guests: 

• Warren Kinsella, Columnist and Former Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Jean Chretien
• Daniel Bernhard, Executive Director of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting
• Tim Denton, Internet policy lawyer and Chairman of the Canada Chapter of the Internet Society

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 question asks: 

Question: Do you think Bill C-10 should be passed as is, or be amended? 

Answer choices: Passed / Amended / Unsure

You can log on and cast your ballot at Unpublished.vote right now. 

__________________________________________________________

Today on the Unpublished Café podcast we take a look at the legislation and try and clear up some misconceptions. 

Joining us is Kate Taylor, Visual Arts critic with the Globe and Mail; Daniel Bernhard, Executive Director of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting; and Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. 

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 election this spring?

52.6. Yes, it will pass

37.7. No, it will not pass

9.6. Unsure

However you are watching or listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—We would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at 

Unpublished.vote

, and then email your MP to tell them why you think what you do.