Unpublished Cafe

UnpublishedTV: Is Electoral Reform Needed in Canada?

Following our last federal election, which saw the Liberals return to government with another minority, voices have been rising about a more fair and equitable form of elections to better represent all voters. Does Canada need electoral reform now?  In 2015, then Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau said if he won the election it would be the last federal election under the “First Past the Post” system. We’ve had two elections since that claim—both were First Past the Post.  When you look at the...

The end of the Canada Recovery Benefit?

The mantra is clear for most small business operators, “we can’t find people to work because of government subsidies” and it’s hurting their recovery. How true does that ring?  It’s a sight seen many places across the country as lockdowns were eased and restrictions lifted, small businesses were delighted to resume operations. The only problem was finding people to work.  When the pandemic arrived and Canada was shut down, the government filled the financial breach with the Canada Emergenc...

UnpublishedTV: Canada's Next Parliament - Looking Forward

he lay of the land politically has not shifted since the beginning of the pandemic. When COVID arrived, the Liberals had a minority government propped up by the NDP. Fast forward to this summer and the Liberals plunged the country into an election which no one wanted, only to arrive back at the same point, a Liberal minority.  Now, they will have to lay out their agenda with an eye on support from another party. What should be the top priorities of this government?  The Fourth wave of the ...

Electoral Reform in Canada—Is it needed?

It was a promise seen as broken from the 2015 Federal election. Then Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised that if elected the 205 election would be the last First-Past-the-Post federal election in Canada. Well, he was elected with a majority and here we are two elections later—both were First-Past-the-Post.  Will electoral reform come to Canada?  The Liberals promised electoral reform in 2015 and a committee was working on it with the suggestion of taking it to the people in a referendum...

UnpublishedTV: Chinese-Canadian Relations following the election

One thousand and twenty days. Almost three years behind bars in China. And in one fell swoop, the two Michaels were on a plane to Calgary, while Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei pleaded guilty in a deferred prosecution agreement and was on a plane back to China.  It’s been three years of frosty relations between Canada and China. Can or will the relationship be repaired? Canada does trade with China, but no-where near to the extent we do with the US. China is the world’s second largest economy t...

Canada's Next Parliament Looking Forward

Less than two weeks after the 44th Federal election, it’s time to start lining up the priorities and looking ahead at the next session of Parliament. What is on the horizon for us?  The snap election called by the Liberals failed to give them a majority which means they will have to work with others to accomplish anything.  Our Unpublished.vote question asks:  What should be the top priority of the new federal government? Economic recovery, climate change, Indigenous reconciliation, elect...

UnpublishedTV: Vaccine Mandates

Canada’s most populous province has introduced vaccine passports. Despite initially refusing to introduce them, Ontario has reluctantly jumped on board. Will it make a difference? Quebec initiated the idea to allow those double vaccinated to access non-essential services and events, like restaurants, concerts and sporting events. When you look at the polls on vaccine mandates, vaccine passports and mandatory vaccinations, the majority of vaccinated Canadians support their use. While Covid c...

Chinese-Canadian Relations after ELXN2021

A $600 million election for Canada to wind up pretty well where we started: A Liberal minority. For those of us who lamented the lack of discussion on foreign policy in the campaign, there is one huge issue facing this country and that is the Chinese government.    Will Relations be different this time around?    There has been a dark cloud hanging over Canada-China relations for 3- years now. Before the pandemic, it was “the two Michaels “ who have been incarcerated and convicted on tru...

Canadian Election Night on UnpublishedTV

The finish line is in sight for the 44th Federal election. Polls close at 8 pm this evening in eastern Canada in a campaign that was overridden by one nagging issue. Why are we having this election?  It was something the Liberals under-estimated and it left the Opposition an opening. Will it work?  The 36-day campaign saw the Liberals holding an 8-point lead on the Conservatives and hoping for a majority. Now, Trudeau is in a statistical tie with Erin O’Toole and the Conservatives.  This ...

COVID: Vaccine Mandates

Remember when the pandemic started more than a year and a half ago? Lockdowns, masks, fear of the unknown. A vaccine against Covid-19 would spare us those restrictions and pave the way back to normal, or as normal as we might see.    But it hasn’t. Now we have a divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated over mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports. Which side are you on?    Not only have we had to wrestle with the pandemic and the battle over the unvaccinated, it comes in the m...

ELXN2021 on UnpublishedTV: COVID Economic Recovery

Canadians are one week away from heading to the ballot box in the country’s 44th Federal election. We have just come out of the first weekend of advanced polling and the leaders and candidates continue to stump for your approval. According to a number of polls, the top issues for Canadians are affordability, housing and the economic recovery from the pandemic.  What do you think of the plans to get us on the road to recovery?  More than a year and a half after the pandemic arrived on our s...

