# On the Trail > Holding Power Accountable - Award winning investigative & gonzo journalism Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About this site URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/about/ Last updated: 2026-04-04T18:17:05.000Z On the Trail is an independent publication launched in March 2026 by Isaac Peltz. If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website as well as email newsletters about new content when it's available. Your subscription makes this site possible, and allows On the Trail to continue to exist. Thank you! ### Access all areas By signing up, you'll get access to the full archive of everything that's been published before and everything that's still to come. 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Let’s start with the obvious. ### **UNPRECEDENTED TRAVESTY OF DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION** You know, I’ve written a lot about proportional representation. [Go look at my article over on the Walrus ](https://thewalrus.ca/liberals-electoral-reform/?ref=onthetrail.info)if you want to see how the country, including Quebec, would look with a real electoral system that represents how people vote as opposed to weird political games in hyper-local ridings. > Last night, for the first time in Quebec’s history, a government won with less than 30 percent of the vote. And it’s not even just. It’s a brutal misrepresentation of the way people voted. The Parti Quebecois won 46 percent of seats with 28 percent of votes. But let’s break it down a little further. 68 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. This means that 19 percent of voters elected a minority government with 46 percent of seats. > The Liberals received a major advantage as well. With 24 percent of the vote, they received 31 percent of seats. Meanwhile, the CAQ received more votes than Quebec Solidaire but walked away with zero seats. QS and Parti Conservateur received major seat penalties as well. QS got 12 percent of the vote, but only 7 percent of seats. PCQ won 21 percent of the vote, but only 14 percent of seats. Once again the first-past-the-post system has failed Quebecois.es, it has failed Canadians, and it will continue to fail people across Quebec and Canada unless it is changed. PQ has promised to change it, but this is oft promised, never delivered. It would radically improve our lives and force real governance to occur in the province. Go read my Walrus article. [This national assembly will be wild. Support our work to hold them accountable](#/portal/signup) ### **PQ WINS BUT NOT QUITE ENOUGH** The biggest albatross on the PQ is their leader. They will have to govern with an incredibly deft hand, and manage to create exceptional partnerships with other parties if they want to get things passed. The problem with Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon is that he gets angry quickly, and focuses on issues that no one is particularly interested in. I’m not speaking about the referendum, that’s a real question in Quebec. Right now Quebecers aren’t interested, but it wasn’t so long ago that more than 40 percent of Quebecers were interested in sovereignty. Trump seems to have quieted that down. I’m talking about things like PSPPs promise to get rid of the lieutenant governor in the last week. I’m talking about his lashing out at the media. This will do nothing good for the party, and could lead to his popularity falling off in the short to medium term. And despite winning, they didn’t win the majority. This will pose them serious problems. There are no other parties who want to support them. The Liberals might help them on certain laws, but the Liberals are suddenly in an incredible position for the next election. Without the Coalition Avenir Québec taking away more than ten percent of the vote, they stand to win big next time. Milliard started the campaign weak, but he walked away strong at the end. In 2012 when the PQ won, they got by with a minority. When they went into election in 2014, they had a lead in the polls and were certain that they would win. Suddenly, the Liberal Party was just behind them. The PQ desperately needs to keep a lid on their leader. The way he speaks replicates a false intellectual cadence. His anger is uncontrollable sometimes. He has no *chill* and this could hurt his likeability fast. Plus, Quebecers already don’t like him. Only 19 percent of Quebecers voted for him. Things are not looking good long term. The other question is how will they govern if they are able to hold some sort of stability? That’s not clear to any of us. The PQ is a complicated party to understand. They have certain moments where they’re clearly a left-leaning party– they don’t like private health care or education. But then they want to cut so heavily in public workers that they sound like a conservative party. When PSPP starts speaking about Muslims, wow, it’s not laïcité anymore. Suddenly it becomes racism. PSPP wants to give money to Quebecers to have more kids, but they also don’t want more immigration because there are too many people… so, I mean, we all understand what’s going on right? He’s not sure that immigrants of the second generation are Quebecers, as he explained during the election. His lack of comment on trans people is worrying as well. But his complaints about “wokiesm” might indicate something. The PQ will definitely do good things. They always do. Lucien Bouchard’s government introduced an exceptional, world-renowned system of state-supported childcare, and introduced pharmaceutical care to RAMQ. Bouchard was a conservative. At the same time, there will be bad with the PQ as well. The question, therefore, is simply which way will he swing, and when? To pass anything, they will need allies. Will they turn left and right when needed? Or will they ally with QS? Or Conservatives? They are unlikely to collaborate much with the Liberals. We don’t have answers yet. As always, we hope that this government will be exceptional. We want only good things for Quebecois.es . But I doubt it will be all good, and I doubt it will be all bad. [Did you know we have a french newsletter as well? Sign up!](https://ventdelest.info/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### **LIBERALS LOOKING GOOD FOR THE NEXT ELECTION** The Liberals are the secret winners. They didn’t win. But they got a huge boost in seats vs. votes. They also watched their adversaries disappear. There’s always a chance that parties can come back, but it is highly unlikely that the CAQ will ever win seats again. Without the CAQ, the Liberals have a chance at winning the next election. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Liberals, a fundraising and campaigning machine, push for another election as soon as possible. Without the *lutte à cinq partis,* they very well could crush the PQ. Imagine if that whole 13 percent of the CAQ’s vote went to the Liberals? They would have dominated the election. They also have an attractive, well-spoken leader that, although very conservative, clearly cares about people and the province. He’s the exact face that the Liberals need to get rid of the accusations that they’re corrupt. Milliard started gaining likeability at the end of the campaign as well, where PSPP started losing his appeal. The Liberals are the biggest winners of the whole night, and I’m sure they know it. ### **WILL THE CONSERVATIVES LAST?** Meanwhile, the Conservatives might work with PSPP. They need to prove that they’re actually capable of being statesmen. They won off of a protest vote, and need to prove that they are a serious party in the National Assembly. But also, this could hurt them. If they support PQ, they might wind up convincing voters that PQ is the better option. If they support what is perceived as the left, it might be that voters will change their votes. Will the Conservatives be able to keep this support in another election? I’m not sure. It was the CAQ vote that went to them. The CAQ, particularly in their last months of governing, were not far from where the Conservatives are. During the election, Frechette was promising more private health care. That’s what the PCQ wanted. So, will the Conservatives survive the future? I’m not convinced. ### **QUEBEC SOLIDAIRE IS IN A GOOD POSITION FOR THE FUTURE** QS is walking away in a strong position. They lost two seats. Not a big deal. They saved the furniture and established Ruba Ghazal as a strong contender for the future. They were always going to lose a bit in this election. They lost the legendary Manon Massé and Gabriel Nadeau Dubois. These aren’t easy shoes to fill. And yet they kept almost all of their seats, and they didn’t lose a single one to the PQ. The seats they lost are old Liberal bastions. Verdun was a crazy seat for QS to have at all. Now they have an amazing opportunity to hold the government truly accountable now. They hold power and can push the province further left than it otherwise would have been. And if they don’t, it’s because the PQ moves much, much further right. Either way they win. If the PQ has to lean on them, they need to make a lot of noise that they were the ones winning great things for Quebecers. If the PQ moves right, they get to stand up and say, full throatedly, that they are the only party of the left. Right now PQ has convinced many voters that they are left, and they very well might be on certain subjects. But when push comes down to shove, identification means nothing in the face of action. The federal Liberals are considered left-of-centre on a global scale. Those of us who watch their actions know that this isn’t the case. So, QS walks away from this in a great position. [Keep power accountable](#/portal/signup) ### **WHEN WILL AN ELECTION HAPPEN AGAIN** I don’t know, but I think this Assnat will last six months. Ludvic and Gabrielle think it’s a two year deal. We will definitely be betting on this in our French podcast. I’m looking forward to serving you during this next government, and I hope you’ll consider paying for our work and supporting us as we go on. We will release our numbers on proportional representation soon. \-30- ### Carney Wants to Privatize Airports. It’s a Terrible Idea URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/carney-wants-to-privatize-airports-its-a-terrible-idea/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T14:10:11.000Z This is an excerpt from my latest article I wrote for The Walrus! As always, they have been an exceptional partner. Make sure to go read the full article, and sign up for their newsletter! They work so hard with a skeleton crew, and they deserve your support! [CLICK THIS BUTTON TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE](https://thewalrus.ca/carney-wants-to-privatize-airports/?ref=onthetrail.info) --- Around 2,000 people gathered in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on September 14, preparing to march to the Art Gallery of Ontario, where Prime Minister Mark Carney’s much hyped Canada Investment Summit was holding a gala dinner to open the event. The protesters held signs that said “No deals behind closed doors” and “Billionaires not welcome here.” They chanted, “Ce n’est qu’un début”—this is just the beginning. Many are seeing the writing on the wall: Canada’s assets are for sale. Privatization is on the way. Carney wants to have $1 trillion worth of investments in Canada, bringing mass capital into our sluggish economy, mostly around infrastructure projects. From natural gas to oil pipelines, everything is on the table. But one specific project has received more media attention than others: opening Canada’s publicly owned airports to private investment—specifically Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. “Following best practice in other countries,” Carney said on September 15, a day after a federal Liberal caucus call to discuss the initiative, “the Government of Canada will retain ownership of the underlying land and assets,” but they’ll bring in private capital to maximize growth. Backlash from unions and worker groups has been swift. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) issued a statement opposing any form of a sale as well as any transfer of ownership and control. Mark Hancock, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents more than 20,000 airline workers across eleven airlines, said, “There is no magic to airport privatization: private investors expect a return, and Canadians will be the ones paying for it.” The Canadian Airports Council came out in favour of the country’s “made-in-Canada model” that’s provided decades of “stable, sovereign and financially sustainable approach to managing critical national infrastructure.” The list goes on. The biggest advocate for change is private industry. It loves when major infrastructure gets turned over to them. For them, it’s win-win. But for Canadians, it’s lose-lose. [CLICK THIS BUTTON TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE](https://thewalrus.ca/carney-wants-to-privatize-airports/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Commissioner of lobbying covered up 32,000 violations URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/commissioner-of-lobbying-covered-up-32-000-violations/ Last updated: 2026-10-01T22:26:33.000Z The Commissioner of Lobbying has let off 99.99 percent of all lobbyists that she has caught violating the Act or Code. Only 3 out of 31,806 violations have been penalized. Of those, she let off 5,054 *significant* violations. Significant violations can be failing to register as a lobbyist for more than 30 days, or filing inaccurate registrations, or not correcting inaccurate registrations. Some of these violations lasted more than 6 months before they were fixed. The commissioner has had a poor record since her appointment in 2018\. Despite this, she was reappointed to a second term in November 2024\. The House Ethics Committee is conducting a “long-overdue review of the Lobbying Act,” Democracy Watch said in their release. This is the first time they have done so since 2012\. As it stands, there are loopholes in the act and its code that allow for secret lobbying and unethical lobbying, and fail to “require independent, timely, transparent, affective and accountable enforcement,” the release says. Among the violations that the commissioner let slide are lobbyists who helped former Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, win an election. Ben Bergen and Dana O’Born lobbied Freeland’s department after co-managing her election campaign and serving as her riding association executive. Elected officials are also supposed to wait five years after leaving office before lobbying the government, but the commissioner has [granted 30 exemptions to the 5-year prohibition](https://democracywatch.ca/wp-content/uploads/CommOfLobbyingBadEnforcementRecord2018-2026.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) on lobbying after leaving public office. > "Commissioner of Lobbying, Nancy Bélanger, has a horribly negligent enforcement record and has let thousands of lobbyists violate the federal lobbying law in serious ways without identifying lobbyists publicly or penalizing them,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch. “To stop rampant secret, unethical lobbying, the House Ethics Committee’s current review of the lobbying law must result in recommendations that call for closing all the loopholes in the law and code.” Conacher is also pushing for stricter laws that would force the commissioner to apply penalties on every lobbyist. ### Various violations Democracy Watch says that the most flagrant example of unregistered lobbying in recent years was that of the WE Charity scandal to former Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Jenni Byrne, the former adviser to the leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre, [established a lobbying firm in the same office](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-pierre-poilievre-advisers-staff-established-new-lobbying-firm-with/?ref=onthetrail.info). Many of the staff who worked for Byrne also worked for a lobbyist called Forecheck. Of these 31,806 violations of the lobbying laws, it is impossible to accurately determine how many were minor. We know that at least 5,054 are significant, but there may be many more. From April 2021 to March 2026, 1,367 monthly communications were filed 16-30 days late. From April 2023-March 2026, 571 lobbying registrations were filed 16-30 days late. There are many journalists and watchdogs investigating these situations, but the government regularly violates the Access to Information act. There are constant delays on every request, and [MPs have said they wanted to fix it since 2022.](https://globalnews.ca/news/9340073/delay-delay-delay-mps-seek-fix-to-canadas-broken-access-to-information-system/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### WE Charity scandal The federal government has a poor track record around ethics. In 2020, the Trudeau government awarded a contract with WE Charity to administer a $912 million Canada Student Service Grant program. Soon after, it was revealed that the Trudeau family had been paid by the charity to appear at events. At one point, WE paid Trudeau’s family $425,000, including expenses. Trudeau countered the reporting by saying it was the cabinet, not him who had decided on working with WE. The ethics commissioner at the time, Mario Dion, excused Trudeau of culpability. Democracy Watch applied in June 2021 for a judicial review of Dion’s ruling, alleging that there were errors in the commissioner’s interpretation of the conflict of interest. Federal lawyers wanted the court case dismissed because they believed that the “[Conflict of Interest Act bars judicial review concerning questions of fact and law.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/supreme-court-says-judicial-review-of-ethics-ruling-in-trudeau-case-can-proceed/?ref=onthetrail.info)” (CTV) Democracy Watch appealed to the supreme court, and won in a unanimous ruling that they could continue with the case. This does not mean that the case will be won by Democracy Watch in contesting Dion’s decision about the WE scandal; however, they are able to continue the case. We have continued reporting extensively on lobbying in Canada, and have multiple articles coming out in the next few days with The Walrus and Ricochet about lobbying and lobbyists in Canada. [We also reported on the landmark recommendation recently that says the PM should have to sell and divest all his assets when in power.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-landmark-recommendation-to-secure-democracy-in-canada/) ### ‘Where is your heart for our children?’: Thousands walk beside Grassy Narrows in fight for justice after mercury poisoning URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/where-is-your-heart-for-our-children-thousands-walk-beside-grassy-narrows-in-fight-for-justice-after-mercury-poisoning/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T12:04:43.000Z We are fortunate to have a working partnership with Greg Noakes, who allows us to publish his *excellent* environmental articles, which cover Ontario and national stories. Ontario is a big blind spot for this Quebecois journalist, so we hand picked him to be part of our tiny little team at *On the Trail.* It's not often someone who's been published on The Narwhal is willing to work with us and show us such kindness. [Support his work and subscribe to his substack!](https://www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/thousands-walk-beside-grassy-narrows-in-fight-for-justice-after-mercury-poisoning?ref=onthetrail.info) --- [Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek](https://gnfn.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) (Grassy Narrows First Nation) community members, [Wabaseemoong Independent Nation](https://wabaseemoong.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info), and thousands of supporters rallied in downtown Toronto on September 23, taking their decades-long fight for mercury justice directly to Queen’s Park. “Please, where’s your heart for our children, our people?” questioned Chief of Grassy Narrows Sherry Ackabee in an interview with *The Field & Shutter Press.* “Shut down the Dryden Mill, and give us our compensation. We’ve lost too many people, and we’re still continuing to lose our people.” ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Nh4a!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4fb4315d-303a-45f7-81ba-d29dbfd31176_4832x3866.jpeg) Chief of Grassy Narrows Sherry Ackabee poses for a photo before the rally stepped off, flanked by signs depicting the victims lost to mercury poisoning. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* The River Run rally began at Grange Park and marched north to Queen’s Park, and included organizations such as political parties, environmental groups, and labour unions. Examples included the Ontario Green Party, Seniors for Climate Action Now, and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The rally, which is held every other year, was attended by over [9,000 people, according to some estimates](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/river-run-rally-toronto-9.7356026?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=9%2C000%20people%20who%20marched%20to%20Queen%E2%80%99s%20Park%20in%20Toronto%20on%20Wednesday%2C%20part%20of%20her%20community%27s%20River%20Run%20Rally%20to%20demand%20justice%20from%20the%20provincial%20and%20federal%20governments.%C2%A0). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/bc608edb-1d1a-4e0e-b8a2-6713c5f7f0d7_6000x4000.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/e6cdf398-7636-47e3-a39d-21438380b755_4183x2789.webp) Demonstrators carrying "Justice for Grassy Narrows" signs fill a street and park downtown Toronto as thousands assemble for the rally. (Photo: Greg Noakes) [Toronto’s Red Rebels](https://redrebelstoronto.ca/about-us?ref=onthetrail.info), who describe themselves as “a unique form of street theatre,” according to their [website](https://redrebelstoronto.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info), were also in attendance. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uh6w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c20b1a-de35-4e34-8c1a-2587aebcbedd_3238x4048.jpeg) Toronto’s Red Rebels as they walked into Grange Park before the start of the River Run rally. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* A document provided to *The Field & Shutter Press* by River Run organizers on the day of the rally explained that Grassy Narrows had four demands for Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney: > **Compensate Grassy Narrows fairly for the ongoing mercury crisis,** > **Shut down the Dryden mill to stop the ongoing poisoning,** > **End industrial threats to Grassy Narrows (no mining, no nuclear waste),** > **Support Grassy Narrows in restoring their way of life and wellness from the damage that mercury has done.** ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bvl5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3431d2e-4c29-400b-8c5e-1ddc672b026f_5755x3837.jpeg) Rally participants stretch a banner reading "Justice for Grassy Narrows" outside the Indigenous Services Canada office at 655 Bay St. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* As the rally proceeded along its route, it paused outside Indigenous Services Canada at 655 Bay St. for a sit-in demonstration. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q2XF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb883b1da-809c-4214-9c34-a0692c9a9be4_5926x3951.jpeg) Rally members hold a sit-in outside Indigenous Services Canada during their march through downtown Toronto, with numerous signs saying “Mercury Justice” and “Justice for Grassy Narrows.” **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* The day after the rally, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Mandy Gull-Masty, said in an emailed statement to *The Field & Shutter Press* that she was pleased to meet with Chief Ackabee from Grassy Narrows and Chief Fisher of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nation and their councils earlier this summer. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XXeh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9e6f114-13aa-44d4-8966-8ad888c6d40c_4700x3760.jpeg) A generational cry for justice: Rally attendees of all ages raise their voices in the streets of downtown Toronto, demanding an end to decades of mercury contamination affecting Grassy Narrows First Nation. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* Gull-Masty further wrote that Indigenous Services Canada’s support “must translate into concrete action.” “We are investing in new water and wastewater treatment plants that will address the conditions that led to the community’s long-term drinking water advisory and support the community’s long-term infrastructure needs, including future housing growth,” she wrote. However, Gull-Masty did highlight that remediation of the English and Wabigoon River systems is being led by the Province of Ontario but that “Canada remains actively engaged.” She also wrote that she and her team are “committed to continuing an open dialogue with the Chiefs and their representatives” as they work together to drive progress on the longstanding challenges the communities have faced. The federal government supported the start of construction of a Mercury Care Home and Wellness Centre in Grassy Narrows in March 2025\. Indigenous Services Canada described it as a “specialized facility dedicated to addressing the community’s unique health needs associated with mercury exposure due to pollutants released into the English-Wabigoon River system,” [according to a release.](https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/news/2025/03/asubpeeschoseewagong-netum-anishinabek-grassy-narrows-first-nation-breaks-ground-on-a-mercury-care-home.html?ref=onthetrail.info) When completed, the facility will provide primary and long-term care services for those affected by mercury exposure. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8ERi!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7186479f-89ed-4c94-bd8f-4461bd3a06a4_5450x3633.jpeg) The scale of the River Run rally, captured from an elevated view, as it turned onto College St. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* The day before the rally, *The Field & Shutter Press* reached out to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks along with the Premier’s Office for a statement; neither provided one prior to publication. The Ontario government [established an $85 million trust in March 2018](https://www.ontario.ca/page/mercury-contamination-english-and-wabigoon-rivers-near-grassy-narrows-wabaseemoong-independent-nations?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=establishment%20of%20an%20%2485%20million%20trust%20to%20remediate%20mercury%20contamination%20in%20the%20English%20and%20Wabigoon%20Rivers%20%E2%80%93%20done%20March%202018) to clean up the mercury contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers systems. Deputy Leader of the Ontario Green Party and MPP for Kitchener Centre, Aislinn Clancy, was present at the rally. When asked about Premier Doug Ford’s treatment of Grassy Narrows, she said that it shows his priorities lie “with big corporations and standing on his own soapbox without interruption.” “He doesn't care about the environment. He doesn't care about Indigenous people. These are people who have been seriously harmed by a corporation, and it's up to the government to stand and protect this kind of environmental atrocity and humanitarian crisis. And he just treats them like a mosquito that he's swatting away,” said Clancy. In an ongoing campaign of targeted messaging, [activists have regularly surfaced at the Premier's events province-wide, deploying banners to demand compensation for the ongoing crisis](https://lfpress.com/news/queens-park/grassy-narrows-inside-an-undercover-protest-shadowing-doug-ford/?ref=onthetrail.info), as first reported by [The London Free Press](https://lfpress.com/?ref=onthetrail.info). ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rvfw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57ca544b-63e5-48cf-a4f9-525b2d2b82bf_3987x2658.jpeg) Sol Mamakwa, Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP, Shadow Minister of Indigenous and Treaty Relations, and MPP for Kiiwetinoong (Right), addresses the crowd while an interpreter (Left) provided sign language. (Photo: Greg Noakes) ## Decades of mercury contamination In the 1960s and 1970s, [nearly 10 tonnes of mercury were discharged by an upstream chlor-alkali plant, part of a paper mill, contaminating the English-Wabigoon River system](https://www.ontario.ca/page/mercury-contamination-english-and-wabigoon-rivers-near-grassy-narrows-wabaseemoong-independent-nations?ref=onthetrail.info), affecting the ecosystem and the people who relied on it. [Wabaseemoong Independent Nation](https://wabaseemoong.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) is located along the same mercury-contaminated river system as Grassy Narrows, approximately [98 km north-west of Kenora.](https://www.northwesthealthline.ca/displayService.aspx?id=152462&ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=Reserve%20is%20along%20English%20River%20system%2C%2098%20km%20NW%20of%20Kenora%2C%2013%20km%20E%20of%20Man/Ont%20bo) They experience similar effects as Grassy Narrows. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!331m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcc6c3c0a-844b-477d-a1e8-f5736bb86b29_6000x4000.jpeg) Councillor Roanna Carpenter-Jourdain of Wabaseemoong Independent Nation speaks at the rally. (Photo: Greg Noakes) “You know, it's killing our people because everybody in our community has a short lifespan, and a lot of our people are getting sick, and you know our people are dying as well,” said Councillor Roanna Carpenter-Jourdain from Wabaseemoong Independent Nation. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fUwI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6acd6654-fe9e-4e90-ab52-86a1a385d293_6000x4000.jpeg) Fish-shaped signs with messages advocating for water protection in front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* [The discharge of mercury from the chlor-alkali plant stopped as it was decommissioned in 1975](https://www.ontario.ca/page/mercury-contamination-english-and-wabigoon-rivers-near-grassy-narrows-wabaseemoong-independent-nations?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=In%201970%2C%20Dryden%20Chemical%2C%20a%20subsidiary%20of%20Reed%20International%2C%20reduced%20levels%20of%20mercury%20in%20wastewater.%20The%20plant%20was%20decommissioned%20in%201975.). However, researchers have found that wastewater from the current mill’s operations still poses risks. A [2024 study](https://www.ontariondp.ca/sites/default/files/2024%5F05%5F14%5Fbranfireun%5Friverbank%5Fmercury%5Fmethylation%5Fdynamics%5Fstudy%5Ftechnical%5Freport%5Fmay%5F14%5F4854%5F4471%5F2127%5F1%5F1.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) from Western University found that water discharged by the mill contains sulphates and organic matter that interact with legacy mercury in the river system, promoting the formation of methylmercury, a highly toxic form of mercury. “Dryden Mill industrial wastewater that is discharged to the Wabigoon River is making the mercury contamination in fish worse than it would be if it were not present,” wrote Dr. Brian Branfireun in the study. Dr. Branfireun also wrote that eliminating the discharges would reduce the amount of methylmercury produced in the river system and the amount that accumulates in fish. In the lab, that harm shows up as elevated methylmercury in tissue samples. In Grassy Narrows, it shows up as lost traditions. “We’re river people,” said Chrissy Isaacs, a grandmother, mother, and member of Grassy Narrows. “We should be able to just go into our lakes and our rivers. It makes it difficult today to keep up those traditions when we’re not allowed to have that.” ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3-G8!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8365e809-3eaf-4c68-8eb6-8e88ae1534c4_4821x3214.jpeg) Chrissy Isaacs, mother, grandmother, mercury sufferer, and an advocate from Grassy Narrows, addresses the crowd in front of Queen's Park, framed by portraits of those lost to mercury poisoning. (Photo: Greg Noakes) That change reaches into some of the most culturally important parts of life, including pregnancy and birth. “The fish broth for new mums has a lot to do with what we’re feeding our babies,” she explained. “What they tell us is it helps bring in that \[breast\] milk, but it also has everything that the baby needs for their brain development and their whole little being.” Michael Fobister, a member of the Land Protection team in Grassy Narrows, said fish “is our way of life,” something they’ve had in their diets for “thousands of years.” “It was promised by the government, like the treaties, that we have the right to hunt and fish, so government poison the river, poison our fish, now we can’t eat the fish,” he said. “We still eat the fish, not in great amounts, so it’s still affecting us.” ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Uk2q!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4187c10c-2d79-4176-aa16-7f16c14fc250_5002x3335.jpeg) Supporters, some with signs reading “WATER IS LIFE”, gather in front of the Ontario Legislative Building after the River Run rally reached Queen's Park. **(Photo: Greg Noakes)* Travelling to town for groceries is a struggle for many Grassy Narrows community members. “Most of our people are unemployed. They struggle to get into Kenora or any other town to get food. So that’s what we rely on is our land and water, our fish, our moose,” he explained. For decades, Grassy Narrows has called for justice, remediation and an end to the threats facing their land and water. For Chief Sherry Ackabee, however, the loss cannot be measured. “If I had one wish, I wish I could have all my people back that left too early.” ### Journal de Montréal pushes medical study full of misinformation URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/journal-de-montreal-pushes-medical-study-full-of-misinformation/ Last updated: 2026-09-26T12:00:19.000Z Despite a Journal de Montréal (JdM) article claiming otherwise, surgeries in the private health care system are significantly more expensive than the public system. A new study published by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS) revealed the falsities used in the report cited by the JdM, which seem purposefully intended to misdirect people towards private care. Last week, JdM published a shocking story that falsely claimed that operations for kids in the private sector cost[ 25 percent less than they do in the public system.](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/09/16/cest-gagnant-gagnant---operer-des-enfants-au-prive-coute-moins-cher?ref=onthetrail.info) They used a study by Yanick Labrie in the Canadian Health Policy Journal. The title of the piece takes the side of the study (it’s win-win!) and directly contradicts more reliable [studies that show that operations in the private system cost 35 percent more](https://www.ledevoir.com/actualites/sante/998678/35-plus-cher-realiser-operation-prive??ref=onthetrail.info). There are many problems with the study that JdM used, including a biased selection for the study and a “behind closed doors” approach funded by multinational private health companies. [Hold power accountable, sign up for your 2 week free trial now](#/portal/signup) **Privately funded** The biggest red flag in the study cited in JdM is who is funding the study. **Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Merck, AstraZeneca, AMGEN, GSK, NOVARTIS, Sanofi, and Gilead Sciences.** All of these companies are multinational companies in the private health industry, and have massive market caps. *This is a table of the market cap of all these companies. It might not appear correctly in email.* Most of these companies are based in the United States. As politicians push for Canadian sovereignty, these players have an invested interest in seeing Canada’s public health system dismantled to undermine Canadian autonomy. These players are extremely active in our database of lobbyists and government contracts. AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Gilead are all active in Quebec specifically. *These charts show the number of times these companies have lobbied Canadian governments over the past two years. It may not appear correctly in email.* _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What Role Does Airbnb Play in Quebec City's Housing Crisis? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-role-does-airbnb-play-in-quebec-citys-housing-crisis/ Last updated: 2026-09-24T13:00:17.000Z Experts say that, in some neighbourhoods, eliminating Airbnb could double the rate of vacant rental units. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Big summits and a boring election - The Weekly Roundup URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/big-summits-and-a-boring-election-the-weekly-roundup/ Last updated: 2026-09-22T12:00:58.000Z Good morning, dear subscribers! Before beginning today’s letter, I wanted to talk shop for a second. This letter is popular and growing daily. We have 5500 subscribers, with more every day. With that, we have one goal this year. It’s to get 10,000 subscribers, both free and paid. If we get past 8000, that would be absolutely amazing. That would put this little newsletter in the top 1 percent of **all** newsletters, and I think we can do it. But only with your help! In order to do this, we will need people to be sharing this letter and showing people what it’s like. We have two goals with this newsletter: > Inform the people of what’s happening! There is WAY too much going on all the time. No-one should be required to know everything. Thus, we compile all the news we can and give you a \~2000 word letter that runs through all the major headlines so that you can stay informed by paying attention once per week. > To write history. By reading this letter, you *are become* a(n) historian as well. This newsletter is a permanent historiography of the news. I’ve been running it for more than a year now, in various forms, so we have a record of all the major news from every week. With the advent of AI and the way algorithms work, it’s hard to remember what happened, since there’s always something new. But if we can go backwards, we can understand today’s news much more profoundly than if we just look at the headlines. Thus, my eternal goal of documenting history as a resource for all eternity. [HELP US GROW - CLICK HERE TO SHARE.](#/share) We love stories, and it takes about 20 hours a week to write this letter. We have a ton of financial supporters who keep the lights on and pay for me to have the [freedom to go get assaulted by the police on a Wednesday evening](https://therover.ca/open-letter-investigate-the-montreal-police-who-beat-and-hospitalized-our-colleague/?ref=onthetrail.info) *(this is a joke, I really would like this to stop happening. This is the third time this year that I have been assaulted, and I believe it is the fifth or sixth from William, though this time he was concussed and hospitalized.)