ELXN2021: The Federal Leader’s Debate

That’s a wrap on the televised leaders debates in this federal election campaign. Thursday’s was the only English language debate and the Liberal leader was in the cross hairs of the other candidates.    Did any of them make an impression?    The one thing not clearly answered by Justin Trudeau is why he called an election. Usually in these debates, everyone wants to make an impression—maybe a knockout punch.    On the table for discussion in the one and only English language debate we...

ELXN2021 on UnpublishedTV: Affordable Housing

It’s the dream of pretty well every Canadian to own their own home. Do you remember the time you got the keys to your first home? I do. It’s a goal fulfilling feeling. But, it’s a dream out of reach for many Canadians right now, which is why all the federal parties are preaching about their platforms to provide more affordable housing.  Will any of the parties’ plans for affordable housing work?  Affordable housing is defined as spending no more than 30 percent of the family income on rent...

ELXN2021: COVID Recovery Plans

It appears the money train has rolled out of each party’s campaign platform. In the pursuit of your vote, all parties are willing to spend to get your support at the ballot box. Which one do you feel will help the most?  Less than three weeks before we go to the polls, we’re getting a clearer look at how each party plans to get the economy rolling again. To get a better perspective on whether any will actually help the economy, we’ll talk to a number of experts.  Coming up later on the sho...

UTV: Is this the most important federal election in Canadian history?

We are three weeks away from heading to the ballot box in the country’s 44th federal election. Did Canadians really “deserve a say” on how to proceed with COVID as the Prime Minister claimed?  We’re just over two weeks into this campaign and the Liberal campaign is way off course. When the Prime Minister announced the election, it smacked of opportunism. There was no bill defeated to lead to an election. The next vote was to be two years away according to our fixed election dates.  But num...

ELXN2021: Affordable Housing

The dream of home ownership for many Canadians remains out of reach which is why the Political parties are banging the drum of affordable housing in this election campaign, trying to get your support. Will it work?    According to Nanos Research almost 5 million Canadians fear they won’t be able to pay for their housing in the next 30 days. That is an enormous burden on people trying to navigate their way through the fourth wave of the pandemic possibly dealing with employment issues.    ...

ELXN 2021: Is this the most important federal election in Canadian history?

We’ve been hearing the drums beating since the spring. A federal election is on the horizon. Maybe early summer, maybe mid-summer. Well, here we are in the first week of the 44th federal election campaign. Is this what Canadians want?    The federal Liberals have governed through the pandemic with a minority government propped up by the NDP. In this country we have fixed election dates. This election comes early as there was no need to have one until 2023 unless the government lost a vote ...

UTV: What happened in Canada’s National Virology Lab?

It has all the twists and turns of an espionage thriller... missing scientists, questionable security, tight lipped police and a government trying to hide information from Parliament. What could possibly be in those documents?  The husband and wife team of researchers were escorted out of Winnipeg‘s National Virology Lab in the summer of 2019. All the Public Health Agency of Canada will say is that it was an “administrative issue” and will not elaborate. The pair also had many Chinese stude...

Ignoring the will of Parliament—What happened in a Manitoba virology lab?

It hasn’t happened in over 100 years in the House of Commons and it’s now setting up for a showdown between Parliament and the Courts. Who will come out on top?  This is a saga of twists and turns. Back in March, a House of Commons Committee asked the head of the Public Health Agency of Canada to produce documents regarding two Chinese scientists at the National Virology Lab in Winnipeg. It was unclear why the two scientists were escorted out of the building and dismissed.  The head of the...

Cancel Canada Day UTV

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...

Cancel Canada Day?

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 assimilat...

Re-opening the Canada—US Border

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 ...

Residential Schools in Canada

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 af...

COVID-19: Re-opening the Canada—US Border

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 t...

UTV Bill 96: Preserving the French language

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 Queb...

Bill 96: Protecting the French language

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 a...

Bill C-10: Social media, politics and free speech

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 broadcaste...

2021 Federal Budget

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 ...

UnpublishedTV—CDNPOLI: Spring Election?

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...

Election Law: Social Media and Politics

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 becaus...

CDNPOLI: Will there be a Spring Election?

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 gove...

UnpublishedTV: COVID-19 Vaccine Passports

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 ...

Election Law: How Section 91 Ruling Will Affect The Next Election

PUBLISHED: 22/01/2021 Honesty 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 w...

UnpublishedTV: Is the French Language in Decline?

COVID-19: Vaccine Passports

PUBLISHED: 19/02/2021 We’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 no...

UnpublishedTV: Bill C-21 Canada's New Gun Legislation

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 thr...

Québec: is the French Language in Decline?

PUBLISHED: 05/03/2021 The 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 busin...

UnpublishedTV: Should A.I Be Used in Politics?