* But there are many people who can’t afford to pay as much. That’s why we have a $3 tier available! But if you can’t afford to pay, no stress. Help us grow the newsletter! Share it, and help us become a force to counter mainstream narratives, and get to more profound truths. We’re a different option for people tired of the buttoned up, super strict rules of traditional journalism. So– help us grow, and thanks for tolerating me! [Counter the mainstream narratives - help us keep going!](#/portal/signup) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* ### CARNEY HOLDS INVESTOR SUMMIT You already know this story. It’s impossible not to. It’s been the dominating headline for a couple months.[ I wrote about it this Saturday in a report that’s free to the public.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/every-project-for-sale-at-the-investment-summit/) This is an important moment for Canada, with a renewed push towards privatization occurring within the Liberal government. The Carney government, for their part, is looking to have $1 trillion in investments in Canada. That huge influx in cash would have a few effects. It’s important that we don’t fall prey to hysteria, since that’s easy to do. As historians we must look at this in the context of today, and what it could mean for the future. Carney is correct that this will create jobs. The *longevity* of these jobs and the *fairness* of these jobs are what we need to be concerned about. Carney is attempting to re-industrialize Canada. The way he’s going about this will have some big consequences. $1 trillion in investments in infrastructure projects will grow the job market. But for how long?[ The Quebec Liberals under Robert Bourassa made 100,000 jobs](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/radio/profondeur/bourassa/emission2.html?ref=onthetrail.info) in their short time as provincial government. It worked! And then a lot of people ran out of jobs because the mega-construction projects ended. Ronald Reagan famously supercharged the American economy during a recession! [And then it caused another recession in 1990](https://www.cgaa.org/article/early-1990s-recession?ref=onthetrail.info). The Carney government is doing something new. Carney is attempting a reinvention of [Keynesianism](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/k/keynesianeconomics.asp?ref=onthetrail.info). Reindustrialization might not be a long-term solution, since we aren’t a manufacturing hub like China. We make some raw ingredients, but we don’t make a lot of products. By having state investment in projects all over, but without a majority shares in anything, Carney seems to be building a new model for state governments to follow. He was the vice-chair at Brookfield Management, a massive investment fund. He is approaching Canada in a similar way. Carney is diversifying the Canadian investment portfolio. He is investing money in all of these infrastructure projects across the country. He started a sovereign wealth fund to do it, [wants to remove state control of major airports while keeping ownership of the land and assets,](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/carney-wants-private-investors-to-run-canadas-four-largest-airports/?ref=onthetrail.info) and then wants to reinvest in a broader number of assets across Canada to weather greater storms and have fewer ups and downs in Canada’s economy. Nora Loreto and I were recently discussing this, and then she hopped on The North State and talked about this in depth. You should listen to the discussion. It’s an interesting approach, and one that hasn’t been tried. Is it good? I’m not sure it is. It might keep our treasury full, but it also makes the state beholden to investors, which is not the point of the state. The state is able to definancialize industries, and thus run it without the profit motive. The perfect example is obviously health care. This is an inelastic market, and therefore if there’s a profit motive, it can only cause prices to rise and cause long term problems. Thus, Carney’s gamble seems like the wrong one to me. It seems to believe that, by mastering the profit motive and participating in it fully, it can maintain its wealth. I wonder what the purpose of that is as well. Is the goal to maintain wealth to continue providing services? Or is it to serve the upper crust of society? [They also announced a new tax scheme, but it will only apply to new investments. 6.4 percent on new investments](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/09/government-of-canada-introduces-new-productivity-mega-deduction-to-boost-canadas-advantage-as-the-most-competitive-g7-country-for-new-business-inve.html?ref=onthetrail.info), down from 13\. Having such a low tax rate on new businesses is a clever move. Again, the Liberals are betting on a mass influx of capital, which will provide the state huge sums of money. If $1 trillion is invested, all of it will be taxed 6.4 percent and bring the state 64 billion dollars and then there will be new income to tax continuously. It’s a bit ridiculous, though, since we already had a lower rate than the USA, and this is essentially a handout to billionaires who already wanted to invest in Canada. This is a win-win for them, and the Canadian state probably didn’t need to do this. [This is the result of their lobbying efforts and established relationships with Carney.](https://data.onthetrail.info/?ref=onthetrail.info) We’ll see.[ If you want further analysis, check out Saturday’s report.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/every-project-for-sale-at-the-investment-summit/) This could take years before we know the consequences of Carney’s new approach. ### QUEBEC ELECTION REMAINS DULL It’s in the headline. There were two debates last week, with a third this Wednesday. Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon (PSPP) won in a subtle way. Frechette seems to have fallen off a bit in some polls, although as of writing only a couple have come out. PQ seems set to win the election. A plurality, certainly, although the other parties don’t have much room to breathe. 2 percentage points could mean that the CAQ gets no seats or 18 seats. Eric Grenier’s seat [average has an insane range.](https://thewrit.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) The debates were not exciting to watch. We saw three moderate conservatives debate on the stage, and so the competition wasn’t one of ideas, but of style and poise. PSPP played his cards right. He needed to show that he looked “prime ministerial,” and so he was calm, intelligent, and agreeable. Milliard walked out looking similar, but Frechette lost a lot of ground. She struggled to maintain her composure during the election, and had few responses to the record of the CAQ. It’s hard to defend yourself when your government has had such an infamously poor record. She took a gamble at the top of the second debate as well, telling everyone that “she is not Legault,” but it seemed to be a hail-Mary move. She knew she was on her back foot, and the electors didn’t appreciate it.[ But after this bad turnout, she got fact checked by Radio-Canada, saying that she lied about how many teachers the CAQ hired](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2285247/verif-embauche-enseignants-frechette-elections?ref=onthetrail.info). And not by a small amount either. Fifty thousand teachers short is **a lot**. Things just keep getting worse for Frechette! Meanwhile the only left-wing party had an okay showing, but Ghazal needs to embrace the fact that she’s the only left-winger on that stage. [Watch this clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGH2zmt0zv4&pp=ygUdZGViYXQgZWNvbm9taXF1ZSByYWRpbyBjYW5hZGE%3D&ref=onthetrail.info). When you see the QS deputy speak, it’s aggressive but inspiring. It’s possibly the best clip of the entire election so far. Ghazal needs to be more like that. She’s stuck in this desire to be polite and professional, but she shouldn’t be. QS is the only one talking about maintaining the state that the rest of the leaders benefitted from. Call them out. Attack constantly. [The people who are going to dismiss her for being too aggressive are already going to do that](https://madamenoire.com/1493906/breaking-down-the-stereotype-of-the-angry-black-woman/?ref=onthetrail.info). Who cares? She’s the only one on the stage with a credible plan for the state. If Ghazal is strong on Wednesday, she could easily win some new voters. **TOP ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS** [**Canada is missing it’s**](https://440megatonnes.ca/insight/net-zero-canada-more-than-20-years-behind-2030-target/?ref=onthetrail.info)2030 target… but not just that, our goals of carbon neutral are essentially impossible. [**AI slowdown plan doesn’t**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/state-of-emergency-montreal-based-ai-expert-says-industry-slowdown-plan-doesnt-go-far-enough/?ref=onthetrail.info) go far enough, experts say. [**Australian gas company,** ](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/16/news/australian-gas-giant-lng-bc-megaproject?ref=onthetrail.info)Santos becomes fifth gas importer to sign contract with Ksi-Lisims. [**Ontario cities responding**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/17/news/ontario-cities-data-centre-responses?ref=onthetrail.info) differently to data centres. [**Climate feedback loop**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/17/news/fossil-fuel-emissions-warming-climate-feedback-loops?ref=onthetrail.info) could worsen global warming by as much as 30 percent. [**Quebec walks away from using**](https://lp.ca/huygef?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info)anesthetic gas with climate consequences. [**Ecological conditions around**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontario-bruce-power-climate-change-gizzard-shad-fish-event-lake-huron-9.7337290?ref=onthetrail.info)nuclear power in question 2 years after freak fish event. [**Coral reefs unable to recover**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/18/news/coral-reefs-marine-temperature-global-heating?ref=onthetrail.info) because of consecutive heat waves. **TOP NEWS** [**Ed Sheeran is in hot water**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/ed-sheeran-tour-macklemore-dropped-backlash-9.7350945?ref=onthetrail.info) because he [dropped Macklemore](https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/article/macklemore-is-dropped-from-ed-sheerans-tour-over-pro-palestinian-comments-onstage/?ref=onthetrail.info) from his tour over his pro-palestine activism. It’s been amazing to watch. [**Canada to become the newest member…**](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/09/16/von-der-leyen-propose-que-le-canada-devienne-le-premier-membre-associe-de-lue?ref=onthetrail.info) no I’m kidding, we won’t be. Lots of people reacting about the EU and Canada working together, maybe because the President of the EU saying that she wants Canada to be an “associate member”. We’re just working with them on some projects with further discussions of closer ties ongoing. Calm down everyone! [Carney claims that we’re not “fair weather friends.”](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-addresses-eu-parliament-9.7346339?ref=onthetrail.info) Yeah, we’ll find out if that’s true, if the AfD and RN get into power. [**Conservatives a**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/caucus-a-fractured-mess-as-poilievre-gathers-conservatives-in-bc-source/?ref=onthetrail.info) “fractured mess”. [**19 killed in Gaza because**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gaza-building-collapse-9.7345835?ref=onthetrail.info)housing collapsed on them. [**Left wing wins in Sweden.**](https://lp.ca/fqj6yF?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) Not by much though. [**UN finds grounds to believe**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/un-report-us-strikes-iran-protests-9.7347566?ref=onthetrail.info) that US committed war crimes in Iran strikes on school. [Trump reacted exactly as expected.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/trump-administration-prepares-sanctions-against-international-criminal-court-sources-say/ar-AA2cHje8?ref=onthetrail.info) [**Tamara Lich’s** request to travel internationally denied](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/tamara-lich-house-arrest-travel-request-denied-9.7347816?ref=onthetrail.info). She was a leader and organizer with the 2022 convoy protests. [**BC might enter snap election**](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/09/20/Conservative-Party-Upheaval-Brings-Potential-Snap-Election/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Conservative leader quits.](https://cheknews.ca/kerry-lynne-findlay-resigns-as-b-c-conservative-leader-1348999/?ref=onthetrail.info) Everything is pure chaos out west. [**Trump bans CNN, Politico, and MS NOW**](https://apnews.com/article/trump-ban-ms-now-media-cnn-politico-72f9acf68244ca70e9078d9d3661c722?utm%5Fsource=app&utm%5Fmedium=android%5Fshare&utm%5Fcampaign=whatsapp) from white house. They’re suing. See you soon. ### Every project for sale at the investment summit URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/every-project-for-sale-at-the-investment-summit/ Last updated: 2026-09-19T12:00:46.000Z While many Canadians are struggling to pay rent and buy groceries, the Liberals hosted a mega summit to sell off public lands and create infrastructure projects that will, in their minds, supercharge the Canadian economy. The wealthiest people on the planet came to Toronto to listen to sales pitches and proposals to offload Canada’s public land to private interests. In Nathan Philips Square, 2000 people gathered with signs and righteous anger. “Invest in our future, not climate collapse,” “Oil is arson” and many other signs populated the crowd. Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na Moks spoke of the need to stand in solidarity to protect Canada’s territory. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0666.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0681.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0688.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0716.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0724.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0728.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0770.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0809.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/DSCF0815.jpg) The goal of this protest was to crash the CEO summit. The protesters started marching, Chief Na Moks leading the crowd forward. Toronto police followed the crowd, and some police who were present had patrol carbines, and there were drones, mounted police, and more. Along with the Toronto Police, there were officers from Peel, Durham, York, and the Ontario Provincial Police. The protesters arrived at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where the OPP had blocked access with a barricade. They refused entry to everyone, including students from OCAD University and gig workers from online delivery services who were not part of the protest. [Support journalism that isn't afraid of the government. Start a free trial, or subscribe for as low as $3 a month.](#/portal/signup) The police were everywhere. The protesters split into multiple groups, trying to surround the AGO from all sides. In the end, their goal of crashing the event failed. 2 arrests were made according to information acquired by Greg Noakes for the On the Trail, “one for mischief and obstruction, the other for assaulting the police.” Apparently, the police escorted many of the summit’s attendees out, although we could not confirm this. The protest dispersed around 21:30 or 22:00\. What happened behind those closed doors is simultaneously completely known to all of us, and a complete mystery. We understand that there was a fire sale of Canada’s public property for private investments in infrastructure projects, but we also don’t know the exact details of what happened. Since last week, copies of the document with every project have been circulating around the media. The document reads, “This investment pitchbook is intended for internal use only and should not be copied, shared, reproduced, distributed, quoted, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part.” As far as I have found, no major media company has released the list for public consumption. So *On the Trail* compiled the list into a readable format and is making it free for everyone. ### NOTE: THE EMBED MIGHT NOT WORK CORRECTLY IN EMAIL. IF SO, PLEASE USE BROWSER. [HELP THIS ARTICLE GET SEEN, SHARE IT NOW](#/share) ### Isaac Peltz Analysis Other media companies have done their own analysis, but they’re conservatives and only care about the economy. This list is dominated by energy projects and resource exploits. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. There is also a section dedicated to digital tech, advanced manufacturing and transportation. The top line for me is how destructive these projects will be. We’re talking about unbelievable amounts of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere. [A report came out on September 11th](https://440megatonnes.ca/insight/net-zero-canada-more-than-20-years-behind-2030-target/?ref=onthetrail.info) that Canada is now more than 20 years behind our climate commitments, leaving the 2050 goal for net zero emissions a complete pipe dream that will likely never happen without a massive shift in policy direction. During Trudeau’s rule, Canada was approaching its goals while continuing to grow the economy. “Previous analysis we conducted with Navius Research in 2023 showed that the full suite of policies in the federal 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan could have put Canada within reach of its near-term targets, if governments had followed through on everything they promised,” the report reads. In short, Trudeau’s policies would have worked had they continued following through. [SHARE THIS ARTICLE](#/share) Carney’s investment summit will do two things at once: It will raise the emissions being produced in Canada, and will significantly raise costs to the federal and provincial treasuries, as rising emissions and climate disasters will cause more property damage to the country. This will create a cycle where governments will have to respond to these crises with huge sums. People will be displaced, entire villages will be wiped off the face of the planet, and smoke will cause diseases such as cancer, which will further cost the state money. Although not imminent, it is possible that, based on our current direction, the state says it isn’t able to support people with health care anymore because of the rising cost of health care inflicted upon Canadian citizens due to the government’s own mismanagement. Well-designed climate policies would actually save the country money. The sales being agreed to at the summit leave us with many questions. Will we see environmental reviews? Can the money stay in the country during these reviews? Will these processes be bypassed? And will any of this money lead to Canadian prosperity, or simply further enrichment of the ultra-wealthy, and a loss of public property? The approach that the Carney Liberals are taking is a classical liberal approach to economic policy. It focuses on decentralization from the state, and fits firmly within a centre/centre right economic policy, as we’ve seen under Chrétien, Mulroney, and Harper before them. The approach being taken by Carney is the exact playbook outlined by Ezra Klein’s and Derek Thompson’s book, *Abundance.* We took the time to read through the book, and to give you an executive summary, it essentially says this: **Stop regulating so much, stop suing the government so much, remove administrative bureaucracy, and let private industry build shit to bring abundance to the country.** The book argues for private industry to build more, and for the government to operate as a coordinative machine. It’s an interesting book, and it’s clearly changed Carney’s life. When comparing his book, *Values*, with the book *Abundance,* it’s clear that *Abundance* changed his outlook before he took power. *Abundance* has been exceptionally influential among the centrist “progressive” parties in the Anglosphere, including the Democrats in the USA and Labour in the UK. [The Goose Media looked into this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5PVJaDP0ao&ref=onthetrail.info). I recommend their video. The investment summit makes the ideas presented in *Abundance* a practicable reality. The real question is whether the investment summit will work. Money might be pledged, but it will be years before we see the results of this summit. ### What Is Left for Renters in Quebec After 8 Years of the CAQ? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-is-left-for-renters-in-quebec-after-8-years-of-the-caq/ Last updated: 2026-09-18T13:17:43.000Z The Rover, our exceptional partners, have soft launched a new, Quebec City newsletter, and will be turning it into a whole separate website soon. After more than half a decade of exceptional work, mentoring dozens of reporters in Montreal (including myself) and working to be one of the most legitimate, and well respected institutions in Quebec, they have launched a newsletter and articles in the national capital region. (for you anglophones and non-Quebecois, we refer to Quebec city as the national capital.) The Rover is working with journalist and author, Nora Loreto, as well as former municipal politician, Jackie Smith, to build something special in La Capitale Nationale. Like us, they believe in the mission of local journalism and we are happy to be working with them. I am honoured that they asked me to write the first articles for their launch, with at least three more coming out in the next month. This is an excerpt, [the full piece is available for free for all readers here.](https://therover.ca/what-is-left-for-renters-in-quebec-after-8-years-of-the-caq/?ref=onthetrail.info) I strongly recommend you subscribe to The Rover and the Vagabond, since these are the real game changers. The work they do is essential, and the experience they have is incomparable. If you like my work, you'll like theirs more. With that said, here is an excerpt from the article. [CLICK THIS BUTTON TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ROVER & THE VAGABOND](https://therover.ca/support-us/?ref=onthetrail.info) --- July 1: moving day in Quebec City. This year, a record number of people were left with no apartment. To mark the grim milestone, about 400 people marched from the Tribunal administratif du logement(TAL) on boulevard René-Lévesque to the l’îlot Saint-Vincent-de-Paulin the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood to demand rent control, socialized housing, and adding the right to housing to Quebec’s Charter of rights and freedoms — something that already exists in Canadian law. The îlot is a parking lot that groups like Coalition contre le logement cher (COLOC), have been lobbying to transform into social housing for decades. At the îlot*,* whilevolunteers prepared lunch for the protesters, several police cars pulled up. The protesters thought they were about to get kicked out, since they were in a public space. Instead, the police approached a nearby homeless encampment. City workers were on hand to help kick out the people living there. The employees then rode the bicycles left behind by the former residents. They cracked jokes as they threw clothing in containers, dismantling tents without care. Within 30 minutes, the police, the city workers, and the encampment were gone. "I was told by some groups that work with the homeless that this is a daily occurrence," said Félix Marois, community organizer at tenant advocacy group le BAIL. “Police come at 6 a.m. every morning and tell people they have 15 minutes to pick up their stuff,” Marois said. The police, he said, are systematically dismantling encampments. On Sept. 8, Quebec City mayor Bruno Marchand called for every party in Quebec’s election to commit to eliminating homelessness. “I only hope for one thing: a firm and unequivocal commitment to get Quebec moving towards zero homelessness. Quickly. We must stop thinking about how to manage the crisis. We must act to get out of it,” he wrote. Marchand’s administration is in charge of how city officials deal with unhoused people and encampments. The homelessness population in the Capitale Nationale region [surged by 36 per cent between 2018 and 2022](https://qcna.qc.ca/homelessness-on-the-rise-amid-housing-crisis-public-health-officials-say/?ref=onthetrail.info), when a survey found 927 “visibly homeless” people living in the Quebec City area. Public health officials estimate it has [increased by another 16 per cent since then](https://qcna.qc.ca/homelessness-on-the-rise-amid-housing-crisis-public-health-officials-say/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Across Quebec, there are more than 12,000 people experiencing homelessness](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-homelessness-rising-regions-montreal-9.7159319?ref=onthetrail.info). Where before there were no homeless people, now there are many. Encampments have popped up in quite a few locations, and the police tear them down daily, Marois said. The main cause of homelessness? Unaffordable rent. [READ THE FULL PIECE HERE](https://therover.ca/what-is-left-for-renters-in-quebec-after-8-years-of-the-caq/?ref=onthetrail.info) [SUBSCRIBE TO THE ROVER PAID OR FREE](https://therover.ca/support-us/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Homelessness is costing Canadians a lot of money URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/homelessness-is-costing-canadians-a-lot-of-money/ Last updated: 2026-09-15T12:00:27.000Z *Thunk, thunk, thunk*. Whenever you get woken up by the police, they hit your window as hard as they can. Every time, Jay would jump up, and scramble to get clothes on. I was sleeping on the floor on a little blow up mattress that my mum bought me. Jay mumbled curses under his breath as he put on clothes. "Cops always persecuting me for living my life," he would grumble. This was about a week after we escaped Tofino, where the police had hunted us for three days and nights for being homeless in the town. Jay opened the side door of the van. I remained silent, laying on my mess of a bed, wishing that I wasn't about to get moved along. It was almost 11pm. "You can't sleep here," the policeman told Jay and I. About three weeks ago, we could. We were in Beacon Hill park alongside a small army of homeless folks. Before today, there were the vans in the parking lot (which we were a part of) and there were the tents in the grass. There had even become small suburbs within the homeless encampment. We lived in what we called the *Francophone Bloc*, where an army of Quebecers and French people had parked their vans. They were musicians, artists; esoteric hippie types. The *Anglophone Bloc* was British Columbians who had escaped the endless policing of Vancouver and come to the island for a little peace while they waited out the pandemic. The tenters, well, they were homeless folks with tents. When we'd arrived, the park had been sanctioned as a place where the homeless could live, undisturbed by the police. As long as they kept relatively clean, there would be no problems. The city had quickly created a space for homeless people to live when lockdown started. Jay and I showed up in January, and would roam around daily. We made friends with much of the community there. A few of the Francophones I still see around Montreal sometimes-- playing accordion over in Parc Lafontaine, showing up to shows around town. Some of them were too constantly high to retain any memories of my existence, but I remember them. My tenting friends, well, I don't know where they are. Vagrants aren't famous for keeping in touch. Jay and I had gone on a three week trip to the mountains to film part of a documentary, but before we left there were rumblings of a police crackdown. "Any day now, the police are gonna arrive and throw us out," my neighbour said to me one day. Already they'd started aggressing some of the homeless folk for spreading their tent a bit too far. Mayor Lisa Helps was preparing to reopen the city to tourism. Jay and I left for about three weeks, and we got back the day before bylaw destroyed everything. As the policeman kicked us out of our spot that night, we knew that the end would come in the morning. And it did. There was nothing left behind but yellow squares on the grass where the tents used to be. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/0031_7.jpg) This was the first time we saw it happen, but not the last. Soon it would happen in East Hastings, and Slocan in Vancouver. Then Trinity Bellwoods in Toronto, and eventually out east. There was a big advantage to Beacon Hill park becoming a centralized location for all the homeless. It was ugly, that's for sure– it smelt like piss a lot of the time, and there were a fair few nights where someone would be screaming about wanting to kill someone or whatever, but overall it was peacable. Because everything was so centralized, the city and province could pour their resources into one centralized location. There were two days a week that breakfast was handed out to the locals, two days a week where the Salvation Army would bring portable showers and everyone could clean up, there were medical tents, and clothing tents, there were park washrooms that were usable. In fact, deaths remained exceptionally low because there was always someone close by with naloxone. This week, a new report came out that Quebec is spending [$95,284 **per unhoused person** per year](https://www.lapresse.ca/elections-quebecoises/2026-09-14/rapport-de-l-umq/le-cout-de-l-itinerance-explose-au-quebec.php?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info), versus $5,900 for everyone else. It's 16 times more expensive if someone is on the streets. The cost of living crisis is exceptionally expensive. It would cost significantly less to hand out money to people and house them with the state footing the whole bill. The same report shows that if the state was to fund transition housing which would help with recovery and living expenses, it would cost them only $48,780 per person, or half the amount that they're spending right now. It would cost a lot less money to fund treatment centers and get people off the street. But the government is perplexed at the complexities of mental health, and how challenging it is to rehabilitate people, even though it would save them huge swathes of money every year. These numbers were specifically given for Quebec, but I can promise that they look similar in other provinces. [Meanwhile, the government seems proud that inflation remains at 3 percent.](https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/2026-09-14/canada/l-inflation-se-maintient-a-3.php?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) The problem with this measurement is that it's calculated by averaging all industries-- it's accounting for housing prices, but it's also accounting for job losses. Thus, in some sectors there's no inflation, or even deflation, but other sectors are bringing up the average. Mostly the average is being brought up by sectors that normal people struggle with, such as groceries and housing, while the job market remains tough. But that's just the tip of the hat for the news. [SUPPORT THIS INSANE LEVEL OF WORK, REMAIN INFORMED, FREE OTHERS FROM THE ALGORITHM](#/portal/signup) **EXTREMISTS WIN BIG IN GERMANY** [The far right has won a state government in Germany.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/far-right-afd-germany-world-reaction-9.7334688?ref=onthetrail.info) [In other states, they're leading as well- although social democrats are not far behind.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/german-state-leader-vows-thwart-204835579.html?guccounter=1&ref=onthetrail.info) The AFD (Alternative for Germany) wants to heavily restrict immigration, restore ties with Russia, quit the euro and promote German ethno-nationalism. It is a return to extremist neo-nazi governance that hasn't been seen since World War II. I have a lot of questions about how this will play out, personally Democracies are more robust than they were nearly a hundred years ago, with better systems and more protections. It's been hard for Donald Trump to completely transform the United States, the country remains a [democracy ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy?ref=onthetrail.info)despite losing it's [l](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism?ref=onthetrail.info)[iberalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism?ref=onthetrail.info). That being said, I don't know what will happen in the midterms, but I suspect it might be tough for the Republicans to overthrow democratic systems. That being said, I might eat these words. Back in Germany, the AFD wants to persecute immigrants, [and are neo-nazis](https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/dangerous-liaisons-the-true-proximity-of-germany-s-afd-to-neo-nazis-a-e69c51d3-4b3c-49d2-8d54-d7b0a19c3f9a?ref=onthetrail.info), though they deny the label. Germany is in for a rough ride. But examples like Sweden and America make me think that it might not be the end of democracy in Germany. That being said, democratic regimes can just collapse sometimes. [The AFD wants to leave the EU, which would probably end the whole thing.](https://www.dw.com/en/far-right-afd-party-wants-germany-to-leave-the-eu/a-71093400?ref=onthetrail.info) Can democracy hold out against the advance of fascists worldwide? [France's elections in 2027 are not going to be fun for anyone.](https://www.france24.com/en/french-far-right-leader-polling-ahead-for-2027-election-should-the-eu-be-afraid?ref=onthetrail.info) [Across Europe, fascism is back](https://theconversation.com/the-far-right-is-surging-in-france-germany-and-parts-of-europe-what-will-this-mean-for-ukraine-282724?ref=onthetrail.info). In Canada,[ the far right is mainstream](https://theconversation.com/how-far-right-ideas-in-canada-are-working-their-way-into-mainstream-politics-238965?ref=onthetrail.info), and every centrist, or centre left party has moved to the right. Just look at the BCNDP or the Federal Liberals. Leftism in Canada virtually doesn't exist, not in any practical sense. So what happens now? We'll find out. [Marci Shore noted in one of her lectures recently that democratic systems keep voting in people who want to destroy said democracies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceqleHuLUwQ&ref=onthetrail.info). It's the fatal flaw of Liberals ([which, if you believe in the rule of law and individual freedoms, you are a liberal in the classic definition. Not talking about the political party)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism?ref=onthetrail.info), they keep thinking discussions and the "marketplace of ideas" works. [Share this with people you think would enjoy it!](#/share) **QUEBEC ELECTION REMAINS QUITE DULL** No, seriously. It's tough to cover this election because the three front runners are virtually identical. The question is which flavour of conservative do you want? A flurry of new polling came out the morning I'm writing this newsletter, so here is the summary of the new polls: Absolutely nothing has changed. [Eric Grenier](https://thewrit.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) wrote this morning, "The Quebec election campaign continues to sleepily head toward the October 5 voting day." And yes, it does. [Check out the three polls here-- ](https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9dwfc/1/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email)but basically the Liberals are up between 1 and 3 percent, and the CAQ is down between 1 and 3 percent. The electorate seems completely disengaged, and how could they not be? The candidates seem more interested in firing shots at one another than proposing a vision for Quebec. Quebec Solidaire continues to be an interesting party with a cohesive vision, but many Montrealers, where the party is strongest, are turned off by their separatist views. [The 5 chefs une election](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa2sDP%5FRYsA&t=6921s&pp=ygUVNSBjaGVmcyB1bmUgZWxlY3Rpb25z0gcJCSQMAYcqIYzv&ref=onthetrail.info) went off pretty well, but no one walked out of it an absolute winner. Honestly, it was long without anything particularly new. Frechette started falling apart at the end, PSPP was raked against the coals about separation, Milliard started weak but ended pretty strong, Ghazal did well until she was pushed on independence, and Duhaime sounded good but[ wow he wants to return to the 1950s when men like him couldn't live their lives freely.](https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/lgbtq2?ref=onthetrail.info) [When Philippe J. Fournier is writing columns like this,](https://lactualite.com/politique/electeurs-incertains-cherchent-campagne-inspirante/?ref=onthetrail.info) you better believe it's a dull election. The options on the table are either uninspiring (CAQ, PQ, Liberal), depressing (PCQ) or struggling to be heard (QS.) This week there are *two* debates. I will watch them, hoping that there is something new. We still found a lot to say on our [French podcast this week though.](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) [Help us grow! We are entirely reader funded and small, but mighty](#/share) **ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS** [**Alberta is looking to nationalize** ](https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-opposition-ai-data-centre-leaked-document/?ref=onthetrail.info)gas pipelines to help power AI data centres. This might be the first time nationalization is being used to help private corporations as opposed to the public. [**AI might literally**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/theyre-playing-with-our-lives-ai-researcher-quits-anthropic/?ref=onthetrail.info)cause a mass extinction within the next ten years, and AI companies don't care. [**Canada kept importing** ](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/09/news/canada-fuel-supply-russian-oil-imports?ref=onthetrail.info)Russian oil into 2026\. There's some sort of deep irony here. [**Super El Nino means**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/article/supercharged-el-nino-heading-for-record-strength-canadas-winter-may-take-a-holiday-climatologist-says/?ref=onthetrail.info) winter might take a holiday in Canada. [**Quebecers want big polluters to pay**](https://www.ledevoir.com/actualites/environnement/1007411/quebecois-veulent-faire-payer-dommages-climatiques-grands-pollueurs?ref=onthetrail.info)**.