Artificial intelligence. The emergence of the technology which allows machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. What could go wrong? GUESTS: Emma Briant Jesse Hirsh  

Bill C-21; Canada's New Gun Legislation

PUBLISHED: 26/02/2021 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 two years 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 ...

UnpublishedTV: Should Canada Boycott the 2022 Olympics?

With less than a year before the 2022 Beijing Olympics, there is a growing chorus of voices calling for a boycott of the next Winter Games. Will it happen? Boycotts aren’t new when it comes to the Olympiad. Western nation’s boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games. The ’76 Games in Montreal were also boycotted. The collateral damage in a boycott are the athletes who have spent the last four years training for the Games. Last week, as asked viewers whether they supported the idea of boycotting the 202...

Artificial Intelligence

PUBLISHED: 19/02/2021 Artificial intelligence. The emergence of the technology which allows machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. What could go wrong? Many of us were twigged to the notion of artificial intelligence with the investigation into Cambridge Analytica and it’s impact on the election. While artificial intelligence will soon give us self driving vehicles, there is a growing skepticism of applying it in the political realm or public policy making. Pol...

Artificial Intelligence in Politics

PUBLISHED: 19/02/2021 Artificial intelligence. The emergence of the technology which allows machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. What could go wrong? Many of us were twigged to the notion of artificial intelligence with the investigation into Cambridge Analytica and it’s impact on the election. While artificial intelligence will soon give us self driving vehicles, there is a growing skepticism of applying it in the political realm or public policy making. Pol...

UnpublishedTV: Canada's Travel Restrictions

The first variant case to arrive in Canada was on Boxing Day. They had not travelled but came in contact with people from the UK. So much for staying in your bubble. Last week we asked viewers if they sympathized for Canadian travelers facing these new airline restrictions. Their response: 65.1% - Said Yes 33.4% - Said No 1.5% - are Unsure

Boycotting the Olympics

PUBLISHED: 12/02/2021  With less than a year before the 2022 Beijing Olympics, there is a growing chorus of voices calling for a boycott of the next Winter Games. Will it happen?  Canada has two citizens in Chinese custody on trumped up charges. They have been in custody for over two years. Many raised eyes have been looking at China over its human rights abuses, in particular of the Igyhur Muslims and Tibetans. Maybe Xi Jinping is feeling the heat about some countries possibly boycotting ...

UnpublishedTV COVID-19: Muzzled

Transparency. As we have seen since the beginning of the pandemic, the truth gets hidden behind public image.  When COVID-19 made it’s way to North America, the truth seemed to be opaque. Initially, Canada's Public Health Agency it didn’t want the public to start hoarding masks and making it more difficult to protect those on the front line - so it told the public that masks were not necessary. Would Canada have less infections if we were wearing a mask last March?  A few weeks ago, the st...

COVID-19: Canada's Travel Restrictions

PUBLISHED: 22/01/2021 The first variant case to arrive in Canada was on Boxing Day. They had not travelled but came in contact with people from the UK. So much for staying in your bubble. There will be very little friendliness in Canadian skies as the Federal Government has brought in new air travel restrictions to the Caribbean and Mexico. For those who are returning from an international destination, they must reserve a room in a Government of Canada-approved hotel for three nights at t...

UnpublishedTV: Canada-US Relations

Canada-US Relations over the last four years have been unpredictable at best. Now, there is a new leader in the White House with a very full plate of issues to deal with.  Our economies are tightly linked; we share many of the same interests and issues. With Joe Biden now in the White House, there appears more room for collaboration on key files. 

Unpublished Cafe

  PUBLISHED: 29/01/2021  Front line health workers face fear of Covid infection everyday. Almost 1-in-5 account for infections. Yet, added to that fear and anxiety is the ongoing threat of intimidation and muzzling by health care administrators.  We heard about this disconcerting issue back at the beginning of the pandemic. Physicians and nurses being told not to speak to the media or face the wrath of their employer. Fired, suspended, disciplined for speaking out about concerns they face...

Unpublished Cafe: Muzzled Healthcare Workers

  PUBLISHED: 29/01/2021  Front line health workers face fear of Covid infection everyday. Almost 1-in-5 account for infections. Yet, added to that fear and anxiety is the ongoing threat of intimidation and muzzling by health care administrators.  We heard about this disconcerting issue back at the beginning of the pandemic. Physicians and nurses being told not to speak to the media or face the wrath of their employer. Fired, suspended, disciplined for speaking out about concerns they face...

UnpublishedTV: Canada's Vaccine Rollout

10 months into the Covid 19 pandemic, and cases continue to rise across the country. A vaccine was supposed to bring this to an end, but the rollout has been hampered and political leaders are pointing the finger of blame at each other. According to the Federal Government, Canada has secured 80 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, enough to vaccinate the whole country twice as two doses is required. But the vaccination rate is pretty sparse with about 420,000 Canadians inoculat...