** [**The Liberals released a major climate report**.](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/09/news/environment-minister-defends-low-profile-release-really-important-climate-report?ref=onthetrail.info) They didn't tell anyone. They're under fire for it, as Julie Dabrusin remains almost nonexistant on the federal stage. [**Gypsum recycling program**](https://www.ledevoir.com/actualites/environnement/1007819/lancement-grand-programme-recyclage-gypse-quebec??ref=onthetrail.info)announced in Quebec. [**New power lines**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/11/news/bc-north-coast-transmission-line-work-begins?ref=onthetrail.info) break ground in BC despite lingering questions. [**Feds exempt oilsand and gas**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/10/news/carney-government-oilsands-gas-projects-impact-assessments?ref=onthetrail.info)power plants from environmental impact assessments. Wow, that's way too much environmental news. It's like we're making rapid regressions on that front in Canada during a time when things are worse than ever. **OTHER TOP HEADLINES** [**Vietnamese firm targets**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-investigates-vietnamese-firm-targets-canadians-fake-ai-9.7318612?ref=onthetrail.info)Canadians with fake news for profit. This report is fantastic. You should read it. [**Manitoba NDP** orders striking workers](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dynacare-labour-board-essential-workers-hearing-9.7335840?ref=onthetrail.info) off the picket line and back to work for an American megacorporation. I actually mentioned this Saturday in my article. I called Wab Kinew a "very popular orange Liberal," which I'm certain lost me a few subscribers. But I mean, I'm nicer than some of my fellow leftie journalists about him, so... [Go read the piece, it's not actually about Kinew.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-labour-movement-is-dead-but-it-can-still-come-back/) [**CELINE IS BACK**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/article/celine-dion-delivers-an-emotional-comeback-concert-in-paris/?ref=onthetrail.info) [**It's been 25 years since 9/11**. ](https://toronto.citynews.ca/september-11-25-years/?ref=onthetrail.info) [**The Wall Street Journal**](https://www.wsj.com/economy/canada-seeks-eu-associate-member-status-as-u-s-trade-talks-collapse-4eebec65?ref=onthetrail.info)came out with an article saying Canada is seeking to be an associate member of the EU. Carney responded-- [yes there will be work on the relationship, but the article by the WSJ seems spurious. We will see how this pans out.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/eu-envoy-says-a-unique-new-partnership-with-canada-forming-ahead-of-carney-speech/?ref=onthetrail.info) [However the EU parliament is opening an Ottawa office.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/european-parliament-ottawa-office-9.7343334?ref=onthetrail.info) [**Donald Trump is promising paycheques**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-midterm-convention-republican-5-000-us-9.7338277?ref=onthetrail.info) of $5000 per person if the Republicans win at the midterms. That would cost $1.3 trillion dollars to the US treasury, by the way. It also probably wouldn't pass congress. [**Ukraine and Canada**](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-and-ukraine-sign-100-year-agreement-trade-defence/?ref=onthetrail.info)sign 100 year agreement on trade, energy, and defence. **LONG READS** [**The conservative civil war has only just begun**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/09/opinion/conservative-party-infighting-poilievre?ref=onthetrail.info)**,** by the always excellent Max Fawcett. Great read. [**If you're bilingual** go read this great piece about the PLQ not having a good time.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/long-format/2283323/parti-liberal-critique-equipe-charles-milliard?ref=onthetrail.info) I know you're worried that I didn't mention the investment summit. But don't worry, I will next week. ### The labour movement is dead (but it can still come back) URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-labour-movement-is-dead-but-it-can-still-come-back/ Last updated: 2026-09-12T12:00:57.000Z Tuesday, September 8, the most left wing government in power in Canada ordered 350 striking workers off of the picket line and back to the lab. These workers were striking against unfair wages and standing off against an American megacorporation, Labcorp– a dystopian name if I ever heard one. [Less than 24 hours after getting on the picket line, the NDP, apparently Canada’s working class party, took the side of the largest labwork company in the world.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dynacare-labour-board-essential-workers-hearing-9.7335840?ref=onthetrail.info) [Wab Kinew then said that Dynacare sucks, and said he’s considering nationalizing their work.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dynacare-premier-wab-kinew-9.7337301?ref=onthetrail.info) He was immediately criticized for his actions and his words being completely misaligned. This development shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention for the past few years. The NDP who win in Canada straddle the centre of the political spectrum, in a style known as “professionalizing” the party. Wab Kinew is a very popular orange Liberal. "The government of Manitoba backed a private, American-owned company that is exploiting front-line health-care professionals, instead of supporting those severely underpaid workers," Union President, Jason Linklater said in a statement. He said this was "a profound erosion of trust" in Manitoba's NDP government, and then he said the union will follow the order. The labour movement in Canada is under attack, struggling to survive. [Reports have come out that Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to curb the right to strike,](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carney-government-eying-curbs-on-right-to-strike-labour-leaders-warn/article%5F5923c835-c7b2-4420-84ed-0f41ff90074b.html?ref=onthetrail.info) and [labour unions have warned of unprecedented action against labour by the federal Liberals](https://cupe.ca/news/cupe-warns-carney-government-against-unprecedented-attack-workers-rights?ref=onthetrail.info). Ironically, on labour day Carney put out a message praising labourers as having built the country, and crediting them with much of Canada’s strength. “For generations, unions have made our economy stronger and our country fairer. They have fought for better pay, safer workplaces, pensions, benefits, and paid leave – ensuring that prosperity and opportunity are shared among the many,” the statement reads. One week after labour day, Carney is holding a summit in Toronto, inviting the richest and most powerful billionaires to Canada to [invest their private capital into Canada, and take possession of Canada’s land and infrastructure.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-investment-summit-24-hours-that-could-change-canadas-economic/%20?ref=onthetrail.info) This will likely produce short term benefits and jobs– infrastructure projects sold to private capital will likely cause a flurry of hiring over the next few years but at the cost of long term stability. Neo-Liberalism chips away at freedoms and rights by selling it to the highest bidder, but people don’t fight it because it’s a short term response to problems that people are facing right now. [I probably just lost like 50 subscribers for criticizing the NDP and the labour movement. Help me recover from this financial loss.](#/portal/signup) The liberals removed the title of minister of labour, and replaced it with “Minister of Jobs.” During the Liberal National Convention in April, Minister of Jobs, Patty Hajdu shouted out to a large crowd “Are there any members of unions in the audience!?” One person replied. The rest of the room remained silent. The moment is so embarrassing that I’m fairly certain the Liberals have tried to get it removed from the internet.[ I found it here, but it has since been removed by the user.](https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderCandour/videos/that-moment-at-the-liberal-convention-has-people-talkingpatty-hajdu-minister-of-/1520796729402915/) If you find it, please email it to me, I’d like to hold on to it for historical evidence. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Liberals continue their utter dominance among the Canadian electorate URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/liberals-continue-their-utter-dominance-among-the-canadian-electorate/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T12:00:24.000Z My mother recently called me the "miracle-god boy with money". When she said it, I laughed, because it's a hilarious thing to say, but I also know for a fact that I am exactly that. I learned it from her. For those of you who don't know, I grew up incredibly poor. I grew up in this strange little suburb in Ottawa in the south end of town. The houses were all attached condos, and the neighbourhood was the whitest trashest of white trash. Our neighbours names were Brenda, or Frank, or Joe, or Tracy... I mean, no offense to you if your name is one of the above. It just means you might be one of us. I loved my neighbourhood. We were poor, but the ghetto was home. My house was on the edge of the neighbourhood, which had two important consequences: One, the entire neighbourhood used our house to play [wallball](https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Wall-Ball?ref=onthetrail.info). All of the children (and there were many children, this was the nineties!) came together to throw tennis balls at the faux brick and spackle wall of my childhood home. Two: Out back was where the drug dealers did their business. A block up the way was the park where they dealt on the other end of the neighbourhood. While growing up, I watched the neighbourhood change. The forests that surrounded my house were torn down, and there was a legion of identical red and brown houses put in on the eastern side, with gray and white ones on the western side. Over the course of a few years, the areas where I used to roam with my childhood best friend disappeared, and what was left was a lifeless husk of what the neighbourhood once was. The drug dealers persisted– their business was fairly inelastic. People needed drugs, and would therefore continue paying for them. So out back of my house, as the neighbourhood was actively gentrified, they carried on with their business. Around 9pm they'd set up shop. Around 4am they'd leave. Long shifts, no breaks. Until my mom adopted a dog. You see, the dog was a cross between black lab and german shepard. It had a tendency to attack people it didn't know, because half of it's soul was bred to do so. One day, Dakota (the dog) escaped the front door, and ran around out back to where the dealer stood at the corner. My mother swore, and ran after the dog. As she ran up to the drug dealer, whose back was against a lamp post, she apologized and grabbed Dakota, who was growling and barking. The drug dealer never came back to that spot. She says he wet himself. Fair enough, that's horrifying. We stayed in that house until I was 15\. But here's the thing, there was always food on the table. It was mostly simple carbs– pasta, tomato sauce with a little ground beef (Which I promptly never ate again after the age of sixteen)– but we survived. In the nineties, the economy was tough. In the early aughts it was good. In '07 it was bad. By 2011 it was good again. We continued living there, and we continued being poor. It was tough, especifically for my mother, who never got a break from worrying about money. But we survived. This week, [news came out that Canada's economy is doing really well, especially considering the context of the past two years.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/armstrong-canada-us-tariffs-economy-gdp-9.7324489?ref=onthetrail.info) What's frustrating for many is that [this booming economy is still unlivable.](https://abacusdata.ca/liberals-open-10-point-lead-as-trump-returns-to-the-centre-of-the-agenda/?ref=onthetrail.info) Canadians placed Trump as their biggest concern these past two weeks, but the economy and the cost of housing remained at the top of that list just underneath. Trump has come and gone from these opinion polls. The cost of living hasn't. For most of us, the GDP is just a number that the media loves to talk about, and governments use to say that they're doing well. Health care might be in shambles, schools might be falling apart, but look– our GDP is pretty good! [THIS NEWSLETTER IS FREE FOREVER. HELP OUR WORK HERE AND ON SOCIALS BY GIVING AS LITTLE AS $3 A MONTH](#/portal/signup) ### **CARNEY LIBERALS DOMINATE THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS** [Canada's GDP grew 3.3 percent](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-gdp-june-2026-9.7323847?ref=onthetrail.info), and they revised the previous quarter's growth as well. There was never a recession! That being said, [the man in charge of Carney's](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-head-of-federal-agency-organizing-carneys-investment-summit-resigns/?ref=onthetrail.info) [investment summit quit](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-investment-summit-24-hours-that-could-change-canadas-economic/?ref=onthetrail.info), which seems to indicate that not all is well. We'll be talking about that investment summit soon. This isn't all because of the trade war, this is also Carney's belief that Canada needs to diversify. [But Carney continues to distance himself from Trump.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-ready-to-further-distance-itself-from-u-s-on-military-procurement-9.7324301?ref=onthetrail.info) They are continuing to look elsewhere for military procurement. Canadians are rewarding Carney's move to act the tough guy, with [a triple by-election win on Monday](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-polls-close-in-federal-by-elections-in-ontario-and-quebec-bc-soon-to/?ref=onthetrail.info)! It was an absolutely dominant performance from the Liberals, one that has a few interesting takeaways. > **First**: Carney's Liberals are in a dominant spot. They are in such a powerful position, and they will likely use that public good will to do as they want. Governments are often this popular for the first two years of their mandate. Trudeau saw a similar popularity when he was first elected. The question for them will remain whether or not they can maintain this lead. Their kryptonite as a party is always the same: **arrogance**. Famously, they have often allowed their own haughtiness be the death of their seemingly unassailable rule. That being said, they almost always win federal elections, so who am I to criticize? > **Second**: The Conservatives are in a free fall. Their vote evaporated into thin air this week. That being said, these by elections werent as important to them. Poilievre's future probably isn't in the balance here, since he has the support of the vast majority of the Conservative base. If he loses Brampton, it's hard to imagine the caucus will let him stay on. We'll see though, but it's something interesting to keep in mind! > **Third**: The NDP showed a bit of life! **In one riding.** I don't think there's a lot to take away here, the Liberals still dunked on them, but it shows that Avi Lewis can run a grassroots local campaign with his team. If they want to bring the NDP back, they should stop trying to be a national party for a bit, and aim to win the seats that they're likely to win. If they stopped bankrupting the party every election, they actually might be able to build up a treasury to win a national campaign in a decade or so. Run thirty candidates in thirty ridings that seem reasonable, work hard, get party status in the house, and keep building. Their results in North Vancouver really take the wind out of the sails of Lewis' claims that the NDP is back. > **Fourth**: The Greens showed some life as well. They got a higher result than the NDP in North Vancouver. I would say something similar for that party. They should run in spots they can win. Run some places in Ontario, run some places in New Brunswick and PEI and on the west coast. They always try to be a national party, but they aren't. If the NDP and Greens coordinated, they could avoid stepping on each others' toes and have a real chance of picking up a few extra seats each. The Greens shouldn't be running in Quebec for example. The Bloc Quebecois is already eating their lunch. [HELP US GROW! CLICK THIS BUTTON TO SHARE WITH A FRIEND](#/share) ### **CHRISTINE FRECHETTE DECLARES THE HOUSING CRISIS OVER... IN SOME REGIONS** Christine Frechette [announced that some regions had the housing crisis solved](https://www.noovo.info/nouvelles/politique/elections-quebec/article/frechette-la-crise-du-logement-est-reglee-dans-plusieurs-regions/?ref=onthetrail.info). She did not specify which regions. This is categorically false. There is not a single region in Quebec where it is solved, although it has been *alleviated slightly* in Montreal (and only Montreal.) Meanwhile, the [Liberals ](https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc4dcZCyuC8/?ref=onthetrail.info)and [QS ](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcyytpyJWh5/?ref=onthetrail.info)have solid plans on housing, although the Libs have a lot of wiggle room within theirs. It seems solid at first glance, but then crumbles under scrutiny. They could either build 20% socialized housing or they might build 19% **affordable** housing, and 1% socialized housing. [Please listen to mine and Gabrielle's series on the housing crisis to learn more](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info). I spoke with PQ, and they asked me to wait for sometime this week for their plan to be revealed. keep your eyes out for coverage of that. But beyond that, this election has been intense and isn't inspiring much confidence. This is a bloody, brutal election. I expected there to be animosity, but wow, the parties *hate* each other. [This comic made me laugh](https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc8xAjXO84l/?ref=onthetrail.info), but wow is it immature of a political party's leader to post this. And Frechette is constantly calling out PSPP in her conferences and [absolutely *bodied* Duhaime publicly](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/1006184/duhaime-veut-femmes-maison-pspp-pays-imaginaire-attaque-frechette?ref=onthetrail.info), and then [Milliard is shooting subliminals at PSPP and Frechette,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZE%5Fz3-s6tM&ref=onthetrail.info) and then[ Ruba Ghazal is calling out the other parties for their ](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rkmgkyp7Mxs?ref=onthetrail.info)racism. But the election is so negative, with so much anger, that I fear this will hurt the electoral turnout. This entire Quebec election cycle has turned into an argument on [who can create the best DOGE for Quebec. ](https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2026/09/02/promesses-sur-lefficacite-de-letat--vers-un-doge-quebecois?ref=onthetrail.info) Four parties are obsessed with cutting the state. The other party is Quebec Solidaire.[ Iris did a fantastic report on neoliberalism](https://iris-recherche.qc.ca/blogue/logement/serie-neoliberalisme-logement/?ref=onthetrail.info) in Quebec, and it is worth the time to read. Summary: Our systems are so weakened, that to weaken them further will excacerbate the problem and could lead to a breaking point. Four parties are working to bring that about. Only one party seems to be running a campaign, and it's Quebec Solidaire. No one else seems to have a cohesive vision of building a Quebecois society. And this election isn't inspiring anyone to listen to a single thing these leaders have to offer. If QS would drop their independence thing, they'd probably bring in a lot more of the vote. Or maybe they wouldn't. [I've already made my stance on independence as clear as mud anyways.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/should-canada-break-up-2/) ### **BC CONSERVATIVE PARTY COLLAPSING** I'm not being dramatic.[ This past week saw the eighth and ninth MLAs ](https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/09/02/eighth-bc-conservative-mla-leaves-the-party-to-sit-as-independent/?ref=onthetrail.info)leave the BC conservatives. This is not normal. > "I never imagined things could go this wrong, this quickly," Donegal Wilson said. [This is off the back of what may be some financial corruption scandals](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/27/news/bc-conservatives-turmoil-deepens-illicit-recordings-leaked?ref=onthetrail.info). The Conservatives almost won the election last time, but in the end they narrowly lost to the NDP. They were coasting off of the (at the time) popularity of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. The party then, in a recent leadership election, voted for a far right leader who has a lot in common with Donald Trump. Prior to her election, it looked like smooth sailing for the BC Conservatives to win the next election, but suddenly BC's two party system has become a five party system, with One BC, the Conservatives, NDP, the Greens, [and a new party that's in the works by the former MLAs of the BC Conservatives.](https://victoriabuzz.com/2026/09/5-former-bc-conservatives-forming-new-yet-to-be-named-political-party/?ref=onthetrail.info) It's some of the most interesting, albeit unpredictable politics in the country right now. [SHARE](#/share) **TOP ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS** **World on track to** [go beyond 1.5 C. The goal now is to limit that as much as possible.](https://lp.ca/yDSXmf?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) **Stephen Guilbeault** [officially quits.](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/01/news/steven-guilbeault-has-formally-resigned-his-seat-laurier-sainte-marie?ref=onthetrail.info) His work on the environmental file alongside the previous administration had become highly controversial out west. [He quit because of Carney's severe backtracking on climate commitment.](https://torontosun.com/news/national/mark-carney-wont-meet-emissions-benchmarks?ref=onthetrail.info) **Bike lane removal** [to make traffic worse in Toronto, a report says.](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/01/news/fords-bike-lane-removal-likely-make-toronto-traffic-worse-dangerous-analysis?ref=onthetrail.info) **Albertan western** [pipeline might become state sponsored.](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/01/news/alberta-west-coast-pipeline-economics-report?ref=onthetrail.info) **Ottawa extending fuel** [excise tax holiday. This will cost the Canadian treasury billions.](https://lp.ca/69jJpa?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) **Toronto had apocalyptic** [storms hit them this week.](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/02/news/toronto-storm-hail-heavy-winds-power-outages?ref=onthetrail.info) The city no longer exists, as it has sunk under the waves of Lake America (this is a joke, don't write me.) **Ottawa is investing** [more than $4 billion into new](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/1006157/ottawa-investit-4-7-milliards-dollars-fabriquer-300-wagons-via-rail-canada?ref=onthetrail.info)[ trains for Via Rail.](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/1006157/ottawa-investit-4-7-milliards-dollars-fabriquer-300-wagons-via-rail-canada?ref=onthetrail.info) They mentioned in the press conference that they are open to new rail lines. We'll see, don't hold your breath. **OTHER HEADLINES** **Lionel Messi** [retiring from international play.](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/lionel-messi-argentina-retirement-international-soccer-9.7326682?ref=onthetrail.info)\\ **Major renovations and changes** [to come for 24 Sussex, making the Prime Minister's domicile livable once again.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-major-changes-coming-to-24-sussex-dr-famed-architect-moshe-safdie-says/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Alberta removes** [mention of indigenous from province's anniversary statement.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-albertas-revised-statement-celebrating-provinces-birthday-removes/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Quebec lost**[300,000 affordable housing units over three years.](https://lp.ca/n8IVt1?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) **Canada warns** [businesses not to trade with Israeli settlers on the west bank, at risk of major penalties.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2279722/gouvernement-canada-affaires-colonies-israeliennes-cisjordanie?partageApp=rcca%5Fappmobile%5Fappinfo%5Fandroid&ref=onthetrail.info) **Lori Idlout,** [who crossed the floor from NDP to Liberal, breached the code of ethics.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-mp-lori-idlout-ethics-conflict-interest-code/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Feds issue** [guidelines for building data centres.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ottawa-issues-guidelines-for-data-centre-development-evan-solomon/?ref=onthetrail.info) [They are non binding, and unenforcable.](https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc3wDOEo3Fs/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Quebec makes** [HPV vaccine free for all Quebecers 26 years old and less.](https://www.ledevoir.com/actualites/sante/1006559/vaccination-gratuite-contre-vph-reclamee-tous-quebecois-26-ans-moins?ref=onthetrail.info) **The Walter Cup**, [the stanley cup for women's hockey, has been lost. Again.](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/09/05/la-coupe-walter-perdue-de-nouveau?ref=onthetrail.info) **MUST READS** [This article by William Wilson](https://therover.ca/hate-crime-suspect-continues-to-make-threats-days-after-being-released-by-police/?ref=onthetrail.info) on the Rover is harrowing and incredible reporting. Go read it. [This french piece on La Presse filled me with Joy](https://lp.ca/oWq6Vm?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info). There was way too much news this week. It was one of those weeks, where I just kept saving articles and prepping for this. We'll be back next Tuesday with another edition of On the Trail's news revue. Talk soon, Isaac Peltz ## Sign up for On the Trail Award winning gonzo and investigative journalism Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Top investments by elected officials reveal major conflicts of interest URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/elected-officials-overwhelmingly-invest-in-big-banks-big-tech-and-big-oil/ Last updated: 2026-09-05T12:00:28.000Z The top investments by elected officials across Canada, both provincially and federally, reveal much about the motivations of legislation in Ottawa around banking, big tech, and big oil. Using *The Data Trail, On the Trail's* databank of investments, government contracts, and lobbying, we have found that the top five stocks invested in by elected officials are exclusively banks. The rest of the top 20 is dominated by tech and fossil fuels. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/sQMwa-top-15-companies-most-invested-in-by-elected-officials-.png) **Please note that if our database is picking up these stocks, for Federal officials means they have more than $10,000 invested in each individual stock (provincial values vary and are often around \~$2000+). We also do not have tracking on their mutual funds, since these are not available as tickers on the New York or Toronto stock exchange.** [We have also launched the Investor Leaderboard, now available to all subscribers.](https://data.onthetrail.info/en/investor-leaderboard?ref=onthetrail.info) It is unsurprising to see the number of elected officials who are invested in RBC and the other banks. Duff Conacher, an expert on democratic accountability and co-founder of Democracy Watch said it isn't surprising then that Canadians experience "gouging, discrimination, and other abuses by the big banks." [Support independent journalism not beholden to billionaires - sign up for as little as $3 a month, or do a two week trial](#/portal/signup) It is across most provinces, as well as across every party line. The same is the case for our elected officials who invest in the other banks. Over the past year most of these banks have seen an increase of more than sixty points on the stock market. Their performance has been consistent, with little interruption to their constant increase. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/09/signal-2026-09-02-103355.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Le vent de l'Est URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/le-vent-de-lest/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T12:01:00.000Z For my English language readers, this is not an email for you. You will never receive an email like this again. See you on saturday! ### Bonjour à tous mes lecteurs francophones. Aujourd'hui, nous annonçons le lancement discret de notre publication sœur, [**Le vent de l'Est**](https://ventdelest.info/?ref=onthetrail.info). J'y pense depuis longtemps. Il s’agira d'une publication axée sur l'environnement et la politique. Elle est un peu différente de celle-ci, car elle privilégie le journalisme historique et de données. Cependant, certains aspects resteront similaires. Tout d'abord, chaque mardi, vous trouverez un résumé hebdomadaire de l'actualité en français, semblable à celui que nous publions ici le lundi. Ce ne sera pas la même revue, même si vous y trouverez des similitudes ! Elle mettra davantage l'accent sur le Québec et son actualité. Il y aura souvent des recoupements, mais il ne s'agira pas de traductions d'un même article, mais plutôt de deux articles distincts, chacun adoptant un angle différent, adapté à son public. Les anglophones s'intéressent moins au Québec, et les francophones moins au Canada. [**En fait, la première édition est déjà sortie ! Notre objectif est d'atteindre 500 abonnés avant un lancement plus important.**](https://ventdelest.info/?ref=onthetrail.info) Certains d'entre vous (bien que très peu) se souviennent peut-être que Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours et moi avons lancé cette publication sous forme de bulletin bilingue. J'ai rapidement constaté que ce format était impraticable. Je devais soit envoyer plusieurs bulletins le même jour (ce qui est pénible), soit publier d'énormes bulletins de 4 000 mots (ce qui est pénible également) divisés en deux sections. Au fil du développement, j'ai compris que ce modèle bilingue ne fonctionnerait pas. Ce n'est pas par hasard que personne ne l'a fait : il n'est pas fonctionnel. J'ai donc décidé que « On the Trail » serait une publication exclusivement en anglais. Pend ce temps, j'ai conceptualisé une publication en français; on manquait quoi au Québec? J'ai réalisé que le plus grand manque au Québec est le journalisme environnemental. Malheureusement, le Québec manque d'une revue environnementale spécialisée dans le même esprit que *The National Observer* et *The Narwhal.* Je ne sais pas si je peux faire quelque chose d'aussi exceptionnel, mais je peux faire quelque chose de plus modeste. Ce seront des publications exclusivement en français, aussi souvent que possible. Le résumé hebdomadaire paraîtra tous les mardis, et les autres articles seront publiés en fonction de l'actualité. Ce résumé est gratuit, tout comme notre newsletter du lundi sur On the Trail. Les articles politiques et environnementaux sont payants. [À titre d'offre spéciale pour les lecteurs d'On the Trail, je propose une réduction sur la publication en français](https://ventdelest.substack.com/onthetrail). Si vous êtes déjà abonné à un forfait à partir de 15 $, vous bénéficiez d'un accès gratuit à l'autre publication. Si vous êtes francophone et souhaitez en profiter, veuillez m'écrire à **isaacapeltz@onthetrail.info** et je vous ajouterai à la liste. Pour tous les autres, n'hésitez pas à vous abonner gratuitement ou à un forfait payant ! Merci infiniment pour votre soutien et au plaisir de vous servir en français et en anglais. ### A never ending conversation about trade - The News Roundup URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-never-ending-conversation-about-trade-the-news-roundup/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T12:00:30.000Z ### A year and a half ago at the leadership debate in Montreal, I remember standing in front of Carney with my camera out, pointed at his face. He stands around, what seemed to me, about 173 cm, or 5 feet, 8 inches. He wears suits that fit him well, and stands with a confidence that seems justified considering the career he’s had. Usually when he stands answering questions and there’s not a podium in front of him, he stands with his feet at shoulder width (much less wide than Yves-François Blanchet) in a pose that I assume he’s learned over the years to look strong, and to be stable on his feet. He is, after all, a hockey goalie. I aimed my camera at his face, his slightly crooked face not in a frown, but resembling as such, with the left corner of his lip tilted down. At this exact moment, it seemed fairly clear that the election was being swept by one individual. He said that he was the man for the moment, and it seems that Canadians wholeheartedly agreed. After 9 years of Liberals, it turned out all the Liberals had to do to keep power was change their own leader. They had run a left of centre, progressive candidate for a while, and now it was time to do the ol’ switcheroo. This wasn’t anything new for the Liberals, actually this is always what they do— it’s their secret to always holding power. People are tired of the left? Time to toss in a fiscal manager. Carney was the man of the moment. It was very exciting to be covering the election, since I had only *fully* decided to be a journalist about five months before (I had been working in journalism in a very limited capacity prior to the housing investigation, but it wasn’t my full time job.) My colleague (and friend) Ludvic Moquin-Beaudry said to me the next day, during our recording of our French podcast *Le plancher des vaches* that Carney had the face of a prime minister who might be printed on our bank notes. I laughed. It was true. He had the *vibe* of someone from 1930 who would lead us through a major crisis. He was also presenting himself as such. This was the man to lead Canada in the fight against Trump and the Americans. (The Americans WHO SUCK - insert middle finger emoji) Well, [he got into office and immediately cancelled the tariffs that Justin Trudeau had implemented.](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-remove-many-retaliatory-tariffs-us-carney-says-2025-08-22/?ref=onthetrail.info) Trudeau had announced around $30 billion of tariffs on US goods as a response to the original tariffs, and on his way out the door, he gave some of the best speeches of his career. Then, after winning the election, Carney removed the [Digital Sales Tax on tech giants](https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/06/30/canadians-react-to-cancelling-digital-services-tax/?ref=onthetrail.info), they watered down regulations around streaming services and he [prevented the CRTC from applying a tax](https://ca.headtopics.com/news/carney-liberals-to-end-mandatory-streaming-contributions-86093197?ref=onthetrail.info) on these same streaming giants to fund Canadian art. [He agreed to share revenues with the USA on the Gordie Howe bridge](https://www.thestar.com/business/gordie-howe-bridge-deal-is-not-as-good-as-what-carney-claimed-but-not-a-bad-deal-either-experts-say/article%5F8264061e-f2a7-4ab5-b76f-ee22c08f0599.html?ref=onthetrail.info), despite an agreement signed that would allow us to recoup costs first. Not only that, but Carney has committed significantly more [military spending to NATO because of Trump's demands.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-agrees-five-percent-gdp-defence-spending-1.7570191?ref=onthetrail.info) Last Saturday, Carney claimed that he warned of American attempts to cripple our economy so that they could break us, but he was only sort of telling the truth. It was actually [Justin Trudeau who said that](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dl6uyo2c4tw?ref=onthetrail.info) first. This past week, Carney actually took a stand. He said enough is enough, launching a brand new drama. The trade war has dominated the headlines this week, and for good reason. Canadians have been desperately asking for the Liberals to take a hard line for ages now. After the Davos speech, Canadians assumed that Carney was saying he would take a hard line. When he didn’t, his polling was slowly (very slowly) decreasing. Well, Carney took a hard stance, and people are happy. Abacus Data immediately got on the field, and found that [7 in 10 Canadians approve of walking away from the deal.](https://abacusdata.ca/seven-in-ten-canadians-back-carneys-decision-to-walk-away-from-u-s-trade-talks/?ref=onthetrail.info) I’m gonna be real, I didn’t think that trade politics would ever be this popular, but here we are. So, let’s get into it. Let’s hit the top headlines this week, starting with a little timeline of the trade war. [CETTE INFOLETTRE SERA EN FRANÇAIS AUSSI! ABONNEZ-VOUS MAINTENANT!](https://ventdelest.substack.com/) [Not owned by billionaires, fiercly independent. Start a free trial to unlock all our articles today, and hold power accountable (and have fun!)](#/portal/signup) \*\*\*\* **CARNEY STRIKES BACK - TRADE WAR ESCALATES** > *August 19* \- [Carney meets with Premiers across Canada to discuss potential trade deal. ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-us-trade-talks-tariffs-9.7312405?ref=onthetrail.info) It is strangely received, with Doug Ford being completely silent and Christine Fréchette expressing doubts. [Wab Kinew says that Carney almost begged the premiers to replace American alcohol on shelves.](https://www.ipolitics.ca/2026/08/20/carney-nearly-begged-premiers-to-put-u-s-booze-back-on-shelves-to-secure-deal-kinew/?ref=onthetrail.info) Canadians were not happy about it, and felt doubtful that there could be any real deal that benefitted us. > *August 21* \- [Trade talks collapse spectacularly, in a dramatic fashion. ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-trump-trade-talks-broke-down-9.7318903?ref=onthetrail.info) Carney claims it was because the US [“Asked too much and offered too little.”](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-counter-tarrif-response-9.7316934?ref=onthetrail.info) Opposition parties call to see the proposed deal. The Liberals do not share it. They say that it fell apart because the USA pushed for concessions on French culture and limits to trade deals signed with other countries. > *August 22* \- [Carney gives a speech on the trade war,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-WgOxbWUHk&ref=onthetrail.info) announcing retaliatory measures, although not giving specifics yet. A reporter sees an opportunity and asks Carney why it seems like “today you’re going to war.” Carney responds [“You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked.”](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/aug/30/youre-at-war-when-you-get-attacked-mark-carney-shows-combative-nature-in-face-off-with-trump?ref=onthetrail.info) > *August 23* \- [The](https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/trumps-tariffs/article/marco-mendicino-why-mark-carney-was-right-to-draw-a-line-in-the-sand/?ref=onthetrail.info) [media](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/opinion/article-the-trade-cold-war-suddenly-turns-hot-again/?ref=onthetrail.info) [sycophancy](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-us-trade-tariff-deal-was-no-deal-at-all/?ref=onthetrail.info) [begins](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-no-deal-was-better-than-this-deal-mark-carney-was-right-to-call-donald/?ref=onthetrail.info). > *August 25* \- [Mélanie Joly and François Philippe Champagne announce tariff relief measures.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta6e-gy2dGQ&ref=onthetrail.info) [$27.6 billion in counter measures, as well as a $7.5 billion support measure for businesses affected.](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/08/canada-announces-targeted-countermeasures-and-substantive-support-for-workers-and-businesses-in-response-to-us-tariffs.html?ref=onthetrail.info) Most of these measures go to businesses, although a bit is reserved for EI supports that should go directly to workers. > The premiers react to this. Most premiers are approving. Doug Ford says that Donald Trump can [“Kiss my ass,” and then doubles down saying that “he has a lot of room to kiss my ass,” because his ass is big.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-news-conference-canada-us-trade-war-9.7318104?ref=onthetrail.info) Isaac Peltz laughs out loud, but then remembers that [Doug Ford is going to destroy the bike lane on Bloor West.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lane-removal-appeal-court-decision-9.7307310?ref=onthetrail.info) [The only premier not to give support to tariff countermeasures is Danielle Smith.](https://globalnews.ca/news/12036906/danielle-smith-energy-exports-trade-war/?ref=onthetrail.info) > *August 27* \- [Trump renames Lake Ontario to Lake America](https://globalnews.ca/news/12036906/danielle-smith-energy-exports-trade-war/?ref=onthetrail.info). Canadians are mad. No new developments have occurred since then. Instead, much rhetoric has been thrown around, Ford erected a large sign proclaiming that Lake Ontario will forever be Lake Ontario. Many Democrats refuse to acknowledge the name change. People are mad. It remains the biggest headline after more than a week. But a lot of other stuff has still happened. **QUEBEC ELECTION BEGINS - HUGE SHIFTS IN POLLING IMMEDIATELY OCCUR** **The Quebec Election** is launched! Thursday morning, [Christine Fréchette calls the election for October 5th.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/livestory/quebec-election-call-9.7322369?ref=onthetrail.info) The leaders make their election pitches. Quick analysis and summary for you (this is not a judgement on their platforms, but on their performances): Christine Fréchette was absolutely on fire, pitching herself as wise and stable during a crisis. Pierre St-Pierre Plamondon rivals her speech with one of his own. The two are clearly excited, energetic and believe they can win this. Ruba Ghazal and Sol Zenetti give another fantastic speech, not focusing on winning, but explaining to the journalists that their election machine is formidable (It is.) Eric Duhaime and Charles Milliard completely fumble their election speeches. Day two of the campaign, a Synopsis poll comes out that completely changes the conversation. [The Liberals are in free fall, and the CAQ is back up.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-election-pq-and-caq-in-near-dead-heat-follow-for-live-updates/?ref=onthetrail.info) This is now a race between the CAQ and PQ. Right now it looks like PQ could still win a minority, but if these Synopsis numbers are correct, there is no path to a majority government for any party. **BC CONSERVATIVE LEADER SCANDALS DEEPEN AS FAR RIGHT PARTY CONTINUES COLLAPSING** [An unverified recording came out where the leader of the BC Conservatives](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/27/news/bc-conservatives-turmoil-deepens-illicit-recordings-leaked?ref=onthetrail.info) seems to indicate that money should exchange hands if her MLA steps down so she can take a seat.[ Six of her MLAs have left the party, and two of them are considering a new party (likely a centre right alternative.) ](https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/08/27/Findlay-Conservatives-Headed-For-Rocks/?ref=onthetrail.info) **TOP ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS** **Carney asks court** to strike down climate litigation. [The litigation says that he must amend Canada’s explicit climate objectives to match the current reality.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/climate-federal-court-lawsuit-motion-to-strike-9.7324601?ref=onthetrail.info) **First Nations** [fear that Ottawa may backtrack on phasing out BC salmon farms.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-first-nations-conservationists-fear-backtrack-phase-out-bc-salmon/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Oceans Worldwide**[ registered their highest average temperature in history](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2277283/oceans-chaleur-temperature-record?partageApp=rcca%5Fappmobile%5Fappinfo%5Fandroid&ref=onthetrail.info). Rising ocean temperature is already destabilizing the jet stream, and causing major climate events at an erratic, but severe scale. [**Water limit** order placed in BC due to severe drought conditions.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bessette-creek-water-restrictions-9.7325312?ref=onthetrail.info) [Sign up for our environmental newsletter!](#/portal/signup) **OTHER TOP HEADLINES** **Montreal city** council voted on a motion to suspend ties with Israel over the genocide in Palestine. [It went as you expected.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-motion-solidarity-with-palestinians-9.7319256?ref=onthetrail.info) [**Israel** threatens to kill people because of kites being flown near their ever advancing yellow line.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gaza-children-kites-israel-war-9.7318953?ref=onthetrail.info) This includes children who fly kites. [Israel recently killed several children and medics.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8x1rdgp3lo?ref=onthetrail.info) [**Dolly Parton** dies.](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/dolly-parton-dead-obit-1234810193/?ref=onthetrail.info) [**More than 750** dead in Nepal/China flood including some Canadians. ](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/29/world/live-news/nepal-china-flood?ref=onthetrail.info) Thousands remain missing. [**CBC News** announces that it will call 9/11 a terrorist attack. ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/editorsblog/cbc-9-11-language-guidance-9.7324662?ref=onthetrail.info) [**Donald Trump** attacks “noncitizen voters”](https://apnews.com/article/trump-noncitizen-voting-midterms-election-integrity-ids-3c24d72b0b91803ed097226ee00f9483?utm%5Fsource=app&utm%5Fmedium=android%5Fshare&utm%5Fcampaign=copy%5Flink) in an effort to ramp up attacks on the integrity of the mid terms as he prepares to claim that the vote was stolen and illegal. **LONG FORM** There was some good long form stuff this week. [First, I hopped on a phone call with the great Scott Martin](https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz?ref=onthetrail.info), an award winning journalist who’s worked with places like the Toronto Star (and the Beaverton, because hell yes.) We talked about the terrible coverage of the trade war. His show, **The North State** is excellent, as is his fantastic publication [**The Catch.**](https://readthecatch.ca/about/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Dimitri Soudas had a fantastic long form article in CTV that I highly recommend](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/dimitri-soudas-trump-is-reminding-quebec-why-canada-matters-and-the-quebec-paradox-the-rest-of-canada-needs-to-get/?ref=onthetrail.info). Great analysis. [Chantal Hébert’s analysis on the trade war was the best I heard this week](https://youtu.be/34BFBGudiQs?si=gLveOWRLeYBl5CTW&ref=onthetrail.info). Partly because it was identical to my own. That’s it for today. Thank you for reading the news round up, and we hope you like the new format. I think it’s a bit punchier. Please share with your friends, as this newsletter is free for everyone, and simply to be used as a tool for people to stay informed without having to devote every morning to looking at the news, or obsessively looking at social media. ### The Death of the Liberal Party of Quebec URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-death-of-the-liberal-party-of-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-08-29T11:59:59.000Z This is part 2 in a series detailing the histories of the political parties in Quebec as we enter this election. People don't usually consider this, but we are living through history right now. This forthcoming election is strange and uninspiring, with four right-wing parties and 1 centre-left party. How did we get here? Only through examining history can we contextualize our realities now. [READ THE HISTORY OF THE PQ HERE.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-ruins-of-a-social-democracy/) The Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) is a shell of what they once were; the hollowed out remnants of a political party that managed to change the shape of a nation. Once their influence was so great that they affected Canada's history, not just Quebec. They were a party that was always competitive to take power in Quebec. [Today, they can’t even manage that much, despite the competition being so weak.](https://www.lapresse.ca/elections-quebecoises/2026-08-28/sondage-synopsis-la-presse/surprise-la-caq-et-le-pq-au-coude-a-coude.php?ref=onthetrail.info) How did this happen? When did the PLQ become exclusively the party that caters to the grievances of Anglo Quebeckers rather than a party of ideas and substance? The PLQ has one of the greatest histories of any major political party in the country. They began the Quiet Revolution, which we have written about at length, transforming Quebec from a state controlled by religious authoritarianism to becoming a modern social democracy. Quebec has a lot to thank the PLQ for. In fact, most of modern Quebec’s political parties are simply branches that grew off of the Liberals. From the Liberal Party of the 1960s was born the Parti Québecois. From the left of the PQ was born Québec Solidaire, and the Coalition Avenir Québec came from its right alongside those who had become dissatisfied with the idea of a sovereign Quebec. Yet from this weird family tree remain the great-grandparents of Quebec, the Liberal Party with endless baggage, forever unable to return to their glorious past. It is easy to understand why Quebec has been called “[Canada’s most corrupt province](https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-the-most-corrupt-province?ref=onthetrail.info)” when looking at the Liberal Party (and the other ruling parties... honestly, every party in Quebec becomes corrupt. It's our thing). They've had a ridiculous number of scandals over their history; from nepotism to [connections with the mob.](https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/gerald-tremblay?ref=onthetrail.info) Today, the exoskeleton of this ancient party is the habitat of disgruntled Montreal anglophones who have grievances with the rest of the province. It is the party that the Montreal Gazette almost brazenly allies themselves with. They are the party of the elite, but also historically one of the only parties that will have the backs of immigrants and LGBTQ. Except... even that might not be true. Pablo Rodriguez, who left leadership of the PLQ because of a series of scandals [(which turned out not to be true)](https://lp.ca/4lCY5Z?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info), said that [Quebec’s secularism laws brought social peace to Quebec](https://www.journaldequebec.com/2025/09/17/selon-pablo-rodriguez-la-laicite-a-amene-une-paix-sociale-au-quebec?ref=onthetrail.info). That doesn’t sound like the party which is about to remove laws that are discriminatory against Muslims, [and specifically Muslim women. ](https://nccm.ca/bill-21/?ref=onthetrail.info) And now, outside of Quebec, the PLQ has been essentially replaced. Around Quebec City, the few people who remained have moved on to the Conservatives. In the regions in rural Quebec and the smaller cities, the CAQ has replaced the Liberal vote. The Liberals are no longer the only federalist party, and when you watch Christine Fréchette, it’s easy to see why many former Liberals might choose the CAQ under her leadership over Milliard’s Liberals, despite the [CAQ having one of the most disastrous reigns in Quebec’s history.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/francois-legault-leaves-quebec-worse/) My jank-ass political compass has them at about the same level of economic conservatism, so why vote for a party that has so consistently failed? [Completely independent, not owned by billionaires, and here to serve you. Support us now with as little as $3 a month (it’s $2.50 a month if you sign up for a year!)](#/portal/signup) In the end, we don’t know what will happen this fall, but current polling indicates that this is a race between PQ and CAQ. How did the Liberals lose themselves? What happened to them that brought about this sad, slow disintegration of a once immense political force? Here is the story of the PLQ, from Confederation to the Grande Noirceur. Originally I was going to write their history from confederation until 2026, but it became so long and detailed that the article wound up 1800 words before I even got to the Grande Noirceur. And I skimmed over almost twenty years of Liberal rule. So this is a two-part article. Sorry. Honestly, I should just write a book. Hey, book agents, my email is isaacapeltz@onthetrail.info! (I don't think any publishers read On the Trail.) I have MANY ideas for books that I’m fairly certain would sell gangbusters! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/08/IMG_0929.jpeg) --- _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### “Mom and pop” landlords: a political cover for financialized housing URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mom-and-pop-landlords-a-political-cover-for-financialized-housing/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T15:48:10.000Z THIS ARTICLE WAS PAID FOR BY BRIARPATCH, [AND IS IN THEIR LATEST MAGAZINE WHICH YOU CAN (AND SHOULD) BUY HERE.](https://www.briarpatchmagazine.com/housing-justice-issue?ref=onthetrail.info) Please support independent media! Especially physical media. We’re still on a light break over here at *On the Trail*, but we wanted to share this work with you. --- Drip, drip, drip. The faucet on Alexandria’s\* sink wouldn’t shut off. Maybe there was a faulty cartridge inside. Maybe it was just rust, or a calcium buildup. An average of 43,500 litres of water a year down the drain. She called her landlords to ask them if they would fix it. “I got told off when I asked when there would be a replacement,” she said. “I avoid them at all costs. I only ask for repairs when it’s absolutely necessary. I only stay here because the rent is absurdly cheap for Vancouver.” Still, she loves the apartment; she simply wants repairs to be done, and to see the place in good repair. Chris and his wife lived in a newly renovated building in Hamilton, but quickly found that the landlord, who owned the building through a holding company, wasn't willing to maintain a single thing. If something wore down, the landlords would ignore calls and emails. Now, long after he’s left the apartment, the landlord is trying to get him and his wife to pay utility bills on the apartment…despite not living there. Chris wisely kept record of every interaction he had with the landlord. The “mom and pop” landlord is often touted as the best form of living for renters. It’s achieved a mythical status, one cited by the media in articles that talk about how tough it is to be a landlord, and as a goal that Canadians used to be able to achieve, but now is completely out of reach. There are [endless](https://globalnews.ca/news/11091683/ontario-landlord-no-rent-brampton-property/?ref=onthetrail.info) [articles](https://www.cp24.com/local/peel/2025/03/19/i-give-up-ontario-landlord-says-he-is-owed-25000-in-back-rent/?ref=onthetrail.info) [that](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/landlord-tenant-dispute-resolution-delays-1.6963498?ref=onthetrail.info) [talk](https://globalnews.ca/news/9733144/landlords-investors-rental-market-pressure/?ref=onthetrail.info) [about](https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2022/05/small-landlords-ontario-unpaid-rent/?ref=onthetrail.info) [the](https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/facing-huge-losses-thanks-to-ltb-delays-landlord-pens-plea-to-ontario-premier/?ref=onthetrail.info) [struggling](https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/video/2025/06/03/landlords-speak-out-over-being-owed-thousands-says-hands-are-tied-amid-ltb-delays/?ref=onthetrail.info) [landlord](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mortgages-landlords-rent-covid19-coronavirus-economy-housing-1.5508868?ref=onthetrail.info), but many fewer that discuss the need for rent and vacancy control. “Mom and pop” landlords are usually thought to be one person, maybe two people who own a building for the purpose of renting. They might live in the building, renting out their other units. Or they might live in a house down the road. The idea remains the same – someone reliable who could be considered a neighbour. [Independent, holding power to account, and not owned by billionaires. Sign up for a two week trial, or for as little as $3 a month to have access to all articles!](#/portal/signup) ### **Mom and pop are going extinct** The “mom and pop” landlord is a misnomer for one simple reason: it’s probably not a family who owns the building. It’s more likely to be small investors interested in making a profit. Ricardo Tranjan, a researcher for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, in his book *The Tenant Class,* says“The widespread notion of ‘struggling landlords’ is a grave mischaracterization of the rental market. In fact, Canada’s landlord class comprises wealthy families, small businesses, corporations, and financial investors.” 38 per cent of tenants are renting homes not specifically built for renting, but built to be inhabited by a family – basement suites, sectioned off houses, detached suites, etc. Most of these landlords own their personal homes as well as a second home which they can rent out above the cost of renovation and maintenance. Someone owning two homes is likely to have a personal value averaging out at $700,000 across Canada, – though this number could be vastly higher depending on where they own these properties. More than one in five owners is an investor as well. Who we refer to as “mom and pop” landlords are overwhelmingly people who want to invest, and not the idealized live-in landlord – the investor-occupant – who cares deeply for the house. Landlords who invest in houses like this will often use the [“own use” loophole](https://rentals.ca/blog/understanding-own-use-evictions?ref=onthetrail.info) to evict their tenants, and then rent it out for higher prices on the back end. Some jurisdictions such as B.C. have changed the rules so that landlords must live in the unit for one year before being allowed to put it back on the market. However, housing laws are hard to enforce. The trendline is getting worse on private landlords. People buying houses solely for their own use are increasingly becoming few and far between. Around 67 per cent of Canadians own a house, but ownership is becoming weighted in favour of older people – Gen X and older own houses, but fewer and fewer millennials and younger own housing. 75 per cent of new housing purchases in 2023 were investors – statistics largely led by Ontario’s rates. Mom and pop are going extinct, and yet they’re still the focus of discussion by the media and the government. The smaller time landlords are often interested in maximising their investments. They throw up drywall and turn a house into a five unit building with materials that cost nothing, and have led to a crisis where homes are often in complete disrepair, making them illegal units. One in 14 housing units are in need of major repairs, and one quarter are in need of minor repairs. 786,200 units across Canada are “not suitable” for living, with 1,127,500 in need of major repairs. The nature of investor landlords or “mom and pop” landlords means that they face significantly less scrutiny from the government. It is commonplace in most provinces to see “illegal units”, aka secondary units*.* There are apartments, basement suites and the like that homeowners will put on the market without government registration. Statistics around the number of secondary units on the market are hard to find, because by definition they are avoiding government scrutiny and accountability. In 2021, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation did a study in Ontario which found that an estimated one out of six houses with a basement had a secondary unit – up to 75,000 units in the province. In Metro Vancouver alone there are an estimated 15,000 secondary/illegal units. ### **Bulwarks against regulation** The truth is that these landlords are a creation of the financialized housing industry, and are a bulwark to push back against government regulation. They operate as a hegemonic shield, utilized by highly capitalized corporate landlords, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and aggressive industry lobbying groups to obscure the rapid and systemic financialization of Canada's housing stock. A REIT is a company that owns, and operates, real estate for the purpose of making money. These landlords have teamed up with corporate landlords and REITs to create pseudo-unions which create a narrative thrust in mainstream discussion to further propagate the myth of “mom and pop” landlords. Landlord groups such as Rental Housing Canada, Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario, LandlordBC**,** Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec, Alberta Residential Landlord Association, and Calgary Residential Rental Association are controlled by corporate power, but since a few members are small time “amateur” landlords, they use the reputation of the few to push for laws that benefit corporate monopolies. Industry actors shape public perception and discussion through media campaigns that are highly successful. Danielle Kerrigan, a postdoctoral fellow in Simon Fraser University’s geography department, examined how Canada’s media frames rent control: Analyzing 52 articles from the *Toronto Star*, *Globe and Mail*, and *National Post*, they found the five most common arguments presented were: (1) it hinders supply (77%); (2) it protects tenants (31%); (3) it has no impact on supply (23%); (4) it negatively impacts tenants (19%) and (5) it harms landlords (17%). By anchoring the public and legislative debate to the purported vulnerable homeowners, the people who are struggling to make ends meet for the sake of their family, the broader real estate industry successfully campaigns against rent control, tenant protections, and anti-speculation taxation, all while consolidating unprecedented volumes of residential property. And they do it openly, unchecked by governments that need housing investment to grow, because after decades of catering to private industry while scaling back social housing, housing represents nearly 40 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Housing prices deflating means Canada’s GDP collapses. Montreal has the highest share of renters in large North American cities. The way the rental market is distributed is in a highly centralized domination of REITs and corporate ownership. 30 per cent of Montreal’s market is owned and controlled by 600 companies. This is despite there being 129,960 landlords in the city. Put in other words, one third of rental units are owned by 0.4 per cent of landlords in the city.And this trend is continuing. ### **Real estate investment trusts** The biggest perpetrator of rising rents and centralizing ownership is REITs, who have created algorithmic strategies to target neighbourhoods with early signs of gentrification. There is consistent correlation between more expensive neighbourhoods and REIT concentration. REITs owned at least 6 per cent of purpose built rental units in 2015–2019, but they are estimated now to own as much as 10 per cent. These REITs and the investor class of landlords are constantly lobbying the government to cut GST and HST on rental development as well as accelerated eviction powers, as well as lobbying that opposes rent control. Governments across the country in 2026 are handing them what they want on a silver platter. And it’s not hard to see why. [On the Trail, my journalistic publication, has been tracking the data of which elected officials are landlords for almost two years.](https://data.onthetrail.info/en?ref=onthetrail.info) The data is updated weekly. As of March 2026, 45 per cent of Federal Liberal MPs are landlords, 44 per cent of Conservative MPs are landlords, and a quarter of the other parties are landlords as well. Many members are still missing, and have not fully disclosed their information. Mark Carney’s federal government, which saw the most lobbying in the lobby registry’s history last October, is offering a 100 per cent GST rebate for new purpose built rental housing. In March, Ontario announced a massive HST rebate, which will cost the government billions and cut social services, while only benefitting developers. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are copying the strategy. B.C. has its own version that have been in place for years now. Rent in B.C. is still, by far, the highest in Canada. The corporate landlords seem to have won. By using the myth of the “mom and pop” landlord, they crafted a narrative that dominates the media, and has pushed the government to give corporate welfare to both developers and landlords in an unprecedented way. The system that has been built benefits only a few people: Corporate landlords, REITs, and developers. Meanwhile, renters are unable to make ends meet as everything skyrockets in price, from gas, to groceries, to health care, and obviously rent and mortgages. Whether we take the “mom and pop” landlord as a reality, or we acknowledge that this landlord is a rare breed whose importance is exaggerated to benefit corporate power, the takeaway remains the same. The system is designed to extract wealth from the majority. Instead of confronting this, every government across Canada is leaning into it. Instead of fixing it, governments everywhere deregulate with no checks to corporate profit. Mom and pop are an endangered species that hardly exist outside our collective imagination. But at the rate the country is going, without intervention, renters may be left to go extinct as well. *\*Alexandria is a pseudonym used for fear of landlord reprisal. First name is used for other private citizens interviewed upon author’s request.* ### A little survey to help the future of indie journalism URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-little-survey-to-help-the-future-of-indie-journalism/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T16:19:39.000Z Good morning! We have a lot of new subscribers here today, which is fantastic. I wanted to ask again if you would all be able to help out with filling out our little survey on the future of On the Trail. We’ve had some really useful responses so far. For example, of the respondents, 88 percent said that they want more Historical contextualization pieces (and you don’t know how happy that makes me. Those are easily my favourite pieces.) and another 84 percent want analysis, which I’m happy to provide! ![Forms response chart. Question title: How would you rate your interest in what we've been doing?. Number of responses: .](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-c85640b8-e056-44df-838a-05f6088b6a15.png) Another bunch responded this when giving me interest levels about different types of journalism. 100 percent of people want investigative pieces! Wow! We’ve also gotten some *great* feedback from people about me making some formatting mistakes and maybe needing to get a little copy editor. If I had the money, I would. We’ll see what I can do! But still, there’s been few responses (as expected.) I would love to hear back from many more. Considering that around 3000 out of our 5000 ish subscribers read our newsletters, it would be wonderful to hear your opinion. If you’re new to the newsletter, your opinion is extremely valued as well, since you’ve decided to invest your time into this. So, if you will, please fill the survey.[ If the embed doesn’t work properly, please go to this link.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemykWK6VXe9XO4WAJ9Qhhq8B8f3A5PX1gOrkmcVeNU91qJzQ/viewform?usp=header&ref=onthetrail.info) You may have to do the survey in your browser. [No billionaires own this publication. Support indie journalism that listens to its readers.](#/portal/signup) Loading… ### The final flat tire was your entire body (free) URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-final-flat-tire-was-your-entire-body-free/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T16:37:26.000Z I was invited on a podcast this week, and I said no. I told the producer that I was ready to lie down on the ground and die for about a month because I'm so tired. He replied "The final flat tire was your entire body". This joke has been living rent free in my head for days. Every time I think about it, it makes me laugh. This joke is so good, and captures so perfectly my exact feelings right now. But just because I want to lie down and die out of sheer exhaustion, There's a lot in the future that I'm excited about. Thus, this will be the last post before a two week break! We have some things we want to work on over the next two weeks, and we have to focus a little less on breaking news, analysis and history. Website updates, planning for upcoming podcasts, and building out a bunch of new stuff. There will be no posts or stories on Insta for a couple weeks. Before we get there, however, I wanted to hit a few important thoughts, announcements, and I have questions! This is the moment– I want **you** to answer questions to help build up the future of this newsletter. I value your thoughts extremely highly, since this newsletter has the goal of serving you, the reader! I'd love if all of you read this email, as it will outline a lot of stuff. ### How successful was the Paper Trail? First, let's look at the stats from the past several months. The Paper Trail seemed to be a big success. It was a wildly experimental journalistic project. The goal was to expose the truth of the Canadian Continent, to find the Canadian Consensus, and to show everyone in every part of Canada what the rest of the country was like– all while explicitly asking the question *Should Canada break up?* Well, we didn't really answer that question at all, since it's fundamentally unanswerable. Instead, we presented a beautiful, but flawed country that is falling short of its promise. I don't think most of us came away feeling like we had many answers, but instead I'm walking away with more questions than I had at the start. That's how journalism works. We had huge traction on this. Over the course of the trip, we had **9,046,611** views of our short form video content. Of the viewers, 32.2 percent were followers, and 67.8 percent were not. There was about **1,000,000** unique individuals who saw these posts. A million Canadians saw the Paper Trail, which isn't a small project. We were honoured to appear on national television to talk about the Paper Trail. We also appeared[ on Scott Martin's podcast](https://readthecatch.ca/journalists-bike-across-canada-ft-blue-jay-walker-and-isaac-peltz-podcast/?ref=onthetrail.info)– an award winning journalist known for his work with the Star, Ricochet, the Rabble, The Maple, and the best of all news platforms, the Beaverton. We've had some other invites, but we haven't been able to do them yet. If we do more talk shows or radio, we'll let you know. I've said this before, but knowing the affect your journalism has on people is hard to quantify. So the best we have is statistics and view counts. I don't know how many hits mainstream media has on their posts, but I suspect we're approaching something similar in regards to viewing numbers. Our numbers on the website are exceptionally consistent. With every single newsletter, regardless of style or content, between 35 and 40 percent of our 5000 subscribers are reading every letter. Every single one. That's not bad! I would love if it was 50+ percent, but We're hitting a little bit above average for a newsletter platform like this. We have another 300-1000 visit the website for every post as well, depending on how popular it is on social media. In conclusion, the Paper Trail was a huge success. We have almost no new subscribers from it (literally, our monthly income has not gone up or down. We've lost and gained subscribers, and it has equaled exactly the same amount of money as before the trip.) Still, we didn't do this to make money– we did this to make something interesting. **We shall remain poor, but so too shall we keep doing strange journalism like no one else!** [But if you do want to support, and access all of our articles you can do so for as little as 3$ a month](#/portal/signup) ### What's next for us Well, first of all the Quebec election is about to happen. This is journalism playoffs. This election is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in a couple decades. We have potential secession referenda, we have five parties who could win much more or less based on a shift of 1-3 percent of the vote, the front runner party is an exceptionally weird mix of racism, transphobia, but then seemingly left of centre economic policy (see our article about democratic socialism being innately racist). We have an entirely new set of leaders, who have never debated in public. We have a party who might win fifteen seats who wants to abolish public health care. This is a wild election. Le Plancher des vaches will be running, our French podcast with Pivot that covers elections and news, and I'll start something in English as well. Plus, there will be many, many YouTube videos. So this fall is mostly spoken for. I also have articles in the works with the Walrus, and something in the works with Donal Gill, my colleague who I published the article on PR electoral systems with. No buyers yet however. We might have something with Ricochet coming out, which would be cool. We'll see, everything is always fluid all the time. Afterwards though, we will begin production on **Building the Crisis/Batir la crise** season 2\. I won't tell you what it is yet, but oh boy you'll all like what's coming. I'm also working on developing two other podcasts that will hypothetically replace the news stuff. I'm reaching out to Radio Canada and CBC to discuss it, since I believe they will *really* like the ideas. We're also doing a complete transformation of our newsletter types. I personally feel that our newsletter categories are a huge nonsensical mess. I've always wanted to work more on environmental reporting, and I don't believe that Quebec has an environmental publication. Thus, we're planning on changing the newsletters to be three things: 1. **Investigation/News (paid)**: A weekly newsletter for those who want numbers, daily news, and updates. 2. **Environmental (paid)**: A weekly/bi-weekly newsletter on what's happening in Quebec and Canada with the environment. 3. **The Weekly Roundup (free)**: This will have links to every podcast, as well as every major headline from every week! We can't have an email every podcast, but instead we will allow people to have a roundup of all the podcasts from the week, as well as short summaries of every week of news– just like we did before with the Gab and Isaac show. We'll also include any videos we produce in here. All of you will be signed up to these automatically, and we will launch an announcement when it's all set up. You will then be able to opt out of whatever the hell you don't give a damn about. Don't want to read data pieces? No problem, opt out. The goal is to make things streamlined and clear for everyone. We also want it to be easy as a user to get rid of any emails that are annoying– if you're an unpaid subscriber, you might get annoyed by the paid emails which only show half the newsletter. But you might like the idea of having your news summarized in one weekly spot! We're gonna make this seamless. In two weeks, On the Trail will be even better to use for all of us. ### What do you want to see? My biggest problem as a journalist, and the hardest challenge, is that no one gives me feedback unless it's an email that calls me an incel or something (yes this has happened before.) So, for those highly engaged users, I'm asking your opinion! Please answer these questions, and help me make the platform better for you. [If you have problems with the embed, you can click this link here and answer the poll on your browser!](https://forms.gle/dtdE6YKyVefLgDs26?ref=onthetrail.info) Loading… Thank you, and we'll see you in two weeks! ### Should Canada Break Up? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/should-canada-break-up-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T12:00:16.000Z This is the last article from this trip. It's strange knowing that it's over. It's sad. We met more than a thousand people across the country, recorded and wrote down dozens of conversations, recorded dozens of videos, and wrote a lot of articles. Our beards got very long. We asked people across the country whether or not Canada should break up. Out west? There were some people who thought so. In the middle there weren't so many. In Quebec? There are many more who would like to leave than the west. Quebec remains the most in favour of separation, but with current global politics, the general consensus (even among separatists) is "not right now." Out east there isn't a soul who thinks that we should break up. So what do I think? To many people's chagrin during our western section of this trip, I didn't yell at the top of my lungs "CANADA SHOULD STAY TOGETHER FOREVER, I LOVE CANADA." I received several hundred DMs from westerners telling me to "fuck off" because I wasn't arguing for Canada to stay together, I was unfollowed by hundreds of people because I was willing to speak with separatists, and I had a few threats in there as well. It was certainly a lot of action for such a benign line of questioning. Of course, that's what it means to be a journalist. I ask questions. I write about the questions. When I ask questions people agree with, they tell me I'm a hero. When I ask questions people are uncomfortable with, they email me and text me slurs. We live in a really messed up society. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/07/DSC07870.jpg) [Hold Power Accountable - So much new stuff coming this next political season](#/portal/signup) ### **We're less online than you think** What strikes me as disturbing is this age of the internet where people freely threaten public figures online. What disturbs me about this society that exists is that people are more attached to their phones than other people. Or at least, that's the impression we often get. After biking across the country, I no longer think this is true. It was striking to see how few people are truly addicted to their phones across Canada. I'm not sure this is true in the United States, but in Canada I think it is. Going across the country, I have more questions than I started with. What is Canadian society? Have we ever had an identity? What is an identity? What is a nationality? Earnestly, I'm not sure I know. Some friends of mine argue strongly that there is a national identity. They point to things like Angine de Poitrine and the giant crowds who go to their shows. Canada is lit up by this band. It's a uniting factor. Others laughingly point at fun little things in common; Tim Hortons or McCain's deep and delicious cake. I like Timmies, and I **love** McCain's deep and delicious cake. But I don't know if a band being popular is an identity, and I'm *definitely* sure that a corporation isn't one. Jay posted a brilliant article about Canada not having an identity. People either strongly agreed or were incensed. Some big influencers posted things in response. It was great, lots of thoughtful debate. What made me laugh was that the comments all disagreed with each other. "Canada does have an identity! what about this thing???" "Canada does not have an identity, this thing doesn't matter to most people." Go look at that post on instagram. The comments are great. I love them. I love how passionate people are. It was a great moment during the trip to see such heated, real emotion without people being rude or harsh. Just people with a lot of love for their country, and their family, and their friends. ### **Discomfort** But it's that same love of country that makes me highly uncomfortable. Being on the left makes it challenging to feel a sense of national pride. Quebec's history makes me feel a bit of nationalism, but then I look at the state of the province and I think to myself... well, it's not so great right now. The relationship of the left with nationalism is an uncomfortable tension, because yeah, I'm glad to be here and I like aspects of the country. At the same time, it's quite arbitrary. Lines drawn on a piece of paper, a nation of abstract ideals that aren't put into practice. Housing is a human right in Canada. [Okay, but we have up to 300,000 people who are homeless.](https://madeinca.ca/homelessness-statistics-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) Our founding myth is literally "peace, order and good governance." Except that there's been multiple mass shootings in the past year, and the police actively shoot and kill indigenous people all the time, not to mention systemic racism within the government and police that targets racialized people. That's not good governance. That's not peace. Canada is an incredible, and impressive place. Each province is marvelous. Genuinely. Each province *could* be its own country (except PEI). Each province *could* survive on its own. There might be better systems of governance for the country. Canada is a federation-- there's a central government that has more power than all the provincial governments, but the provincial/federal jurisdictions generally don't cross over too much. Sovereign provinces in a united country. We are the most decentralized federation on earth. Still, would an EU model work better? A set of basic rules in a true confederation? We call ourselves confederated, but a confederation is completely sovereign countries that unite under a banner. The EU is a confederation. Canada is a federation, despite what we call our founding. Canada is constantly arguing with itself. This must be one of the most dysfunctional countries on earth. Our federal elections are literally "who will bother us the least of our options?" That's how people vote. In 2025, Donald Trump was scary and so the country decided that Carney was the option we wanted. Before Trump was kicking around, Poilievre was on track to be the guy, because we were tired of Trudeau. Carney moved the Liberals to the centre right, versus Trudeau's centre left. Poilievre was right wing. Why have we never voted in the NDP federally? Well, they would do too much and change the country too quickly. Canadians are broadly progressive-- 6 in 10 voters vote "left" (if we include the Liberals as "on the left" in the traditional sense.) Mostly, Canadians are somewhere around the centre. ### **I am not America** There's one thing that stands out above all after this journey. There is one identity that we all share: **We are not American.** I think that's the strongest identity marker for our whole country. Some people are extremely bothered by this. They would say that our identity can't be a negative. You can't define yourself with a "not." Why the hell not? What's wrong with that? I think it's a *really* good thing that we're not Americans. Americans suck! I lived in the United States! I had a long term partner in the United States! What a terrible culture! I would got to concerts and genuinely be afraid that someone would pull out a gun and start shooting up the place. Gun violence is a bit higher right now than it's been for the past twenty years, but I don't walk around in fear. There's not a lot of countries that allow us to walk around safely at night, you know. While in Paris in 2022, someone pulled a gun on me. While touring the US and playing music, a man mugged me with bricks. Listen, Canada is remarkable with how peaceful it is! Even at its worst! And yet, statistically I'm unsatisfied. [Femicide and violence against women is still extremely prevalent.](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2023001/article/00003-eng.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) Poverty is rampant. The other day in Montreal a man threatened to run me over with his car. Folks, this society isn't in a good place. I'm not sure it ever was-- but with poverty so high, and the division between the rich and poor at its all time highest levels, things are going to continue worsening. There are obvious and easy solutions. Tax the rich. Build social programs. Save money while building out our welfare. It's easy. We're not gonna do it. It's Canada. We'll continue to embrace our okay welfare systems, and our mediocre human rights record. We'll continue being a large scale polluter and we'll continue over policing. Folks, we're fortunate to be here, but it's through colonialism and violence that any comfort exists in our lives. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/07/DSC07959.jpg) ### **Should Canada break up?** Should Canada break up? It won't be breaking up any time soon. Also, it probably won't exist in its current form forever. Good chance I'm not here if it breaks up. There's also a real chance that somewhere like Quebec leaves eventually. I don't know, it's hard to predict the future. It also doesn't matter to me. What matters is that we do exist. We are a country right now. And we can do better. If we're going to exist, we may as well improve. If we're going to stop existing, it should be to make something better than what we have. Most separatists we met out west want to leave the country because they don't like Indians. I am comfortable saying that this is stupid, and those people are dumb. But when I talk to thoughtful separatists in Quebec who want to build a social welfare system, have green energy, and have proportional representation, yeah, I think they're on to something. But let's be honest– is Paul St Pierre Plamondon the one who's gonna do it? No. So should Canada break up? You tell me. All I know is that we need to do better with what we have right now. I was raised to believe that we needed to value what we already have before trying to get more. So let's start there and see where we go next. ### The great provincial cross-examination. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-great-provincial-cross-examination/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T11:20:27.000Z As Isaac and I biked across the country we have constantly hammered on about how different the provinces are. We’ve rhapsodized that their being stitched together into one gangly nation only makes sense because of muddy political history and our current desire to not be swallowed up by the unctuous, salivating, angry, boogie monster that lives beneath our bed. We don’t have a concise national identity, anyone who says we do is likely trying to sell you a t-shirt. Most of our provinces don’t see eye to eye, let alone like each other. Our raison d’être seems paltry thin, as unclear as the smoke laden sky that blankets most of the west every summer as we lean into our new national holiday “fire season.” But in our quest for the broad strokes of understanding we’ve glossed over some crucial points which cannot be left unmentioned if we are to claim our research as comprehensive. So, to make amends I have taken it upon myself to provide you with all the consistencies, similarities, and soul-matches that I’ve managed to find across the 10 Canadian provinces we biked through this summer. From the geographical to the spiritual, it may be we discover that Canadians from BC to NFL have more in common than we first believed. [Keep journalism enjoyable! Support journalism that doesn’t depress constantly](#/portal/signup) --- ### West BC is Alberta without the prairies, Saskatchewan is Alberta without BC. In fact, as we cycled the provinces we were often struck by how erroneous the provincial borders were from a purely topological perspective. It was clear sometimes 100s of kilometers before the provincial welcome sign appeared that we were in a wholly new environment. Starting from the left of the map, as we did biking, it makes absolutely zero sense that a dotted line has been struck through the heart of the rocky mountains. There are actual mountain peaks that have been split in half along the jagged schizophrenic border dividing British-Columbia and Alberta. Continuing east, once the foothills finally roll off there is about a day worth of cycling in Alberta that is obviously just Saskatchewan with a political chip on its shoulder. Alberta is the unsteady half breed of its two neighbouring provinces with oil in his pants. He has one foot in the beauty of the mountains and the other in the steady slowness of the prairies. If we were prescribing solutions to this incongruity it would be simple: when Alberta finally does declare separation, beat the states to the punch and annex most of Alberta back into Canada giving the Rockies to BC and the prairies to Saskatchewan while leaving Drumheller to Pierre Poilievre where the separatists can live in peace with the dinosaur bones. On the flipside it could be argued that the beer chugging, dirt-biking, bonfire blazing, culture of the Alberta Boys (TM – non gender specific) exists deep into the interior of so-called BC. Indeed, in terms of slang, style, and political conservatism the interior of BC often looks more like Alberta than it does the coastline and islands. The hippies on Quadra Island and their lesser tech bro yuppie counterparts in Vancouver don’t blend in with the dirtbags of Revelstoke and Golden as much as they may pretend to. So, if Alberta does choose to stay, you could always throw them a bone and give them most of the BC interior, stopping at Kelowna’s wine country. That way their land mass might finally match their outsized ego. ### Center & West Back to the similarities across provinces, when travelling the prairies, you’ll find some easy comparisons. Manitoba is just Saskatchewan but with trees. It follows that Ontario is just Manitoba but with hills and a few more puddles. The first 1000 kilometers of Western Ontario is so unnoticeably different from Manitoba and so festooned with mosquitos that I truly believe you could liposuction it from out of the world map and no one would notice except for the truckers who suddenly spend $500 less when traversing the long province. Frankly they’d be happy for the change. Quebec and BC have a hippie exchange program that has been running for decades. Young Quebecers buy almost-totaled vans and become tree planters that spend their off days competing to see who can get the worst stick-and-poke tattoo. Some of them eventually upgrade from their vans to house boats and settle down to live on one of the gulf islands where they make a living selling crochet shell covers to well-to-do snails. Additionally, the rednecks of Quebec would get along quite well with the rednecks of Alberta, if only they could speak the same language. They both swear like sailors, treat the bush like their personal party central, and believe their province is the best and that it deserves to be its own nation that the rest of Canada still supports with money and taxes and whatever else they desire. ### East New Brunswick is Ontario but with all the money, culture, and vistas sucked out of it. It has just as many hills yet somehow none of the payoff. NB people would bond with Albertans over how much they hate cyclists, as both of them tried their absolute best to knock Isaac off the road at every opportunity. (Specifically Isaac. Because they always biked behind, the cars would try to hit them for ten points, realize that this is a bad idea, and avoid me.) PEI is the funniest province I’ve ever seen. It’s three potato farms and one children’s book and that’s the entire island. They have so much dirt, and so little gravel, that to build anything at all they must have truckloads of rocks shipped in from NB every single day. In this way the bedrock of PEI is slowly becoming NB, one gravel pebble at a time. One day the takeover will be complete as over 50% of all buildings will technically be derived from New Brunswick boulders and at that point PEI will be forced to hand over their political reigns to the other province. Nova Scotia is New Brunswick without the latent traffic-rage. The second you cross the border everyone mellows out and realizes that they don’t actually have anywhere to rush too. They have the friendliness of Newfoundlanders without the impregnable accent, and the marine focused aspirations as well, but without the incredible isolationism brought on by living on a rock at sea. Newfoundland has a secret connection with a province you may not at first be able to guess: Alberta. As Albertas economy continues to boom and bust with the rise and fall of oil sands, gold, and coal mines, one of their largest work force imports comes from The Rock. All the young workers seeking fortune and jacked up trucks head to the oil sands to try their hand at the pipeline. The modern Albertan Hockey-boy dialect which has now leeched its way across the border into BCs interior is just a commercialized version of Newfie slang. The “oh yeah buds”, “just givers”, and profuse swearing have all trickled down from the rigs that are overrun with Newfoundlanders missing The Rock. --- It’s become clear to us as we bike that though the country may not have one large unifying character, every single one of the provinces bleeds into its neighbour, sharing bits of itself until it is hard to tell where one culture ends and the other begins. At this point in our history there’s only one thing we can all actually agree on however and maybe it’s all that we need: Canada is not the United States. I guess under not-it-ism, we are united after all. ### The Great Canadian Selloff URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/thegreatcanadianselloff/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T14:42:40.000Z This September Mark Carney and the liberals are holding a massive gathering of the most powerful people in the world— [investors representing $120 trillion are meeting](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-investment-summit-24-hours-that-could-change-canadas-economic/?ref=onthetrail.info) in Toronto where the Liberals will attempt to get trickle down economics to work for the first time in western history. This is being pitched as the “inaugural” Canada Investment Summit. The long term goal is exactly what Carney and the Liberals have been signalling since day one: They want to “[catalyze enormous private investment”](https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/02/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-strategy-transform-canadas-auto?ref=onthetrail.info) to build up Canada’s “[infrastructure](https://liberal.ca/cstrong/build/?ref=onthetrail.info).” Right now, the government is mainly focused on data centres, often controlled by Canadian telecom companies which produce huge amounts of [heat and noise pollution.](https://theconversation.com/5-ways-data-centers-endanger-their-local-communities-and-the-country-as-a-whole-282348?ref=onthetrail.info) This seems to be Carney’s Canadian version of [Davos](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-davos-and-the-world-economic-forum&ved=2ahUKEwiXzdSp35OWAxWf6gIHHUjNE58QFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1RaTgsLzDRBXc5qiIDgLjc). For those who don’t know about Switzerland’s political system, it’s a direct democratic hyper capitalist system with virtually no public infrastructure. Exceptionally high wages counterbalance a culture that worships private capital over everything else. 100 global investment organizations from 28 different countries will be converging on this summit. [Help keep power accountable - sign up for as little as $3 a month or for a 2 week free trial now](#/portal/signup) From Black stone to Black Rock, Brookfield to JP Morgan (the world’s largest bank), the most powerful elites will be there. Canada is the hottest product on the private market right now— and its leader is putting the country up for a fire sale. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/08/IMG_0887.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Newfoundland’s failing carrying capacity URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/newfoundlands-failing-carrying-capacity/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T10:59:26.000Z Two invasive species have taken up root in Newfoundland in recent centuries: Moose and Man. Both are walking a tightrope of challenges on the small Island province trying doggedly to not slip into a habitat-population cycle of decline. One brought the other; in 1904, four moose were introduced to Newfoundland in Howley. The trapper hired to do the deed had lassoed seven of them in New Brunswick, tied them up, drug them on sleighs to the railroad heading for Newfoundland where he was promised $50 per moose. [Three perished enroute, but the four who made it to land were released and are now the primary contributor to an estimated population of 110,000 (as of 2022)](https://www.gov.nl.ca/hunting-trapping-guide/2025-26/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/12/22282-Moose-Management-Report-July-12.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) The reasoning for the introduction of this invasive species is framed differently depending on who you ask. The folk lore claim is that it was to feed the people. Our host in Newfoundland said as much when I asked her about it. As Caribou populations declined rapidly to near extinction due to over-sport hunting, a need for a new food source that would not compete with the Caribous survival was clear, so the moose were brought in. [Hold Power to account - Start a 2 week trial now](#/portal/signup) This claim of a governments earnest desire to feed its people seems noble enough, [but reports now stored in Newfoundland’s Heritage site](https://heritagenl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/19-Introduction-of-Moose-to-the-Island-of-Newfoundland.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) place the motivations as significantly more financially focused. The hunt to near extinction of Newfoundland’s Caribou had earned it a reputation as a “Sportsman’s paradise”, and with the development of the railway, industrialists were eager to expand their harvest of the Islands natural resources into the raw and untamed portions of the land. They hoped that by turning those wild reaches into a hunter’s playground they would attract foreign investors rife with cash to the area. They’d bag a moose, enjoy drinks at a hunting lodge, and have the chance to see the land for what it was: a jewel ripe for the plunder. Now over a century later, it seems the moose have succeeded where the industrialists failed. Due to the already dwindling wolf population, which then went extinct around 1930, the moose flourished with no natural predators. [This year 28,705 tags will be given out to hunters from across the province and beyond.](https://www.gov.nl.ca/hunting-trapping-guide/2026-27/new-for-2026-27/?ref=onthetrail.info) This number is 1,090 higher than last year, and 28,625 higher than the first hunt in 1935\. Since that first big spree the population of Moose has been growing drastically towards a breaking point, pushing the ecology of Newfoundland’s natural environments to its limits. Even as the government claims to have stabilised moose populations in recent years there are clear problems that have yet to be solved. “Moose vehicle collisions have occurred at a rate of 422 to 641 per year over the past decade.” [A report by the government says.](https://www.gov.nl.ca/hunting-trapping-guide/2025-26/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/12/22282-Moose-Management-Report-July-12.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-c7a1f905-bce4-4a54-9902-5d34b2a9ef58.png) The undergrowth in national and provincial parks are routinely picked clean by the megafauna foragers, making it impossible for new trees to grow as they are plucked summarily from the ground by the invaders. “Studies have provided conclusive scientific evidence indicating that moose grazing has had a profoundly negative effect on the regeneration of balsam fir and hardwoods after they have been harvested by the lumber industry.” This over harvesting of the land by a too-abundant population leads to a death spiral. The population of moose increases until it strips the land of all it can provide, at which point the regenerative possibilities of the Island are truncated sharply., and without the huge swaths of plant life necessary to support the population, the moose go into sharp decline. Further confounding this cycle, hunting tags are often reduced when a moose population is shown to decline in an area. This only leads to moose continuing to proliferate just enough to ravage whatever plant life is left, further exacerbating the problem. “In sum, there does not appear to be a stable equilibrium between the moose population and forest resources available to moose on the island.” Hunting Newfoundland and Labrador does not see it that way. In promotional material the government sponsored site, designed to draw in those same sport hunters they hoped for in 1904, claims “The introduction of moose to the island of Newfoundland has been exceedingly successful from the perspective of moose and hunters” Apparently the moose and the people killing the moose are both quite happy about the situation. Meanwhile in Terra Nova National park they have created huge fences with the hope of blocking out moose[ so that the trees can be allowed to survive, and people might see what the Island looked like before their arrival. ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/terra-nova-moose-exclosure-balsam-fir-trees-1.4797747?ref=onthetrail.info) A moose eats roughly 20kg of vegetation daily. Which means that Newfoundland’s population of 110,000 moose are consuming two million and two hundred thousand kilograms of plant life across the province every single day. Direct links from the Newfoundland hunting page lead to websites boasting outfitter packages to bag a moose priced in USD, with some starting at $13,900\. The motto of one outfitter: “It’s all about you.” They pride themselves on attention to detail and a willingness to uphold Newfoundland’s age-old identity as the sportsman’s paradise. For locals as well, over the past century, moose have become an integral part of assuring food security. Since 2020,[ moose meat has been allowed to be donated to the island’s foodbanks,](https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2020/ffa-en/1116n02/?ref=onthetrail.info) and families that win the yearly moose tag raffle usual share their harvest with others, and in return have harvests shared with them in years they are not so lucky. The need to hunt for food remains as jobs and industry continues to dwindle. The human population of Newfoundland is in a capacity-environment death spiral of its own. The dream of the 1904 industrialists was not realized, the moose hunters did not bring with them endless factories and financial investments to the island. As of Apil 1st, 2026 Newfoundland and Labradors population stood at 547,910, which represents a decrease of 647 people from January of the same year. [Even though net migration has increased in recent years, it has not been able to overcome the losses in the natural population. ](https://www.gov.nl.ca/fin/economics/eb-population/?ref=onthetrail.info) Put simply, more people are dying than are being born. This is a problem across Canada; our entire countries population went down 55,025 people in that same period. As migration stances have changed, financial times have tightened, and our population has continued to age we face a dwindling country. Nowhere is this more felt than in the rural sections of the island of Newfoundland. In 1992 a cod-moratorium to address the depleted stock from over-fishing pushed 30,000 people into unemployment. This began a nearly continuous decade of population decline. [“Out-migration occurred on a larger scale than ever before, the birth rate dropped, and the number of immigrants coming into the province did not offset the number of those leaving.”](https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/depopulation-impacts.php?ref=onthetrail.info) Hardest hit were the rural communities, as immigrants tended to land in the more bustling city centers, and only rarely ventured out to the small dwindling villages which were already crippled by shrinking fishing industry. From 1991 to 2001 the rural settlements experienced a loss of 48,000 people. 18 percent of the population disappeared. The majority of this out-migration was young adults and young families, a reality which further crippled these villages abilities to bounce back. As no one was left to start new business, families, and futures, the towns dwindled and faced the threat of extinction. This started a death spiral of its own, as a dying town is none too appealing a prospect for a new provincial immigrant, and so the towns are left to their own devices. Similarly, there are huge rifts in the social fabric as families are separated constantly by the youngers need to move abroad for opportunities of work, education, and even access to healthcare or other important infrastructures. Many of the young in Newfoundland grow up with the knowledge that if they are to succeed beyond their means, it will mean they must leave their home. As the youth continue to out-migrate, the overall age of the province continues to rise. With Canadian fertility rates below the replacement rate (meaning more people are dying than being born) for the past 50 consecutive years, it is unlikely that Newfoundland’s spiral may be righted. The only hope is a continued influx of immigrants to stymie the populations permanent bleed-out, but as Canada cuts permanent resident targets from 500,000 to 380,000 in 2026, it seems the moose may be in more luck than the man. ### Prince Edward Island is a big potato farm URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/prince-edward-island-is-a-big-potato-farm/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T12:00:45.000Z Prince Edward Island is a large potato farm. That's essentially the extent of its identity. It also has Anne of Green Gables and red sand. We loved the red sand. Actually, we were in love with PEI. It has one bike trail across the entire province which is in perfect condition. Charlottetown is the largest city. It's hardly a small town in any other province. Why is this place a province? It has less than half the population of Hamilton, Ontario. Kelowna, BC has almost the same population as this entire island. The residents of this island have twice the voting power of anyone in Ontario, Quebec, or any western province. This little island is almost negligible in its size. What's beautiful, and maybe a bit backwards about PEI, is that they don't pay much attention to anything outside of the island. Famously, PEI residents only know what's happening on PEI. The people there are living their lives, not worried about the conversations of separation going on in the west. They work hard to be kind, polite, and welcoming. When you enter the province, people smile, shake your hand, and you're welcome to visit. It's a microcosm of the entire east coast. Also, PEI would be unable to survive without the mainland. [Hold Power Accountable - Sign up for as little as $3 a month, or start a two week trial now](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/07/DSC07628.jpg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Is democratic socialism innately racist? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/is-democratic-socialism-innately-racist/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T12:00:09.000Z **The first half of this article came out on tuesday. Please go read it! Two halves of a whole. This article is free for everyone.** ### **Deconstructing socialism** Can democratic socialism exist without racism? Genuinely, I'm asking that question. Why are social democratic states so often racist? If you haven't read part one of this two part article, please check it out. My experience biking through Quebec had gone from being the *best* experience ever, to making me suddenly question a lot of my assumptions about my existence in the province. Sometimes your privilege will sneak up and beat you in the face. Well, I guess it's as good a time as ever to deconstruct Quebec racism and socialism's weird marriage to racism. Quebec is at the center of socialism in North America. It was a natural outpouring of a working class society who was underprivileged and unrepresented in its own country. For decades, it was assumed and accepted that the political class would steal from public funds-- during Duplessis' reign, ministers and public office holders would siphon 15 percent off the top, Pierre Godin explains in his biography of Rene Levesque. Out of oppression, a people's movement was born. The sixties came with a wind of renewal, and the Quiet Revolution was born. If you haven't read my history of the Parti Quebecois, I encourage you to do so. But during this social revolution, Levesque fought endlessly to hold back the worst impulses of Quebec. In the province, there remains an instinct to have a bit of an ethno nationalism. Levesque wanted to believe in the Quebec nation as a people, but without violence and without racism. He was one of the first Quebec ministers to try and make life better for the indigenous in the north, and although the man has a great many problems, and although his approach wasn't perfect (maybe it wasn't even *good*), the goal of Quebec's 60s-70s nationalism was to create a nation based on ideals and principles. Today, that's gone. [Ask hard questions - sign up for as little as $3 a month, or sign up for a two week trial now](#/portal/signup) ### **Abandoning principles** [As we discussed in the history of the PQ, one moment stands out as a left turn for Quebec's social democracy.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-ruins-of-a-social-democracy/) In 1995 the referendum on separation failed by half a percentage point. “It’s true that we were beaten– but fundamentally by what?” Parizeau yelled out to an angry, dissatisfied crowd on Oct 30, 1995\. “By money and the ethnic vote.” The premier blamed indigenous people and immigrants for the failure of his referendum. I never met him before he died. I would have asked him if he was speaking out of emotion, or if he truly believed that. After the '95 referendum, separatists were emotionally distraught, and fair enough, they believed in a future with a sovereign nation. The province has gone down a dark path since then, reflecting our older brother in France with our treatment of Muslim people in particular. But this type of racism is par for the course in social democratic places. Since Bouchard's government, there has been an obvious shift to the right, sometimes dramatically so. Bouchard himself was a Progressive Conservative with Brian Mulroney, and after this came Jean Charest, also a PC MP. Quebec had changed. Still, remnants of these old views remained, and Quebec manages to be a unique place nonetheless. Charest theorized that the best way to counteract the failings of Harper's extremely conservative federal government were to compensate with taxes in Quebec. These taxes were regressive taxes, and mainly tax the working class as opposed to high earners. The tendency away from Quebec's idealized social democracy of the late 20th century came with the racism. Levesque had spent his career holding back the worst impulses of the PQ and of Quebecers in general, but suddenly, after Parizeau's speech after the '95 referendum, it was mask off. Islamophobia was exacerbated by the 9/11 attacks, which the Harper government used to further his anti-democratic, christian nationalist agenda. In Quebec, anti-muslim movement formed, and [Harper's infamous Barbaric Practices Hotline came off its heels.](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/02/canada-conservatives-barbaric-cultural-practices-hotline?ref=onthetrail.info) In 2017, this Islamophobia reached an apex with a shooting in a mosque. Since then, Muslim women have continually been targeted as scapegoats in Quebec, with a recent law passing in Quebec that bans public prayers, and even bans prayer rooms in universities. This approach to banning any religious symbolism was an expansion of traditional secularism, which used to be the separation of church and state, but is now recognized as "seeking to remove religion from any public sphere." Definitions change, and Quebec's secularism is not the secularism of your grandpa. ### **Europe** ### France has a similar trajectory, although it goes on even longer than Quebec's. [Scholars have criticised the anti-hijab movement as a continuation of France's colonial history, and a way to demonize North African Countries.](https://humanwrites.umn.edu/how-frances-hijab-bans-violate-human-rights-0?ref=onthetrail.info) Quebec often follows suit when France does something. France, a social democratic nation, has historically had one of the most robust and exceptional social welfare systems in the world. High taxation and a culture of militant unions has created an exceptional welfare state, although the country does not tax high enough for it to continue without problems in the future. [France's welfare spending is second only to Finland.](https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/business/france-debt-problem-government-crisis-intl?ref=onthetrail.info) France has a severe problem with racism, as [9 in 10 black people in the country are subject to racist discrimination.](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/02/15/91-of-black-people-in-metropolitan-france-say-they-are-victims-of-racist-discrimination%5F6015940%5F7.html?ref=onthetrail.info) Meanwhile, the [Front Nationale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National%5FRally?ref=onthetrail.info) (Rassemblement Nationale now, but I will call it the Front Nationale because they're literally a fascist party, and the RN is the same party. They're actual, open fascists, which is different than Republicans in the States, who are closeted fascists.) is a white supremacist party who looks[ poised to win the next presidential election](https://www.ecostylia.com/en/poll-2027-rn/?ref=onthetrail.info) off of a racist platform. Looking at the Nordic countries, I hardly need to detail the severe xenophobia and racism coming out of Sweden. [Quite literally, the former neo-nazis are the kingmakers in their parliament.](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62913356?ref=onthetrail.info) Elections will be held in Sweden this September, with the social democratic party in the front, but the right wing parties may have a combined seat count to continue ruling. In Norway, hate crimes are rapidly on the rise, as you can see in the chart below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-f8a19897-520f-44d1-b3b1-8e0027582f36.png) In fact, the Nordic states are some of the most racist democracies in the world, leaving poor Americans in their dust, no matter how much the United States continues attempting to win that award. "Based on the study made in 2018, 63 percent of people of African descent in Finland have experienced racially motivated harassment, compared to a group average of 30 percent in the 12 European Union states surveyed. In both Denmark and Sweden, the number was 41 percent," [Harvard politics writes.](https://harvardpolitics.com/nordic-racism/?ref=onthetrail.info) Wow, that's dismal. ### **Correlation isn't causation** There seems to be a correlation between social democracy and racism. It's obviously not a given, but the question we must ask ourselves is how we can have both a social democratic nation while simultaneously not being racist. I don't have answers, sadly. I wish I could give you answers. We're faced with a major problem around this as well: In France and the Nordic countries, their electoral systems hold back their worst impulses. They have proportional representation, so when the two nationalist right wing parties come together to rule, they *still* have a minority. If the Front Nationale wins, it's highly likely that they'll be in a hung parliament (where elected officials refuse to work together.) In Quebec, if the PQ wins, they're extremely likely to win a majority. In fact, they can win a giant majority with only 36 percent of the vote. I encourage everyone to look at my article on the Walrus about proportional representation. The CAQ won more than 80 seats with 40 percent of the vote, a shocking, and frankly disgusting, distortion of democracy. In Quebec, if we elect the nationalist xenophobic government, they can do pretty much whatever they want. And they can ignore human rights as well, since our constitution has a giant gaping hole in the middle of the thing called the notwithstanding clause. Whether or not socialism or social democracy is truly linked with racism, I don't know. It seems like it might be, but correlation is not causation. All we can do is study trends and ask questions. This article doesn't have answers, only questions and stats. That's sort of a pattern in most of my articles. I ask a lot of questions. I rarely answer them. But in the end, answers are only valuable if they have an actionable response as well. So, I suppose finding a way to change is the next step. ### The Fabric of Quebec URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-fabric-of-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T12:00:36.000Z Jay and I ripped through Quebec and were amazed at the fabric of this beautiful place. Amazing people were found in every corner, the French language was rich and people were welcoming, kind and interested in our journey. We felt welcomed. I'm a Quebecker, so I suppose that isn't surprising, but Jay can't speak a word of French. Every time he speaks to a francophone, he says "Je suis un stupide anglophone," because he thinks it's funny. Quebeckers always awkwardly respond in English "No, it's okay I don't mind speaking in English," and they don't understand that Jay is making a self deprecating joke. Too polite are Quebeckers to attack a visitor from Alberta for not speaking French. *Quebeckers are always welcoming to a stranger.* ### **Francophone Ontarian vs Anglophone Quebecker** If I didn't speak French? We'd have a problem. Something that greatly entertains me is when I go to restaurants with my francophone friends. My best friend, Nicole, is a francophone from Ontario. We've known each other for 19 years now. When you hear her speak French, it's like water running in a stream, a smooth, soft accent that presents no harshness, just a beautiful string of language from someone who is highly educated, and cares deeply for her identity and her heritage. When she walks into a bar in Montreal, Quebeckers immediately switch to English. Her accent is not from here. Her accent is Ontarian. It doesn't matter that she speaks French more fluently than most Quebeckers. She isn't one of them. While she worked for Parliament, her Quebecker colleagues would speak in English with her, which she sometimes complained was a slight against her. These same colleagues would then ask her to help them write emails, because her French was so excellent. Contrast that with me. I walk into a bar, and Quebeckers *refuse* under *all circumstances* to switch to English. To be clear, I always speak in French with them. Similarly, I worked at 3 Brasseurs in Old Montreal for a year and a bit. When I got there, I had a lot of work to do on my French. I value my time there because it taught me how to speak the language rapidly in complex environments that were exceptionally noisy. Still, most of my colleagues refused to speak in English with me, even when I was unable to express myself in the beginning. They weren't doing me a kindness, I don't think. As far as I could tell, the anglophone Quebecker just isn't welcome to speak English in the province. [Hold Power Accountable - Support for as little as $3 a month, or start a 2 week trial](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/07/DSCF2485.jpg) When I first started mastering the French language, I assumed that people wouldn't switch to English because I had gotten *so good* at French that they didn't need to. Now, after radically improving my French, I realize it's because I'm an anglo-Quebecker, and francophones believe that it is my responsibility to speak in French, because it's their nation. My strange *Quebec flavoured* accent gives me away. I'm one of these people. Either I speak French, or I don't get service. This doesn't bother me personally, I like speaking French. I like that francophones speak to me in French. I'm published in French after all, and I'm mostly done a French literature degree. Listen, if people didn't speak to me in French, I'd continue to speak with them in French. It's a matter of pride. I want to speak in French. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Canadian Great Barrier Reef URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-canadian-great-barrier-reef/ Last updated: 2026-07-25T11:25:46.000Z What we will lose in fire and time; what we’ve seen will never be seen again. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Ontario is Canada's Soul URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/ontario-is-canadas-soul/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T12:00:29.000Z Good morning everyone! Although the trip is over, there are some more articles from the trip we wanted to release. We spent 64 days on the road seeing the country, and we talked to a thousand different people across Canada, listening to their stories and learning all that we could about the country. This was an ambitious and experimental undertaking that hasn't been done in Canadian journalism, and we have a few more weeks of articles to share with you all before we call it quits. We hope you've enjoyed this weird little thing that we've done, and we also hope you enjoy the next few weeks of work that we put into this. \_\_\_ ### **Throwing their weight around** Western Ontario was long, a never ending slog of mountainous terrain with twisting roads on a highway with no shoulder whatsoever. As we trekked through the pine trees, we found ourselves bored with the slog that seemed as though it was never to end. One third of the total km2 of Canada's east to west is Ontario, and we were experiencing it first hand. Five years ago we drove the needle strewn wasteland of this endless void in our van, and even then we remarked upon how brutally large the province is. **Once you get to Ontario, you never leave**. It looms large over the country in every way. Ontario's size is understandable as a metaphor for itself-- an endless power, the center of the country, and if you're from Toronto, probably the center of the universe. Don't deny it, my beloved Torontonians, we all know that's how you feel! Ontario is more than just one third of the east-west distance of Canada, it's also 39 percent of Canada's population. Thus, all of the political parties have one job: **win Ontario.** \*editors note - these graphs are interactive and much better on browser. Out west, there is something known as "western alienation." This is the feeling that the western provinces have less importance than the eastern ones. The truth isn't so simple. Ontario has power because of population, but the argument that Ontario has *too much* power falls apart under a mild amount of scrutiny. It is true that if a government can win lots of seats in Ontario and Quebec, they've won the entire House of Commons. Thus, since the 1960s, it has been the main strategy of the Liberals to win as many urban voters as possible in eastern Canada. This has provided a bedrock of Liberal dominance for the entirety of Canada's recent history. That being said, pre-Pierre Trudeau, the Liberals could win seats in the west. [Hold power accountable - subscribe for as little as $3 a month, or sign up for a 2 week trial!](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How Canada Keeps the Conservatives Shut Out of Power URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/how-canada-keeps-the-conservatives-shut-out-of-power/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T15:00:59.000Z ## [THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM OUR ARTICLE WITH THE WALRUS. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.](https://thewalrus.ca/liberals-electoral-reform/?ref=onthetrail.info) ## In April, almost a year after last spring’s federal election delivered a minority government, Mark Carney’s Liberal Party inched its way to a majority by poaching a string of floor crossers from opposition parties. The new-found majority further strengthens the hold of a party that has been in power for 60 percent of Canadian electoral history. This makes them among the most successful political parties in the Western democratic world. The way the Liberals win so consistently is simple: Canada’s first-past-the-post system advantages them as their support is broad and across Canada, allowing them victories in a plurality of ridings, as opposed to the Conservatives, who have their vote concentrated in the west. Under a different system, they may still form government often, but other parties would stand a stronger chance, thus better representing Canadians everywhere. And it almost happened. Toward the end of the 2015 election campaign, Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, tweeted that, if elected, he’d “make sure the 2015 election will be the last under first-past-the-post system” (FPTP). Trudeau acknowledged FPTP was often not representative of the will of the electorate. Once in government, Trudeau convened an all-party special committee on electoral reform. The committee strongly endorsed a move toward some version of proportional representation, but members couldn’t agree on what form that should take. This despite strong support from experts for proportional representation by single-transferable vote (PR-STV) as used in Ireland and Malta. The committee also recommended that a referendum be held to confirm any change to the electoral system. But Trudeau had no intention of allowing a potentially messy referendum to darken the political skies of his “sunny ways” honeymoon period. The plug was unceremoniously pulled on the whole initiative. FPTP had just delivered an unexpected majority after all. Presented with the traumatic proposition of a referendum, the Liberals found their excuse not to follow through on a high-profile election promise. That was the closest Canada ever came to reforming our electoral system. A decade later, his tweet came to represent the tendency to overpromise and underdeliver on progressive issues that had become a hallmark of the Trudeau era. On his way out of office, Trudeau even claimed that not following through on his promise of electoral reform was the biggest regret of his near decade in power. It was strikingly cynical given that, with him at the helm, the party had won two more elections largely thanks to the distortions of the electoral system he claimed to oppose. In those elections of 2019 and 2021, Trudeau’s Liberals came close to winning majority governments despite the Conservatives winning the popular vote on both occasions. Under Carney in 2025, Liberals won the popular vote, despite a stronger showing from the Conservatives, and came within touching distance of a majority. Now, as Carney settles into a majority achieved beyond the ballot box, Conservatives will have racked up a total of fourteen years in opposition before their next chance to contest for power. What *would* Canada’s electoral map look like under a different system? Political pundits have debated that for years. We designed an algorithm to show how a proportional representation system might transform Canada. The data is clear: this system—PR-STV—will better represent the electorate. Our model shows that other parties, particularly the Conservatives, would be able to consistently win federally and provincially. In fact, it would have given the Conservatives seat counts in 2019 and 2021 that would have led them to form government. ## [THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM OUR ARTICLE WITH THE WALRUS. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.](https://thewalrus.ca/liberals-electoral-reform/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Willing to die URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/willing-to-die/ Last updated: 2026-07-18T12:00:05.000Z THIS ARTICLE IS FREE FOR EVERYONE - IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT TRULY INDIE JOURNALISM, TRY OUR 2 WEEK FREE TRIAL, OR SUPPORT US FOR AS LOW AS 3$ A MONTH [Hold Power Accountable](#/portal/signup) ### **If a tree falls in the forest, will anybody get crushed?** Vasilious was flagging smoke for his crew on the front lines. Fourteen days in the trenches to stop the fires from spreading further; the worst fires in Canadian history burning as the south choked in smoke. He turned around and walked ten paces forward, when behind him he heard a crack. A forty five foot tree came crashing down where he had been moments before. "This tree just comes crashing down over top of the line exactly where I was standing. That could have been me if I was a little bit slower," he said. After the moment of adrenaline subsided, bad thoughts started creeping into his head, the realization that he could have been taken out in an instant, but he narrowly avoided it. He's seen friends have trees fall on them as well. "The roots of a tree will be all burnt out and you'll be looking at the tree. It'll look fine, right? And then all of a sudden, your buddy's screaming, you turn around and he's got a tree on top of him." A lot of trees fall. A lot of close calls occur. ### **Everyone is affected** These wildfires affect everyone in Canada. They affect Americans. They will affect the world as the smoke puts more carbon into the atmosphere and causes a vicious cycle of worsening climate conditions for the whole world. But the people on the front line working to stop these fires from hurting more people than they already do are underpaid, underappreciated and doing the work out of a sense of duty rather than any sort of remuneration. Wildfire fighters have jobs seven to eight months a year, and are paid piddly amounts that don't cover the basic. $26 dollars an hour as well as standing wage while camping out in the bush. A gross income of just over $50,000 a year while relying on EI during the winter months. Meanwhile, the benefits that they're given don't cover flights back home after injuries. The benefits hardly protect them from anything, except for some basic physio coverage and a couple other modest things. Most, if not all of the firefighters are aware that their pay isn't worth the work. They're doing it because "someone has to do it. Some people really need help. I want to go out there," Vasilious tells me. This is a common refrain among them. [Hold Power accountable - sign up for as low as $3 a month](#/portal/signup) ### **Wildfire science** Most of the country doesn't understand how wildfires work. People are often led to believe that water bombers are supposed to put out fires, but that isn't the case. Wildfire fighters are there to stop the fires from spreading further. Temperatures can get so extreme that no amount of water would be able to stop them from blazing. Wildfires can burn from 800 degrees Celsius up to 1200 degrees. As temperatures reach such extremities, the bombers fly overhead and drop their loads in order to cool off the temperatures somewhat, and then the ground workers rush in and create lines around the fire to stop it from spreading to new regions. Afterwards, the fire burns out. It's important to note as well that these different fires heat up to different levels based on their fuel. *Surface fires* burn up needles and moss, small vegetation near the ground. These are less dangerous than *crown fires*, which burn through the forest and consume live and dead foliage, as well as tall shrubs and trees. These turn into what we call wildfires, and produce the smoke that places like Toronto are experiencing, as well as the conditions that have burned down Kelowna, Collins, or Lytton. The challenge of predicting these fires is numerous, because they often spring out of *ground fires.* Ground fires can be underground heat that spreads without visible flames. They produce little smoke, but build in heat until they become surface or crown fires. Years of drought conditions and low humidity, as well as the cycle of the forestry industry clear cutting and replanting monocultures of trees has produced ideal conditions for exactly what we're seeing now. With temperatures rising, Canada's boreal forests have become hotbeds (pun intended) for wildfires, worsening depending on the weather patterns of an individual year. 2025 had less fires because of an el nina, versus the "super el nino" that is arriving right now. The human toll of these forest fires is becoming greater every year, and the greatest victims are, as usual, indigenous people. Their reservations are often in the most precarious places, and because they live in low population places, it exponentially increases challenges to evacuate because of infrastructure, accessibility and how remote these communities are. Throw in systemic racism underfunding and deprioritizing these communities Canada-wide, and it's the perfect storm where governments can ignore these problems and not worry about being punished electorally for their failure to act. People forget that they ever breathed smoke by the time an election rolls around, and it gets put back on the backburner. ### **Doug Ford lies** Doug Ford has been working the media this week, pitching himself as the people's man. "We will spare no expense" to protect Ontarians, he says. Of course, this isn't true. He cut the firefighting budget by $40 million compared to last year, and last year their estimates were $100 million too low. As always, the Ontarian government presents themselves as a government for the working man, but in practice they're a government who knows how to throw red meat to the base. Why focus on real problems when you can try to destroy Toronto's bike lanes? As the Ford government cuts funding for the wildfire fighting, he claims that they've sent 50 water bombers out, and hired 100 new personnel. This linguistic game fudges real facts to sound impressive, but the truth is far from it. The province has an official 9 water bombers which are functional, and may have borrowed some from other provinces. When Ford claims 50 water bombers have been sent out, what he might mean (although it's hard to find statistics) is that they've deployed their planes that many times. Meanwhile, inside sources have told us that they've extended 100 people's contracts, but new people were not hired. ### **Power in people's hands** But hope isn't lost. Firefighters are still going, and as emergencies grow people argue that military should be working to fight this as well. This would be a major investment, but a good one since Carney has turned out to be somewhat more hawkish and military focused than any government since the 60s. Many people have died fighting these fires. Trees falling on people, cancerous smoke particles filling their lungs, and complications leading to premature deaths. The life insurance policy that they receive is for $25000, a pitiful amount that wouldn't cover half a year's expenses for the firefighters' families after extricating their bodies and paying for their funerals. But they still show up. They still go. They still believe that they need to fight, because if they don't, then who will? It certainly won't be the politicians or businessmen who are responsible for this. [Hold Power Accountable](#/portal/signup) ### Blood on the province’s hands URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/blood-on-the-provinces-hands/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T13:00:10.000Z As we rolled into Ontario, the information centre in Kenora waved a giant flag at half mast. The thing was huge, patriotic, strikingly red and white. There were chains on the side of the flag that held it to the pole because of how windy the place could get, ripping apart the fabric and tearing it from the enormous lightning rod. It’s not that I ignore Ontario news, I don’t, but I also don’t engage with it as much as I should. I might have been born in Ottawa, but I feel no attachment or love for the province of my birth. Like most people who live outside the province, I recognize that most of the country’s political power lies in Ontario, with all of the other provinces having half of the representation that Ontarians have. In Ottawa, if you win Ontario, you’ll win the election. Usually. Thus, I was confused. Why was this gargantuan flag flying at half mast? For what were we mourning? I was earnestly worried that the premier had died or something. When we entered the building, I asked the clerk of the information centre what had happened. “An officer was killed on duty,” she told me. Tarun Bali, a constable for the Ontario Provincial Police was killed in Hearst. He was chasing a man named [Justin Verroneau, who had escaped a hospital because he was being assessed under the Mental Health Act in Ontario.](https://www.snnewswatch.com/local-news/1st-degree-murder-charge-laid-in-death-of-opp-officer-12401245?ref=onthetrail.info) Verroneau was likely being forced into psychiatric care by the province because of a mental health problem, a practice that has been condemned widely and which studies have shown is a harmful practice. [Keep Power Accountable - Sign Up for a two week trial now](#/portal/signup) “Although the prevention of suicide is a common reason for involuntary treatment ([92](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12459180/?ref=onthetrail.info#CIT0092)), only one of the included studies found that involuntary admission decreased the risk of suicide compared to voluntary admission ([93](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12459180/?ref=onthetrail.info#CIT0093)), while another found an increased risk of presentations to emergency departments with suicidal behaviour after involuntary treatment orders were rescinded by independent review ([94](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12459180/?ref=onthetrail.info#CIT0094)),” ([link](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12459180/?ref=onthetrail.info)) As Verroneau attempted his escape, an accident occurred and Bali, the constable, was hit by the car. Verroneau will be charged with first degree murder. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/DSC06958.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Anatomy of a Revolution URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/anatomy-of-a-revolution/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T13:00:45.000Z There has been one attempt at revolution in Canada. It ended with the head of Louis Riel. We biked through Manitoba, through the plains where the buffalo were driven nearly to extinction, and where I, as a history buff, spent my time thinking about the history of Louis Riel’s resistance. Perhaps the most well known Canadian outside of John A. Macdonald and Pierre Trudeau, Louis Riel was a revolutionary in the truest sense. Some see him as a madman, some see him as a tragic hero. Others, a prophet. Louis Riel was, at the least, a complicated man. First and foremost, he believed in protecting the Métis. Métis, for those who don’t know, means ‘mixed’. It is generally a word used to refer to a very specific, but distinct group of indigenous people in Western Canada. These people are a mix of European and Indigenous ancestry. It has also been used to refer to other mixed ancestry people in countries like Vietnam, who have a similar European/indigenous background. The most common group in the world to be referred to as Métis are the people in Canada. They are one of three broad groups we refer to as Indigenous, along with the Inuit and First Nations. [Keep Power Accountable - Sign up for a two week trial today](#/portal/signup) Riel led two resistances against the Canadian government. For that, he was killed. The murder of Louis Riel caused such an uproar in French Canada that it permanently ruptured the link between Quebec and Ottawa. His execution became, and remains, the symbol of English colonization of the French speaking peoples of Canada. What he means to us today is something more than he ever could have while he was alive. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Liberal return to office order a “handout” to banks: CAPE URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/liberal-return-to-office-order-a-handout-to-banks-cape/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T13:00:18.000Z During the Pandemic, businesses and government began to adopt a remote work strategy. It allowed people to work from home, tending to their kids, their dogs, to eat healthier by cooking during lunch, and to continue getting their jobs done. Today, that reality is dead. Companies are demanding that people return to work in person, despite strong resistance. Restaurants in downtown cores are lobbying to have office workers return, as their biggest business comes from lunch goers. And considering everything is via the internet, why shouldn’t this be the case? The government has been following suit. ### Austerity As the Mark Carney Liberals implement a major policy of austerity, cutting up to 40,000 public sector jobs, one of the largest federal public service unions in Canada believes that the return to office orders by the Mark Carney Liberal government is being done in order to protect real estate value. “While Prime Minister Mark Carney talks about building a strong economy, his actions show clear choices to weaken the public service, prop up an economic reality that’s inaccessible for most Canadians, and make it easier for profit-first private interests to move in when public systems are under strain,” Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) said. They “believe Carney’s main motivation for RTO is to give a handout to four big banks to protect their roughly $10B of commercial real estate.” Return to Office (RTO) orders are becoming the norm for businesses nowadays. The main reason? Real estate in downtown office buildings, whether for banks or for government services, has lost some of its value. Any company who owns an office is suddenly seeing that investment struggle— along with it, businesses in downtown cores can’t pay their rent. As people return to in-person work, the price for commercial real estate is once again rising. The government’s shift towards RTO orders is a divergence from the Trudeau era, where reducing office mandates was projected to save money, as well as reduce carbon emissions nationally. In an internal document received by an access to information request, the government’s own research shows that up to $40B dollars could be saved through continuing work from home policies. “Under a 50% office space reduction scenario, Public Spaces and Procurement Canada (PSPC) anticipates that it will fully meet… carbon net zero of its Crown-Owned assets in 2032,” the document says. It goes on to add that with a 70% reduction in the use of office space there could be a “cost avoidance from the status quo of… $39.10B with a 70% reduction over ten years.” The RTO orders have required the federal government to purchase two new buildings, and reverse policy. CAPE believes that this isn’t a bailout of commercial real estate, but a handout to the big banks. “It's 40 billion dollars for people to go back to work and be less productive, more emissions, more people on the road,” a spokesperson for CAPE told *On the Trail.* They explained that Carney is ”socializing private risk while the taxpayers and workers really get nothing in return other than a promise to have these industries continuing to operate in Canada— but no guarantee of taxpayer return.” **Protecting Private, Defunding Public** If the Carney government is protecting banks, it could be related to their deep relationships that are well established through near constant lobbying. [These banking institutions lobby almost every single part of the government, and have one of the most successful and well oiled lobbying machines to get what they want from government action.](https://theijf.org/lobbying-registry?active=All&page=1&ref=onthetrail.info) Using the IJF’s lobbying registry and matching it with our own, we see that every major bank has lobbying going on for a variety of subjects, although there is nothing specifically related to commercial real estate mentioned in these files that we have found. [Still, the Liberal government is quickly moving to cut public spending and put much taxpayer money into the pockets of private fossil fuel based companies](https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/mark-carney-runs-roughshod-over-the-environment-its-worse-than-what-harper-did/article%5F1fa59928-a8d5-481a-896b-405c86a466d1.html?ref=onthetrail.info), opposite to the values outlined in Mark Carney’s book of the same name. Meanwhile, as the Liberals prioritize fossil fuel subsidies, major cuts to the public service are ensuing. The [CCPA estimates that the public sector had finally reached a sustainable level that would properly serve Canadian needs, and cutting their services will have a major impact on Canadians.](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/budget-cuts-by-stealth-letting-programs-sunset-to-cut-costs-wont-be-painless/?ref=onthetrail.info) [There is an outsized impact specifically on women and indigenous services,](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/federal-cuts-will-worsen-gender-racial-and-indigenous-inequality-in-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) [which have been widely condemned by indigenous groups across Canada, and seem to be heading towards greater conflicts.](https://chiefs-of-ontario.org/first-nations-leadership-united-in-opposition-to-liberal-governments-unprecedented-bill-c-5/?ref=onthetrail.info) Services that are being seriously impacted by cuts include: Crown-Indigenous relations ($7.2B in cuts), Indigenous Services Canada ($3.684B in cuts), the Pharmacare program, the Childcare programs, Nature Legacy Program, Chemicals Management Plan, the National Adaptation Strategy, Health Canada ($3B in cuts), as well as Asylum seekers and refugees receiving less comprehensive health care. **Collective Action** In response, CAPE is holding a protest outside of the Prime Minister’s office, across from Parliament. Their goal is to make the Prime Minister “respond and tell the truth about this.” So far, the government sector has struggled to get sympathy from the broader public. A disinformation campaign has taken place to discredit their work, and make their struggle seem less important than it is. It’s all too easy to look in a comment section about public workers and see the grievances of individuals that feel the public sector incentivizes lazy workers and low quality production. Ever since more workers have begun being laid off, [people have been struggling with overwork and burnout.](https://psacunion.ca/cuts-canadas-public-service-leading-overwork?ref=onthetrail.info) The problem is getting worse and workers are asked to do more with less, and asked to use AI tools to compensate for a smaller workforce— [AI is highly distrusted by Canadians,](https://globalnews.ca/news/11888860/canada-ai-strategy-preview/?ref=onthetrail.info) and poses [serious security concerns.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12579840/?ref=onthetrail.info) CAPE wants power to be back in the hands of the people, and although the public hasn’t responded with sympathy, they believe that they can get people back on their side when taxpayers realize their money is being mismanaged. “The plan is to continue the pressure campaign on Carney and the banks to tell the truth into the summer, while talking about the impacts that all Carney's public service cuts are having on different departments, but also on Canadians' standard of living,” Prier said. “Also, CAPE’s largest groups head into bargaining this fall. [CAPE’s members have chosen conciliation for the first time](https://www.acep-cape.ca/en/vote-priorities-mechanism?ref=onthetrail.info), which does leave the door open to labour action.” “The campaign is geared towards the taxpayers. It's meant to mobilize more workers. We're bargaining this year and next year,” The spokesperson said. “The public right now has been saying ‘oh, boo-hoo, you have to go to back to the office, I do too.’ What we're trying to say is ‘no, you're getting screwed, and workers are getting screwed.” ### Not built to last URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/not-built-to-last/ Last updated: 2026-07-18T17:21:28.000Z ### THIS ARTICLE IS FREE BECAUSE IT’S ISAAC’S FAVOURITE ARTICLE WE’VE MADE FOR THE PAPER TRAIL. ENJOY. “Call this a wooden spoon?” The old man’s voice sounded like gravel scattered over a tin roof. “What’s wrong with the spoon?” A lower voice with less holes in it replied. “I didn’t say anything wasn’t right with it.” The other man considered this for a moment. I listened idly with my back turned. “Nothing wrong with a plastic spoon but there’s sure nothing wrong with a wooden one.” “Sure.” A paper straw works just as well as a plastic one now.” “It’s fake wood though.” “The paper?” “The spoon. A composite. Too thin, sorry excuse for wood and for a spoon.” “It’s fine enough I don’t know what your problem is with it.” “It’d melt if you put it in my Oma’s coffee.” “A steel beam would melt in your Oma’s coffee. But at least it would last longer than the plastic spoon.” Tin speakers crooned out the classic *she was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar* overhead and two old men coughed at each other, eating cheesecake and coffee. Each bite of cake brought to the lips by a small composite wood spoon. In the aging farmers meaty hands, it looked as though the paltry spoon could snap in half with only the slightest breeze. Isaac and I sat at the next table, watching the rain pour outside, waiting for it to break. “Did you get the machine to work?” “Which machine?” “The machine, I was down here two weeks ago and you said you were trying to fix the machine. How should I know which one it is.” “Oh that one.” Then he paused. “No.” Thin slices of cardboard basted lightly with cheese and red sauce oscillate under a flickering heat lamp in an enclosed glass case. “John says he’s in Brandon now.” “Who?” The other man belches and does not reply. He does not seem to have heard. A silence lapses over the pair, only to be broken by the long wheezing sips of coffee pulled from the edge of a paper cup. The silence lasts a long time. Eventually one of them leans over to talk to Isaac and I instead, the obvious interlopers in these parts. But when the rain abates and we walk out the door I see through the window that the two affable old farmers have slipped back into their silence. They each drive over an hour every week to meet at the highway road stop, where they sip cheap coffee, complain about the spoons, then sit in silence. Across this country old men are meeting in highway rest stops in groups of two to six, the same way they have been for years. The same questions are asked, the same stories are told, the same truth is revealed. My father used to joke “In Alberta, the information super-highway is four farmers leaning on a truck bed and talking about the weather.” The truth isn’t that far off. In small population areas especially, those regular points of contact are crucial for maintaining a network of support and a sense of community. In the modern age the trading post that everyone gathers their wagons around to find out what’s been happening, looks a lot like an A&W. In Europe old men clasp their hands behind their back and watch the construction workers excavate the ancient roman ruin that was discovered while they were trying to put in a new water pipe. They carry plastic chairs to century old stone courtyards in the middle of the city, smoke cigarettes and chat. In Canada they sit in the A&W, sipping coffee, ignoring the fact the fast-food chain has recently released a smash burger, and it is not very good. It is easy to romanticise, in a shallow way, the flagstone features provided for the congenial elderly in Italy or Rome, but what can we learn from our own gathering places? What do our fast-food forums for culture indicate about the ever-elusive Canadian identity? Canada is young. Town squares in those fabled European countries cost very little now because they were built by an entirely different regime that probably used a now completely defunct currency to pay for said square. Due to our size and membership in the leading country unions (UN, G7, NATO, NAFTA, Etc.) it is easy to place ourselves on the same level as them, and in some respects, we are, but in others we still have a long way to go. The First Nations people across this land were here from time immemorial, however it is hard to argue that Canada has built its culture in partnership with this reality. We are slowly, painfully, bit-by-bit, getting better at recognizing and integrating that history and teaching into our understanding of this land but I think it is fair to say that Canadian culture as it stands, was not built in hand in hand with the long standing culture that came before. So, in effect, Canada’s cultural infrastructure has very little to build off. In Saskatchewan, along the smaller town streets, the buildings look worn and ancient. The wood slat facades make me believe a gun slinger may step out at any moment. These buildings, the old west wooden structures, feel representative of Canadas youngest moments as a country. These historical buildings are all less than a hundred years old. There were older buildings before this, but they were built by settlers to last a few seasons, perhaps a generation or two, not several hundred years. Survival has been the most crucial aspect of our construction. We are building our culture infrastructure from the ground up and we are trying to do it fast, so it makes perfect sense to me that our meeting places for the common man happen to be fast food chains. Items here are cheap, but profitable enough for the business. The seats are plastic, the walls are prefab, none of it will last more than fifty years. Our buildings are not made with an eye on longevity, but rather on cost and effectivity for the task at hand. Canada is not as far from the sod house pioneers as we believe. They’ve just become a little shinier, with better insulated windows. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/DSC06906.jpeg) ### What is left of union strength? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-is-left-of-union-strength/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T13:00:48.000Z Are unions still able to change the nation? They did that once in Winnipeg, the most significant strike that was ever held in Canada. It was the largest general strike in North American history. It permanently shaped the future of the nation and the power of unions in the country. The Winnipeg General Strike is one of the greatest moments in Canadian history, and shows how Canada truly differentiated itself from the United States. Under the surface is a true, deep socialist root that has always existed. Because of Canada’s inheritance of the Westminster system from our British ancestry, the left has had a much larger place in the national conversation, with social democratic provincial and federal governments. Manitobans were in a horrible state at the time of the strike— social inequity was rampant, and people weren’t being paid wages that matched their formidable output. Winnipeg had become one of the biggest up-and-coming cities of the era, and the labour movement in the city grew naturally as labourers migrated to the city for work. A large number of Eastern European immigrants had come to the city, bringing with them socialist ideas and a revolutionary ideology that was imported because of the 1917 Russian Revolution. [Keep power accountable - sign up for a two week trial now](#/portal/signup) These ideas became codified in western labour meetings, and a vote on striking was held on May 1st, 1919\. In a vote of 8,667 to 645, they voted in favour. The unions called for every major industry to stop, and the labourers across the city gathered to stand up against their working conditions. 30,000 people walked off the job. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Canada Has No Identity URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canada-has-no-identity/ Last updated: 2026-06-27T14:09:50.000Z Did you know that Canadian highway signs make a creaking noise? Every time a semi-truck barrels past one of those markers suspended by a chain, it emits a slow whinge to nowhere. They are signs you have passed a thousand times, the ones indicating the flow of traffic, the angle of the road, the narrowing of the shoulder, you have seen them so often they hardly register, and every time you have passed them they have let out a small groan in response. A groan you have never heard. There are large distances in this country in which that metal whine, and the engines guzzling past, are the dominant sound. Some days when the winds gusts reach a certain fervour, it is only the metal creak and no engine noise at all. I have listened to these mournful sentries as I pedaled slowly past. I have listened and been devastated by the distance that they represent. That all across this country, in the hinterlands, in the prairies, in the east, and the west, there are metal signs creaking out solemn whistles and no one can hear them because our country is too vast. [Keep power accountable - sign up for a two week trial now](#/portal/signup) To be the second largest country in the world (and Canada is that) requires only one thing: mass. It does not require population, power, prestige, it doesn’t even require cohesion. Canada is a collection of provinces and territories that were banded together in a reactionary way to some local happenings it deemed less than savoury. It was not made out of unity, but rather from each province’s individual sense of what they could get out of the bargain to align intentions coast to coast to coast. Still, since Canada’s official formation, it is clear that its citizens have begun to believe that, by nature of being connected by law, our provinces now also have a shared identity. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/DSC06278.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Opinion: Avi Lewis needs to get a seat in the house URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/avi-lewis-needs-to-get-a-seat-in-the-house/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T13:01:54.000Z Avi Lewis is a great opposition leader. So why isn’t he trying to get a seat in the house? He needs to be in the house. We all know it. Looking at the polling data on who knows Avi Lewis is painful. Lewis is a giant unknown. People would like him if he was able to get any attention outside of the left, but without the resources of Parliament and the daily media scrums, how is he supposed to get the attention that he so desperately requires to have a reputation? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-d52fb4ba-2633-40ae-bee6-b67642ad8ac6.jpeg) It‘s even worse in Quebec. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/IMG_0839.jpeg) Avi Lewis is a complete unknown in most of the country. He needs a platform to make himself known, and the best platform for that is the Parliament. After Poilievre was elected leader of the Conservatives, [more than 50 per cent of Canadians rapidly knew who he was. It seems that it could be as few as 10 per cent know who Lewis is.](https://youtu.be/-CG7m5gwWKo?si=RCwUtXjCT1iXZw8R&ref=onthetrail.info) In a blind test where people were asked to write in the name of each leader of every party, a lot of folks still thought the leader is Jagmeet Singh. If he was in Parliament, he could change that much easier. The truth is that his movement building outside of Parliament is not garnering attention. How do you rebuild the NDP if no one thinks of them as a relevant party? As far as most people know, the leader of the party doesn’t exist, or is the old guy. ### Growth When I interviewed Lewis way back in the day, I had criticisms of how he performed to my lowball questions. Since then he has significantly improved, and become an excellent communicator who has changed my view on his communication style. I said that he could wind up the [“Pierre Poilievre of the left” ](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-ndp-has-a-lot-of-blind-spots/)because he repeated so many slogans early on in his run. He must have heard me, and whomever else, because these days he’s improved to a degree that‘s shaken me. [Keep power accountable - sign up for a two week free trial](#/portal/signup) Still, this improvement isn’t going to make a dent when so few people know who you are. Right now, media outlets aren’t gonna quote the NDP on almost anything. Without the leader in the house, it doesn’t seem worth it. Over and over media pundits have questioned his decision not to try for a seat, but unanimously they agree on why he doesn’t want to do it. It’s simple: He’s afraid. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Western Ontario Just Keeps Going URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/western-ontario-just-keeps-going/ Last updated: 2026-06-23T13:00:52.000Z ## [LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE HERE](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) Astoundingly, we’ve made it nearly 1500 KM into Ontario, with no end in sight. There remains another near 1000 Km to go. There are also few people in the west of the province, with a total of about 1/5 the population of the prairies in the area, despite taking up nearly as much distance. It’s challenging to create a large society when there isn’t a lot of industry to rely on. The problem is, of course, that there isn’t any farming potential west of Sault Ste Marie. Instead, the Canadian Shield takes the whole landmass up, with pine trees lining either side of the highway that we’re biking on. Still, as we broke through Marathon, we discovered an untapped beauty that’s more or less incomparable with anything else in the country. Despite our minimal interactions with society, we’ve still managed to fit in some excellent journalism; food critiquing. Today we will reveal the astounding revelations of our time in Thunder Bay and eating their famous pastry, the Persian. Then, we try Robin’s Donuts (it was bad) and then we have the greatest Apple Fritters in the world. After all this faffing about, we discuss how much we love the prairies, and bid our final adieu to the region which so impressed upon us. We walked away a changed people, deeply in love with a strange but beautiful culture that all of us tend to ignore. What does it mean to have a news desert? Sadly the prairies are an undercovered, under appreciated region of the country. Luckily, we have tons of articles coming out about the place— it left a lasting impression on us, and we hope you’ll enjoy what’s to come. Nonetheless, we rank the prairies in our usual lighthearted fashion. This, and more in this week’s Paper Trail Podcast. ### The Parti Quebecois; from Social Democratic to right wing dog whistles URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-ruins-of-a-social-democracy/ Last updated: 2026-06-20T14:58:39.000Z \*Updated because I said Jacques Parizeau was the founder of Quebecor, when I mean Jean Karl Péladeau. Big dumb mistake. “I think that the values and principles of the majority of Quebecers – they are social democrats, they want to share the wealth and take care of their neighbours and their communities,” Alexandre Boulerice said to Mike Le Couteur. Boulerice has recently resigned his seat and left the New Democratic Party at five seats in the house of commons. This belief has circulated the country for decades. Quebec has long been considered the most left leaning of the Canadian provinces, having seen a shift in 1960 under Jean Lesage’s Liberal party– the beginning of the Quiet Revolution. The social systems and policy that defined the province reached its apex under the Parti Quebecois. For 35 years, until 1995, the province moved left, building out the most robust social welfare system in North America, creating a unique political system known as “the Quebec model.” It wasn’t as social democratic as Scandinavian countries, but it was far more so than Canada, the United States, or many European states. It had found a balance between the free market of the new world, and the socialist infused democracies of many European nations. Although the PQ were the fathers of the Quebec model, after 1995 the party started undergoing a shift to the right. It was gradual, almost imperceptible, but when it started there was no turning back. Today, the PQ looks closer to a party aligned with Maurice Duplessis than it does with René Levesque. The downfall of the PQ from a party of nation building to become a party of grievance, racism, and anger is the story of Quebec transforming after the 1995 referendum. Quebec is not remotely the same place that it was before the 2000s. Quebec has entered a new era. **The Néo Noirceur.** [Help hold corruption back](#/portal/account/plans) --- _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The birth of a ghost town URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-birth-of-a-ghost-town/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T13:00:28.000Z ### A ghost town on the horizon The Village of Abbey is not a ghost town. Yet. At the village bar, where I met Curtis Smith, there are histories hidden in every knick-knack and decoration on the wall. On one cross beam, the ranch brands of the local farms are burned into wooden planks. A moose someone shot is mounted on the wall and has quite the story attached to it though we never managed to get to it as the conversation bobbed and weaved across the village’s threads, picking through its founding all the way to the present day. Since at least 1981 the village of Abbey has been shrinking. It is not unique in this way. As Isaac and I biked down the quieter farm highways of Saskatchewan we came upon hamlets, villages, and towns that appeared largely derelict aside from a few still maintained houses here and there. [hold power to account - start a free trial or upgrade your subscription now](#/portal/account/plans) Yet none of these ghost towns started that way. Every single one of them at one point had been a community hub of bustling activity and Abbey was no different. It had a hospital, a bank, restaurants, stores, even the oldest GM dealership in Western Canada, which was opened in 1916\. The village was a thriving community of people who called the place home. “You couldn’t find a parking spot on the weekends” Dallas Thompson said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/DSC06408.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A&W Is Canada’s Culture URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-w-is-canadas-culture/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T13:00:36.000Z ## [LISTEN TO THE EPISODE NOW](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) A&W is clearly the dominant culture of Canada. It’s hard to believe, we know, but as we journey from place to place, it is without doubt that we have discovered the truth: A&W is the most full expression of modern Canadian culture. As the years drag on, and time lapses, Tim Hortons has been overcome by the true fast food chain. Across every town, every city, and in every corner, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be an A&W waiting for you. We have travelled massive distances since we last updated you— we were in Regina last week, but now? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. We’ve seen the greatest of Canadian cultures, and the depth of the people around us, but we have questions. Isaac ponders about the logistics and practicality of such a large nation, where Jay thinks that the nation is united nonetheless. He recounts his time reading through a book about city planning, and how poor a job Canadian cities have done to create street culture. Instead… well, read the first paragraph. In this lighthearted episode, we go into our ideas of the future book about this project, and lament that maybe we’ve done a poor job selling this project as much as we could have. Listen now to hear all this, and more! ### Family Farms are disappearing forever URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/family-farms-are-disappearing-forever/ Last updated: 2026-06-13T13:00:39.000Z ### **The desert plains** 100 Kilometers from any source of water, Isaac and I decided that it was time to trespass. It was 30 degrees outside, and we had been draining our limited supply of hydration at an alarming rate while cycling down Albertan back roads. Our bottles were close to empty. Sweat dripped from our heads onto our glasses, turning the road into abstract asphalt smudges. That’s when we spotted a man working on his farm truck by the entrance of a Quonset hut full of old tractors. He was the only human we’d seen in hours outside of the occasional passing vehicle, and if we were lucky, he was our ticket to a full water bottle. We turned off highway 570, a glorified range road, and onto the stranger’s property. As we rode closer the man turned off his trucks idling engine and wiped his oil slicked hands on a rag he pulled from the fords bench seat. He wore a ballcap and thick gas station sunglasses, his shoulders could fit a school bus between them. [Hold power to account - start a free trial or upgrade to a higher tier](#/portal/account/plans) “Hi,” Isaac began “We’re cycling across the country right now and have used a lot of water today, we were wondering if we could fill up at your tap?” “Of course. You can come with me over to the house!” He began walking towards the small farmhouse across the gravel driveway from the Quonset hut and we followed him. Introducing myself as we walked, I learned his name was Joel. When I reached to shake his hand, we clasped too early and somehow, I found my entire fist barely wrapping around his first two knuckles. I had a sudden vision of what it must feel like to be a spring leaf on a windy day, barely holding onto its branch. As we filled up at his tap he pointed to the house being built further down his land. “I’m a fourth-generation farmer on this land; it’s about 3,000 acres. That’s my parents putting up a new house there, this used to be theirs but now I’ve taken it over and they’re getting the new one.” I told him how much I admired that he was the fourth generation to farm there, and he agreed but added. “I’m not sure how we keep doing it, everything’s just getting too damn expensive.” “3,000 acres are about the average for a family farm, but there are few and far between now.” We told him we were headed east into the next province via the 44 and he laughed. “You’ll know when you hit Saskatchewan, because the road turns into nothing but potholes. It won’t matter though no one drives there so you can just ride down the middle of the road. No one will bother you.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/DSC06322.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A socialist in the Badlands URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-socialist-in-the-badlands/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T13:00:31.000Z *\*Authors note, we believe that censoring words is a form of patronizing people. This article uses the word “fag” while talking about a group of people who seem to use the word liberally. We believe it is important to accurately represent discussions and be brutally honest, so we include swear words in our articles with the assumption that people will be mature enough to read these words and take it in context. With that said, content warning.* ### **A socialist in the Badlands** Jeremy lives deep in the badlands— the most conservative part of the country. This is the heart of separatist culture in Alberta, and also a place where being on the left means that you might not be able to get a job. “I’m quiet. Quiet to the point of denial if pressed,” Jeremy said. “For employment, I would deny it, yes.” He moved here as a career move— a good job was offered, and if he stomachs the problems he’s facing for a couple years, he’ll be able to move elsewhere and line up a better job. But the sacrifice is steep. [Hold power accountable - sign up for a free trial now, or upgrade your plan](#/portal/account/plans) Jeremy grew up in the east, raised in a highly conservative small town. It’s not as though conservatism is something that he fears, or something that bothers him so much, despite his opposition to its ideas— but in the Badlands, things are different. “Immigration, or indigenous people, anything remotely queer is immediately attacked. There’s no discussion. There’s no listening to another side. Anything related to those subjects is inherently evil, and has to be attacked with vitriol. The more moderate people will pass you off as an idiot— you’re a woke easterner who doesn’t know anything. It’s likely going to end up in a racist tirade against Indians,” He said. His partner, an immigrant from Europe, is white. But she has an accent. Still, people don’t consider her an immigrant because of the tone of her skin. She’ll be at the gym, working out and will hear people talking openly about their grievances— “fags are taking over the government, all the government cares about is getting more fags, making our kids fags,” they’ll say without any remorse, or second thought. “It’s extreme and out of touch. It’s like stepping into an alternate universe within Canada.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### We got honourable mentions at the Digital Publishing Awards URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/we-got-honourable-mentions-at-the-digital-publishing-awards/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T15:13:27.000Z ## [LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) That’s a fancy way to say that we lost. To Front Burner! But we still got the honourable mention, which is something that will be going in our bios and whatnot. Still, we did well with a $2000 budget against Front Burner’s millions, and the other podcasts we were up against. We’re super happy with how things are going. Meanwhile, we haven’t moved very far since last week. Isaac had to fly home to go to their sister’s wedding, and was gone for a period of about 30 hours (with no sleep). Now the trip is radically freed up as the two of us charge across the country with nothing on our backs weighing us down! Ontario, here we come. We also talk about the weird experience of talking about separation on social media, and people expecting us to be activists as opposed to journalists, something which confuses people. We explain the details of what it means to be openly on the left, but non partisan, and Agnes, the dog, barks at us in the background. All this and more this week! ### The only solution to separation is proportional representation URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-only-solution-to-separation-is-proportional-representation/ Last updated: 2026-06-06T13:00:02.000Z If the central government wanted to stop separation referenda from occurring, it could do it quickly with a simple fix. It’s called proportional representation. Soon enough, me and my colleague Donal Gill will have a major article coming out on The Walrus about proportional representation. The gist? If people want Liberals to stop winning constantly, this is the only solution. If you’re left wing, if you’re right wing, the only solution to have real unity in this enormous country is to fix the electoral system. We stood on the streets of Drumheller, the heart of the separatist movement. Battle River-Crowfoot is one of the top three most reliable conservative bastions in the country. They will vote conservative under any and all circumstances. Federally, provincially, they will vote conservative. It doesn’t matter who the leader is, it doesn’t matter what the policies are— they will elect conservatives. [keep power accountable - try a free trial now, or upgrade your plan](#/portal/account/plans) When Pierre Poilievre lost his Ottawa seat in the 2025 election, he turned around and ran in Battle River-Crowfoot. He won easily. ### Should Alberta Separate? Jay and I stood outside of Vintage bar holding a sign that said “Should Alberta Separate?” The town was dead quiet. We didn’t think we’d get a single person to speak with us, but we thought we’d give it a shot nonetheless. Immediately, we caught some fish. Two British people walked out of the bar. They’ve lived here for forty five years. They’re about as Canadian as you can get, but they have clear English accents. For them, the question was simple. Yes, Alberta should leave the country. Why would they want to stay when taxes were so high? Their argument boiled down to “no taxation without representation.” I asked them if a better electoral system, with proportional representation, would fix their grievance. They said yes, but it would never happen in a million years. They’re right. A car drove past with an indigenous driver. I yelled the question at him. “Fuck no!” He yelled back. Another guy drove by. Same question. “Fuck yes!” He yelled back. Linda walked out of the pharmacy, limping. Her leg had a brace on it to help her walk. In her hand she had a bag of painkillers. She asked us how we were doing. We told her we were journalists trying to find out what was up with the separatists in town, and if she thought people were truly separatists. She explained that she was a pretty staunch conservative, but she didn’t find the discussion too bad. Some people wanted to separate, but most people didn’t in her opinion. She does think that Alberta has been mistreated though. She works in a correctional facility as a guard. To her shame, she didn’t injure her legs in an epic prison break or something fun like that. “I tripped and fell while working,” she said, laughing. She left, and more people came by. We started speaking to them. Then Pete appeared. ### Get outta here, boys “You boys gotta leave,” he grumbled at us. “You can’t be in front of the bar.” “Are you the owner?“ Jay asked. “No. But you gotta leave. Can’t have people associating separatism with the bar. I’m no Liberal or anything though, Alberta needs to get the hell out, but you just can’t be here.” Pete declined any association with the bar. Maybe he was the building’s landlord— we don’t know. But he certainly was no Liberal, and personally, he wants Alberta to separate. We asked him if it would be fine if Alberta was properly represented in the electoral system. “Obviously. But it’ll never happen.” We moved ten meters away to the other side of the road. We stood in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix) and did the exact same thing. Three people stopped. We interviewed them. “I actually think western Canada should separate,” Teagan said. For her, the whole western half of the country isn’t represented, and should define their own destiny. “There’s no voice for Alberta in Ottawa.” What if there was a different electoral system? “Yep, that would be a really good thing.” Would it be better than separation? “Yep, I would say so.” But she doesn’t believe it’ll ever happen. None of these people do. And for good reason. Because it probably won’t. ### Canadian democracy Canada is one of the least democratic “western democracies” in the world. We have good stability, and our systems are definitely lightly democratic, but it isn’t a system where average every day people can be involved. Donal believes in a committee based system where people help in shaping laws and systems. I don’t personally see this as realistic— [I wrote an article about it.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/how-can-democracy-survive-this-new/) I do think it’s realistic to change the electoral system. With the Liberals in power, it probably won’t happen. But it would be easy. Canada is more “liberal” than it is “democratic.” These are political science terms. ”Liberal” means that a country follows the rule of law and emphasizes the rights of the individual— it often includes features such as the right to property and equality under the law. It requires that legal systems be able to be understood by all. “Democratic” means that the country participates in voting— or that power remains in the hands of “the people.” These two qualifiers are both on a spectrum. Hungary under Victor Orban was an “illiberal” democracy. Singapore is a de facto dictatorship, being essentially a one-party state, but it remains liberal since it respects human rights and the rule of law. These systems can be more democratic and less liberal, such as the United States where they vote on *everything* including sheriffs, judges, and a whole group of other subjects, but the rule of law is less emphasized in the country, particularly post-9/11\. Meanwhile, Canada has become more liberal, but has remained relatively undemocratic. We vote during elections, and that’s about it. Other systems have greater mixes, such as Switzerland (a direct democracy) or the UK (less liberalism because they have no written constitution.) Prior to Pierre Trudeau, Canada was extremely similar to the UK. The constitution was in Britain, and the Parliament could dictate human rights, since there was no charter In Canada enshrining these things. The repatriation of the constitution fundamentally changed Canada’s character, making the country more focused on individual rights and freedoms, although the notwithstanding clause was created to find a balance between liberalism and parliamentary supremacy. The problem is that we call ourselves democracy, without having a representative system. We use essentially the same system that it’s been since John Diefenbaker. Canada has solidified its democratic institutions more, Trudeau strengthened some of the voting laws and has made it easy for people to vote, but representation in the country is still lacking. When a majority of Albertans vote conservative, their vote counts for less because of how the vote is concentrated. When NDP voters on the west coast wait for the election results in the evening, their vote often feels wasted since Ontario and Quebec will sometimes decide a majority before the western provinces even close their polling stations. If the Carney government was serious about stopping separatist sentiments across the country, including Quebec, a proportional system would easily do it. Suddenly Albertans would have a voice in the parliament. The problem? It means the Liberals wouldn’t win for twenty years at a time. The Liberals won’t change the system unless the threat of being completely destroyed in the polls exists. It seems that any party in power will avoid changing the system. Why change the system that gave you power? The other day we wrote about cynicism becoming the dominant political culture in Canada. Many people feel cynical about democratic systems. Strengthening the system will not create a paradise of perfect unity in the country. But at least it could make people feel like their vote matters for once. ### Liberals reject transparency in election spending URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/liberals-reject-transparency-in-election-spending/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T13:00:09.000Z [A new Liberal bill would open the door for individual donors](https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/charter-charte/c25%5F2.html?ref=onthetrail.info), who might not be Canadian, to pay millions in order to influence elections without any transparency. Through a glaring loophole that enables anonymous donors to “third parties” (a person or group that wants to participate in or influence elections other than as a political party,) individuals, even foreign actors, could legally influence elections. The bill will allow “undemocratic and unethical spending, fundraising, donations, loans, and disinformation campaigns by wealthy Canadians, lobbyists and front groups funded by foreign governments, businesses and other organizations,” according to Democracy Watch, a watchdog for democratic institutions. The Liberals wholesale rejected proposals to amend Bill C-25, which changes the Canada Elections Act. The bill removes requirements from the Liberals to publish fundraising events in advance, and allows them to keep money that was made at secret fundraising events that ignore the rules around holding these types of soirées. NDP Don Davies tried to remove these clauses within the bill in order to protect the status quo, but it was rejected. We contacted his office about the bill, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Meanwhile, Conservative MP, Michael Cooper, tried to implement an amendment in the act that would require “third parties” to report donor information, but this was also rejected. "These amendments would have removed the exemption that allows third parties to use their own funds for regulated election activities if 10% or less of their revenue the previous year came from donations. Witnesses testified that this rule is easily subverted, allowing shell organizations funded entirely by foreign entities to spend millions influencing our elections,” Cooper said in a statement. He expressed disappointment in the Liberals for failing to close a loophole that will lead to foreign interference in Canadian elections. **Influencing party nominations** Third parties are able to spend unlimited amounts of money on *nomination* *contests*, and they don’t have to disclose who their donors are. This occurred last year with Mark Carney. A substantial amount of money was spent pushing for Carney to become the leader of the Liberal party, but the third parties who donated for this to happen did not have to disclose who was backing this. Carney became prime minister without being elected by the public through this nomination process. **No spending limits before elections, no transparency in cash flow** Canadian law also dictates limits on the amount of money that can be spent before an election by third parties, but this law only applies to fixed date elections— if a snap election occurs, there are no limits to third party spending beforehand. Ironically, disclosure of donors for third parties is a law in the United States. To implement transparency laws around this would bring Canada up to date with basic laws that are already in place south of the border. Duff Conacher, co founder of Democracy Watch said that third parties “can spend millions themselves, during a pre election period, and during the election period, (they can spend) more than $600,000\. They don't have to disclose whether it's their money or whether they got it from a foreign government or a foreign business or some other foreign entity.” If a foreign entity was to donate to these third parties, interfering in Canada’s electoral process, they can hide it behind a third party since they are not required to disclose who donated. “It is illegal to use foreign money— but you don't disclose who donated it. So how does elections Canada, or the Commissioner of Canada Elections ever know? It's legal for you to just say it's our own funds as a third-party interest group, or as an individual voter,” Conacher said. **Little to address misinformation** Further problems have been highlighted in the bill. The bill ignores obvious problems with misinformation. Bill C-25 bans deepfakes, but remains highly targeted in its understanding of misinformation. For the areas where it identifies misinformation as illegal, it also institutes a requirement that the misinformation has to be created with the intent of influencing election results or disrupting the election, a requirement that is more or less impossible to prove, as attested to by the Chief Electoral Officer in 2018\. The bill has been presented as a solution to prevent the “longest ballot” initiative. The longest ballot initiative is a protest movement to protest the *first past the post* system that leads to wildly skewed electoral results that favour the Liberals almost exclusively. It was used several times throughout 2025 and 2026, [most notably in Pierre Poilievre’s riding in Battle River-Crowfoot.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/future-long-ballot-committee-1.7613963?ref=onthetrail.info) Carney has led the Liberal government to implement backsliding on [environmental issues that have been called “worse than Stephen Harper”](https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/mark-carney-runs-roughshod-over-the-environment-its-worse-than-what-harper-did/article%5F1fa59928-a8d5-481a-896b-405c86a466d1.html?ref=onthetrail.info), [it has removed the advertising rules implemented under Trudeau,](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carney-government-alters-federal-ad-rules-set-up-to-curb-partisan-agendas/article%5F3601ecec-af87-4a4f-9987-cd4eafb4eabf.html?ref=onthetrail.info) and [Carney is under fire for silencing his caucus members by yelling at them and crushing dissent.](https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/he-yells-mark-carneys-focus-has-liberal-mps-bristling/article%5Ff2abbdb9-5c04-440c-8e37-a0c54e0a18a0.html?ref=onthetrail.info) The party has rapidly moved to the right, and could accurately be portrayed as a conservative government with Liberal red. Last week, Steven Guilbeault, a well known environmental activist and minister under Trudeau,[ left the party because of this rapid shift to the right](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/guilbeault-resigns-mp-9.7213921?ref=onthetrail.info)— especially around the environment. Conacher believes that this might happen again with other left leaning Liberals who are dissatisfied with the Carney approach to politics. Despite Conacher’s beliefs, there have been no indications that left wing Liberals in the government are doing much to push back against Carney. Conacher thinks they might be waiting until after CUSMA negotiations to avoid accusations of being anti-Canadian. [Carney has massive support in opinion polling](https://leger360.com/in-the-news-liberals-reach-highest-level-support/?ref=onthetrail.info), and seems poised to continue his popularity in the short term, although history has taught us how [rapidly support in opinion polling can collapse](https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2024/03/the-mulroney-years-transformation-and-tumult/?ref=onthetrail.info). This government has shown itself to be extremely concerned with business interests, [and lobbyists have been rabidly talking to Carney’s Liberals.](https://theijf.org/article/year-in-lobbying-2025?ref=onthetrail.info) [Carney is actively looking to sell off large amounts of Canadian publicly owned assets](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/how-will-airport-privatization-impact-travel-9.7189042?ref=onthetrail.info), and supporting carbon intensive projects that are destructive to the planet. It seems that we have entered another era of mass privatization, which will likely lead to [cost increases for Canadians](https://psacunion.ca/privatization-costs-more-provides-less-and-puts?ref=onthetrail.info) [during a recession.](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-29/canada-dips-into-technical-recession-for-first-time-since-2020?ref=onthetrail.info) Recently an ethics commission released a[ landmark recommendation to secure ethics in Canada](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-landmark-recommendation-to-secure-democracy-in-canada/), and increase democratic accountability. Carney has displayed a remarkable tendency to be autocratic, and this is another step in that direction. ### Albertans are failing both to build towards or resist separation URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/albertans-are-failing-to-both-build-or-resist-separation/ Last updated: 2026-06-04T13:00:39.000Z Both sides of the Albertan separation debate are founded in faith, trust, and pixie dust. Neither side is grounded in reality. One only needs to look at our comment sections on socials to understand how emotional a subject this is. This past week, Jay and I have been interviewing people on the streets (you’ve likely seen our first video on the subject already) and what surprised me is that neither side had any rational arguments for, or against separation. When the question gets asked, the answer isn’t “taxation policy” or “culture”, it’s “FUCK NO WE SHOULDN’T SEPARATE.” or “Canada is abusive!” (These are direct quotes with small variations from dozens of people.) The separatists have done nothing to try and build a movement. It is exclusively a grievance based movement with no interest in a better country— it seems to want nothing more than to give the middle finger to Ottawa because of half a century of arguments with the central government. So, you’d think that the unionists would have a better argument. But they don’t. They parrot the same talking points which have no substance in intellectual debate or the cultural groundwork necessary to push for a side. As we interviewed people, we became frustrated with people‘s inability to argue their side. Consistently, we heard two things from separatists: I don’t like immigrants, and Ottawa is too woke. This is not an argument for separation. This is a personal issue. Meanwhile, on the unionist side, we heard: we’re stronger together, and we have “Canadian values.” This is not an argument for unity. This is a personal feeling that you have. [Keep power accountable - sign up for a free trial now](#/portal/account/plans) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/06/DSC05997.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### We made a profit staying at a saloon URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/we-made-a-profit-staying-at-a-saloon/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T15:47:08.000Z ## [LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) This week the two of us recount our vast journey through Alberta and the experience that we had in Calgary. In the past week we have talked to dozens and dozens of people and interviewed people from across Alberta about separatism! We stood outside on the street and conducted interviews with people who were interested in speaking with us, getting yelled at, told off, and even getting threatened here and there. Get off my lawn, kids! Still, from hearing about Ottawa taking taxes to people getting rowdy about wanting to stay in Canada, we have seen it all. We escaped the province feeling spirited, and with a fair few stories to tell. As we crossed over the border into Saskatchewan, the roads changed, as did the culture. We love— no like, we \*love\* Saskatchewan. This might be the forever home. If Jay and I stay, you’ll know why. But only if you listen to this here episode of the Paper Trail podcast! Then, after settling into Sask, we review Alberta. How many dinosaurs will it receive? Why does Isaac declare war on Calgary? And where is Jay even from? All this and more in this week’s episode! ### Getting F*cked URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/getting-f-cked/ Last updated: 2026-05-30T12:00:10.000Z “I know politicians are going to fuck me. I'd just rather get fucked by a conservative.” Derek’s father doesn’t view politics as a good thing. He views it as a necessity. For him, it’s a cynical exercise that we all have to participate in, and it could easily be summarized in the cliche of “the devil you know”. Derek described his father’s attitude as problematic. “Don’t we want politics where we’re not getting fucked at all?” Derek asked. For him, it’s a culture problem. The previous few days had been a burdensome lot. Not bad, just hard work. We ripped to Cochrane from Lake Louise, 156km non stop, and we did it quickly. We must have started our trip around 11, but we got through the massive trek before 19:30 rolled around. We had taken two days off to work on the magazine and do some writing (the magazine is a unique limited edition print of our trip, using the photojournalism taken by Jay and I, as well as the articles we’re writing plus a bit more from Jay. [It’s not expensive. You should get it.)](https://patreon.com/paperrag?ref=onthetrail.info) We rolled up to Dan’s house, exhausted, but happy that we made it so far. Dan is a member of *Warm Showers*, an app that allows you to camp in people’s yards and potentially take showers and some of them will even feed you. Him and his wife were wonderful, kind people who had toured on their bikes all over the country and the world. It was a touching evening. We conversed until late. Dan was a professor at a polytechnic university, but he was recently let go along with 250 of the other staff at the school. His kindness and affinity for pedagogy were immediately apparent, and his kindness mixed with an affectionate desire to help people on the road– he’s a carpenter by trade, but like many tradesmen, he’s someone who can fix and repair nearly anything. We sat on his front lawn, where I cooked the worst supper of the trip. We eat rice and lentils every evening, a healthy simple meal that doesn’t take much weight in our bag– and I did a horrendous job. Jay and I bit into the rice, which still crunched as though it hadn’t been placed in water. Dan told us about his bosses, and the complications of being part of a team. Despite most of his career focusing on teaching, he had functioned in various roles. At one point he was the department chair, underneath the dean but still the coordinator of many programs in the faculty. “Who do you work for when you’re a department chair, Isaac?” he asked. The students? “The faculty. The deans will come and go. The students will come and go. The faculty rarely changes.” [Hold power to account. Sign up for a free trial now!](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/DSC05597.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Searching for squats in Salmon Arm URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/searching-for-squats-in-salmon-arm/ Last updated: 2026-07-18T17:20:49.000Z I am like a sommelier– except for places to illegally squat. I can spot them from a bike whilst moving at speed. When driving, I can sense which roads are likely to turn out lucky. Hovering over the world, with a birds-eye-view, provided free of charge by our malevolent soon-to-be-dictators, I can identify the perfect location from a single glance at a satellite map. I am on a hunt perpetually for the inner-city campsite with the best nose feel, and opacity. A little stench and some shrubbery go a long way to make your temporary private abode stay as such. I have learned this trade by years of trial and error, tramping, hitchhiking, driving, and generally bumming it across three major continents. This expertise, however, comes with a problem. A problem that in Salmon Arm, became all too apparent one night when the sun was setting, and Isaac and I were running out of time. Isaac’s bike has a penchant for popping at inconvenient times. The rubber tires have a sixth sense for when the road is at its least forgiving. Today it was in Salmon Arm. The second flat of the day, just after we succeeded at charging our phone batteries and I failed at downing the monstrously large McDonalds chocolate shake I had ordered in a fit of Icarian hubris. We left the Maccas with an hour of sunlight left, ready to bike out of town to a forest road we knew we could camp at some forty minutes down the Eastbound highway one. The homeless man who had also been spending all the time he was allowed to before being shuffled on by the staff chatted with us amiably while we unlocked our bikes. “Yeah those are nice bikes man - hey were you watching the habs game – oh yeah I got a great spot out by the band, they love what I’ve done with the place cause I keep it clean – you know, sweep out the trash and whatever - so they don’t mind me sleeping in the trees out there – I keep it nice and clean – are the habs still winning? – great, great, yeah – yeah I’ve been all around here, Kamloops, Sicamous, Kelowna – not biking like you though, hitchhiking mostly. – Yeah Kelownas great, kind of trap city though – not in a bad way, there’s just so much to do you can get lost in it. – yeah it’s alright here. If Bylaw catches you sleeping rough they’ll move you on though – that’s why I like being out by the reserve land no one bothers you there so long as you keep it clean.” We waved goodbye and one of us took off rolling down the concrete parking lot. The other, Isaac, put one firm pedal stroke into their steel stallion, shuddered, and toppled over. I turned back to watch Isaacs cumbersome bike and attached body tumble awkwardly down in a high octane one-mile-per-hour crash. “What happened?” I asked. “I don’t know!” Came the crumpled reply. Finally our homeless friend solved the mystery. “It’s your front tire man. It’s flat.” [support the most ambitious journalism in Canada, start a free trial today!](#/portal/account/plans) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/DSC04947.jpeg) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Reviewing BC: Is the Province good or bad? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/reviewing-bc-is-the-province-good-or-bad/ Last updated: 2026-05-25T16:06:22.000Z ### [LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON ANY PLATFORM FOR FREE](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) [This is the last 24 hours you have to sign up for the Paper Rag](https://patreon.com/paperrag?ref=onthetrail.info)— this is a physical only version of the articles we’ve been publishing, with extra articles, poetry, and a ton of photo journalism. If you don’t sign up by the end of May 25th, you will never get the magazine. This magazine is a once in a lifetime, limited edition copy of our work and this trip, and a form of gonzo journalism that will never be seen again. You will never get the complete set if you miss out. We are publishing three total, and this is the first of them. So please, check it out if you want to have these rare editions of the trip. Here is a free preview!! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/6-bike-intro-4-RIGHT.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/17-tire-diary-1-LEFT.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/19-ixc-art-1-LEFT.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/18-tire-diary-2-RIGHT.png) Today we break down how we got to Alberta, and we do the first of many reviews of the provinces. First we break down the long laborious journey through Rogers’ Pass, and how we were destroyed by constant brutal weather changes, and then eventually we get to our confusing, but epic scale of how we would rank British Columbia. Trust me, this is an objective scale. We rank our personal experiences devoid of any cultural or political context that would actually inform any type of deep thoughts around the subject. We hope you enjoy the greatest, and most objective, review of BC! ### Property, not people. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/property-not-people/ Last updated: 2026-07-25T12:53:41.000Z Seeing every corner of the country, one thing stands out consistently. Property is more important than people. [In Canada’s list of what our values are, property isn’t one of them.](https://www.canada.ca/en/services/culture/canadian-identity-society.html?ref=onthetrail.info) Still, it’s hard not to recognize. It makes sense– some [67 per cent of Canadians own a house.](https://madeinca.ca/homeownership-statistics-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) After 100km in 31 degrees, Jay and I were cooked. We didn’t expect to do this many hills in this level of heat. We had assumed that while in BC, we wouldn’t have summer weather. So far, we've been correct. It had, until now, mostly been cold and windy. Not today. And not after today either (in the Rockies it started hailing on us in -5 weather). On one several kilometer long stretch, the road was a thick, black tar that had been paved the day before. We biked up a 10 per cent grade for nearly a kilometer of elevation. The traffic was controlled, and the single open lane went back and forth from one end to the other. Jay manically threw orange cones to make jokes for Instagram, and I slowly worked my way behind him. Jay was fast. I was slow. We’d meet at the top. After laughing and catching our breath, we moved on. We were both suffering from heat stroke at this point. The small shade provided by the sign refreshed our souls, and we were running out of water, despite having nearly four litres each at the beginning of the day. After kicking off, and rocketing down the other side of the hill, we finally made it to our destination. Lytton came over the horizon. It burned down in 2021, the first of several places to get burned to the ground in the constant wildfires that have been ravaging our country for the past decade. Kamloops and Jasper followed suit. We might see it again soon. I had told Jay it was important to me to tell the story of this town. We parked our sweaty, disgusting selves at the gazebo in the centre of town. [The most ambitious journalism in Canada. Support us now for $5 a month— 2 week free trial available.](#/portal/account/plans) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/DSC04921.jpeg) Isaac fell asleep in the Gazebo after the wind storm the night before. Listen to the podcast to find out the story. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Bound together by democracy URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/bound-together-by-democracy/ Last updated: 2026-07-18T17:21:07.000Z We don’t get to choose our family. We don’t really get to choose our neighbours either. And the people we share choices of life and death with are bonded to you via a citizenship that you never chose. ### The King has say over everything “We don't even have a Constitution. It's kind of a joke in a way because really the king has say over everything,” Ray said. Sitting on the lake searching for molecules of gold, Ray and Lane opened up to me. We weren’t far from Cache Creek. Although we’d never met before, they told me their political opinions. I listened. Most of what they said was misinformed. For clarification, the king is a figurehead with no power in Canada. The king does not hold absolute power and cannot unilaterally dictate laws, formulate policies, or govern the country. The king can only exercise power on the advice of the elected leader– aka the prime minister. Not only that, but the king doesn’t even operate in Canada except by special request. The governor general is the head of state in Canada, and does nothing except on the advice of the prime minister, although they have some basic powers in case of emergency– which they rarely, if ever use.[ Only once in recent memory was there an opportunity to use these powers, during Stephen Harper’s term. Michaëlle Jean did not use these powers.](https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2010/12/surviving-the-coalition-the-parliamentary-crisis-of-2008/?ref=onthetrail.info) “With Americans, it's freedom or death. I think that freedom is really important to (Americans). You have the freedom to say what you want to say. Now they're trying to come down on speech and you can only say this or that… I just don't think it's right. We need freedom. You know what, you're gonna get offended when there's freedom of speech. It's just the way it is. It's almost like they're trying to stop everybody from being offended but that's a part of being free,” Ray said. In my experience, when people say that they don’t like how offended people get due to free speech, they usually mean that they want to be racist or homophobic. I didn’t press him on this. “If you look at governments like the United States, one of their amendments is that everybody should own the right to have a gun. If the government tries to overthrow us (Canadians), we're screwed,” Lane agreed with his dad. Governments can’t overthrow the people. Governments are at the top, and are usually run by the “ruling class.” The argument for guns in America was to stop government oppression, and to enable a fight against tyranny. That’s probably what Lane meant. “And I don't think that we're supposed to pay them to do work for us. If we do that, they control the education systems in the school. I feel like the government doesn't want us to be too smart. You know what I mean? Then we wouldn't need them. I like small government. I don't like gang stuff, though.” Gang stuff? “Well, if you have small government, I think it's a bit easier maybe for gangs to kind of take over things,” Lane explained. Okay, gotcha. “Government officials are supposed to be our servants. We are the people. We are Canada; you and me, not them. Carney’s (election) wasn’t legitimate. He wasn't even voted in, for Pete's sake. Gimme a break,” Ray said. In fairness, I replied, he was voted into office in an election right after. Ray agreed. But he thinks that Carney is making money off of being in power. Ray feels frustrated. He doesn’t feel represented. On that, we can agree. [SUBSCRIBE NOW TO SUPPORT THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT IN JOURNALISM](#/portal/account/plans) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/DSC04534.jpeg) Photo: Blue Jay Walker _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Broken tires and Broken Hearts URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/broken-tires-and-broken-hearts/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T18:54:13.000Z [LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) Here we are, another week in. Many disasters have taken place. Many great conversations. Jay and Isaac break down week two of the trip across the country. We have encountered up to 50 people in our conversations, had interviews with the most strange (sometimes offensive) people whom you could have imagined. Above all, we’re getting tossed out of Lytton and destroyed by the wind. Here is the full story behind the stories. Right now we’re at the end of BC, about to enter Alberta. We took the scenic route, adding four hundred extra kilometers. There’s much to say about the country— not all of it positive. BC has been an amazing place to bike through. The people have been incredibly considerate and we’ve seen the goodness of the people here. We’ve also met Quebecers on the road, and seen the greatest bike race we’ve ever imagined. All covered this week on the trail! ### No more trout in Trout Valley URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/no-more-trout-in-trout-valley/ Last updated: 2026-05-16T13:00:49.000Z Bob got tired of tossing drunks on their ass. “They’d be up in your face screaming and suddenly they’re down in the dirt looking around like *how’d I get here.”* A large glot of cigarette ash landed on the short grass by the flag pole. Bob stomped it out with his brown sandal. Everything he wore was somewhere on the continuum from brown to beige. Pressed pants, coiffed hair, yellowing teeth. The only speckles of colour outside of this were red splotches of blood vessels at war with time and age that shone through his cellophane skin. Of the 75 years he had been alive, it seemed not all of them were easy. The last 30, spent living as caretaker of Trout Valley Campground, had been better than most. He was telling me, just after we met, that sometimes you had to knock a drunk down a couple times before he got the message. It seemed he never had trouble doing it, but eventually decided he’d rather not have to do it at all. He said this to explain why Isaac and I were the only campers at the campground who were not permanent. It used to be a place full of transients. With the in and out shuffle of new tarps and tents every night, came the challenge of drunks and rabble rousers who didn’t know how to keep a good time to themselves. Now every lot in the 30+ Acre property was full of RVs with wood decks and moss covered roofs. The road approaching was festooned with signs telling would-be-travelers that the campground was regrettably full. [The journey is barely begun. Sign up now for $5 a month to see everything.](#/portal/account/plans) Since Bob had moved into the camp in the late nineties he had watched it slowly settle into a quiet form of collective retirement. First the lots filled up with permanent campers, then they stopped stocking the lake. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/IMG_0542.jpeg) Bob Once the Trout Valley U-Fish had held thousands of trout. Bob stayed on hand daily, running the grounds and trying to catch would-be-thieves. “They’d go down to the lake with their lunch in a cooler then at the end of the day when it was time to pay up for what they’d caught they’d only have five fish in their bucket, meanwhile there’s ten more stuffed under their empty beer cans in the ice box.” As he told us this story we moved from the small field in front of the rec room to the camp site's office where Bob would help us complete the paperwork to get registered for the night. The office was a small squat building festooned with the paraphernalia required for the soul of a campground to remain intact. Humorous signs, crafts, and aging photographs were nailed to the wall next to maps and dated information printed on plain paper. Dirty construction equipment for some nebulous project left incomplete was splayed across the floor. Several big bass fish were mounted on the wall, all of them without batteries, Bob assured us stoutly, when Isaac expressed an interest. As he pulled out the registration book he mused to himself, “Been a long day. I had to work two whole hours.” He had the countenance of a stern man, but when it came to talking business, he did not once give a straight answer. [Bob didn’t give a straight answer, but we will. $5 dollars a month for the most ambitious journalism in Canada](#/portal/account/plans) Every time I asked how much it cost to stay at the campground I received a different reply. When I called a few days out, after being directed to the campground by a forum of Cross-Canada Bike Packers, Bob told me after a long familiar hum and haw, “Well it’ll be about 15,000 per person.” I laughed. He didn’t. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Journey Begins URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-journey-begins/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T13:01:00.000Z The first episode of the podcast— don’t miss out on the behind the scenes conversations we’re having that will never be published. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Should Canada Break Up? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/should-canada-break-up/ Last updated: 2026-07-18T17:21:15.000Z Ali wasn’t African. At least that’s what he told us. He might have been born and raised in Tanzania, but people around him were racist. His skin wasn’t as dark, his family was middle eastern, and eventually he moved to Canada. Now, at 76 he drives the shuttle from Richmond to Delta while doing three days landscaping per week– he gets by, but not much more. He’s worked a lot of jobs. We asked him if he’s ever faced racism here. "When I was a bus driver, I only had four racist incidents.” Jay laughed. I commented that it was still four too many. Ali shrugged. Four wasn’t so bad– he’s been here for more than fifty years. Nonetheless, he remembers all of these incidents and when they happened. We didn’t press him for details. --- May 7th. I landed in Vancouver for the trip that Blue Jay Walker and I had been planning for six months. I flew with my bicycle in a box. We built it at the airport. It was a disaster; It was day minus 2 and we needed to get to Victoria to start our trip. We would leave the next day. I went to bed at midnight. Because of the time change, I had been up for 24 hours straight. After three or four hours, I woke up. May 8th. Day minus one. Tomorrow, the real trip would start. Still, we had to bike to the ferry to get to Victoria. Mile 0 BC to Mile 0 Newfoundland. Victoria was a ferry ride away. To get there, we had to go through the George Massey tunnel using the shuttle service. It was 12:15pm. We would have left earlier, but we were still prepping. Six months of planning was insufficient for the reality of the journey. The next shuttle was at 1:00pm, and it was 21km away. It didn’t matter how long we’d been training, there was no way we could bike 21km in Vancouver in 45 minutes. Instead we opted to leave at 1pm and catch the 3pm shuttle, with the hopes of catching the Ferry to Schwartz Bay by 5pm. The inconsistency of the shuttle is frustrating, and since there are no other options, everyone who wants to bike to Vancouver Island is forced to rely on this shuttle. For years, the city has claimed that they would build a new way for bikes to get through the George Massey tunnel. As a temporary solution, they made a shuttle service. Five years or so later, the temporary option is permanent. Easier to create a bandaid than to make an investment. We tried to clamp down our bags and get out of the front door, but even then we struggled to know whether we were ready. Some of our systems were proving less than efficient, like Jay’s hairbrained idea to strap our water bottles to the front tire. The water proved to be inaccessible, unbalance our bikes, and even scratched up Jay’s paint job. Because I was so tired, I struggled to keep up with Jay. We pulled up to the shuttle, significantly more confident than we had been 21km beforehand. The shuttle was unmanned, and we weren’t sure what to do. The sign beside it had a phone number, and we called it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-ccf20622-4034-4667-90b5-da5491d1bace.jpeg) On the phone with the clueless employee “Yeah, sorry, I’m not sure what to do,” the man on the other side of the phone told Jay. Although this man worked for the shuttle service, he didn’t know much about it. “The schedule says 3pm, and it’s 3 right now,” Jay said to the man. “But there’s not a driver here.” “Uhhh...” the man on the phone groaned back. “I’m checking the website.” He confirmed that there was a scheduled shuttle at 3pm. He then informed us that he didn’t know anything else. At that exact moment, Ali showed up in his car. He immediately charmed us. A 76 year old, sharp as a whip. We loaded our bikes onto the trailer, and hopped in the car. “A home invasion style robbery,” the radio blasted as Ali turned on the van. “The DNA, cellphone and records were linked to the three killings.” It seems that the murders weren’t planned, it was a botched robbery. Jay and I shared a glance and smiled. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-4bb57536-c6be-4895-b12f-cb731c5fb6d9.jpeg) The two of us share a smile at this morbid news on the radio blasting in our ears Eventually, Ali turned off the radio and started chatting again. It was more enjoyable for all of us. Ali had us laughing the whole time. His charm was magnificent. He told us stories of how he tried to climb up Kilimanjaro twice, and failed. He complained about his friend, who was $15,000 in debt because he leased a semi-truck. He made fun of the £10 note that I had in the spokes of my bike. For Jay and I, it was a perfect moment. Ali was the reason we went on this trip. He was this illogical construction of disparate life experiences, a man whose worldview was not linear, sometimes regressive but in the end we loved him. We loved him in the way that you can only love someone who you meet in a flash, a moment that will disappear too quickly. Ali was everyone whom we’ve ever known— a complex individual who has no real rhyme or reason. He’s a collection of strange stories, decisions, and consequences. He wasn’t born in Canada, but he’d been here for decades. He was a citizen, and a neighbour, a friend and a jokester. He speaks multiple languages, and has friends and family. We started biking to find Canada. We found it in that shuttle ride. Between those jovial moments, Ali mentioned something I remarked on. In 2021 he ran away from his family. At another point he mentioned that he had 15 roommates and told us where he lived, which Jay remarked on. Our conclusion was that Ali was a recently divorced man, living out the twilight of his life as a shuttle driver. His son lives in Halifax, and they love each other. At 76, Ali was starting a new life. And when he dropped us off, we shook hands and continued biking. We will probably never see him again. --- Jay and I have begun our trip. We’ve been planning it since December. It started something else, but turned into a journalism project that would dwarf the ambition of many others that we’ve done. Jay (also known as Blue Jay Walker) is the editor and chief of the physical only magazine, *The Paper Rag.* We’ve worked together for a decade now, first in Australia, then in a punk band, and now as journalists. We’ve had a parellel path in our lives, with almost identical interests and a remarkably similar personality— but we look nothing alike. Fundamentally, all countries are a constructed reality. They’re fact only so long as everyone agrees that they’re a fact. What is Canada now didn’t exist until the British colonized it. Before that, it was a landmass with disparate groups now known as Canada’s First Nations; it wasn’t a unified nation-state. But really: Should Canada exist? Yves Francois-Blanchet, the leader of the Bloc Québécois called Canada “an artificial country with very little meaning.” His comment came during the election, when most Canadians were anxious about American imperialism and annexation. Canada has faced its own dissolution several times. What we know as “Canada” today didn’t exist until 1949 when Newfoundland became the 10th province of Canada. At first, “Canada” was only Ontario and Quebec. Confederation was John A. MacDonald trying to counter American influence on this British colony, and to create a united front after the American Civil War. What then, is a country? And what does it mean to be part of a country? Specifically, what does it mean to be part of Canada? Famously, Alberta and Quebec are openly critical of each other, with little love lost between the two provinces. So why are they under the single banner called “Canada?” We decided that the only way to answer that question was to go across the country and find it ourselves. We could do it in a van, but we wanted to touch ground no matter where we were. We have been taking hundreds of photos (both film and digital), filming videos, talking to strangers across the land, and are writing up a storm. We put this trip together so we could do something a little different— something that hasn’t been done in Canadian journalism before. We are going to use gonzo journalism, and tell the story of a strange nation. Some of these stories will be people like Ali, and others will be about the cabin in the woods, or the mountains staring down at us, towering above us as they have for thousands of years. These stories are the connectors of a country that is in peril. This year there may be a referendum on Alberta separation, and soon thereafter there may be a referendum on Quebec’s. Canada is exceptionally polarized right now— look at opinion polls. The only colours on there are blue and red. [A report came out today that the Prime Minister has received hundreds of death threats since taking office](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/government-documents-reveal-barrage-of-threats-against-mark-carney/article%5Fd8458e64-5932-4f83-889c-c2bdfbc1cd33.html?ref=onthetrail.info). Prior to Trudeau stepping down, people were calling for his execution, and carrying flags that said “Fuck Trudeau.” A country where hundreds of threats are being sent to the democratically elected leader, and where the chance of provinces splitting into their own individual countries does not speak highly of a healthy society. Worldwide, right wing extremism has infected political systems, and it’s plain to see that the western dominance that has so long been taken for granted by westerners is upended. The United States has elected a fascist leader, and although their system remains “democratic,” they elected him twice. America is not the leader of democracy they claimed to be in the 20th century. Democracy is not well. Canada is sick, and although we want to ignore it, if we don’t address this sickness, it could become terminal. So, on May 9th we started this collaboration. *On the Trail* and *The Paper Rag* have combined to create *The Paper Trail.* For the next two months, we will be releasing podcast discussions from the road, and at least two articles a week— one from me, and one from Jay (he is an excellent writer.) It will be Gonzo journalism. (Gonzo is a style where the journalist is a part of the story, and you are meant to experience the story through their eyes.) These stories will be frank. It will be discussions, and hard times, and we will show you a Canada that you don’t know— we will talk to people you don’t like and listen to them. We will publish words that we don’t agree with, and we will show you the Canada that we see with our own eyes as we traverse the country with our two legs. The coolest part about it all is that these will all be published physically at the Paper Rag at the end of the month. Go sign up for the physical edition as well. Most of these articles will be behind a paywall. This one is not, because we want you to see what we’re doing. We’re hoping to give you the two best, and most enjoyable months of journalism you have ever read. We hope we succeed, and we are extremely excited to share this with you. Over these next two months, we will find the answer to the question: Should Canada break up? ### BREAKING: THERE IS NO ARTICLE TODAY, FOR NO REASON, DON’T WORRY — THERE IS NOTHING SUSPICIOUS BEHIND THE SCENES URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/breaking-there-is-no-article-today-for-no-reason-dont-worry-there-is-nothing-suspicious-behind-the-scenes/ Last updated: 2026-05-09T13:00:37.000Z For more than five months, Isaac Peltz, a Montreal journalist, has released a major investigation or article every single Saturday. Their work has dazzled people, blown their minds, and changed the country— and still, they have remained incredibly humble. However, for no apparent reason, and definitely for no suspicious reason, there will be no article this Saturday for the first time in 5 months. Isaac also, just as a remark, did not hint at this sudden change of plans in a dozen different videos on Instagram, and constantly allude to the future on their podcast with Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours. There is no possibility that this could be anything suspicious either, since Isaac Peltz is never up to anything of interest. In fact, Peltz is reportedly sitting at home, doing nothing with their time and shirking work. There will be no sudden announcement in two days on Instagram. There will also be no new announcement on Monday on their newsletter. Goodbye. ### Ubisoft Took the Subsidies. Workers in Quebec and Halifax Took the Fall URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/ubisoft-took-the-subsidies-workers-in-montreal-and-halifax-took-the-fall/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T14:24:44.000Z **CHRIS CAME BACK FROM** his winter break feeling energized. Ubisoft’s Halifax studio, where he worked, had recently unionized with 74 percent support, joining CWA Canada. On January 5, employees returned from vacation eager to prove that unionization would make them stronger workers. But two days later, it all came crashing down. Jean-Michel Detoc, chief mobile officer from the company’s France office, walked through the front door, unannounced. Dread descended upon the staff. By 10 a.m., all seventy-one employees were laid off. Some started crying. Others were furious. “You lose your job like that—it sounds dramatic, but it’s a traumatic experience,” says Chris (whose name has been changed to avoid professional repercussions). A company-wide announcement later that afternoon spelled out the reasons: a “shortage of viable work both immediately and in the forecasted future” meant that the Halifax office no longer had a “justifiable mandate” to continue. “I’m thinking this is really confusing, because we’re all super busy,” says Chris. Chris is now looking for a job and fears speaking out, because in the video game industry, talking to the press can be a death sentence for your career. I contacted five other employees, none of whom were willing to go on the record. Ubisoft, the video game publisher behind massively popular franchises, like *Assassin’s Creed* and *Far Cry*, shrank from 21,000 employees globally to 17,000 between 2022 and 2026\. Before the Halifax layoffs, the company had 5,000 employees in Canada, with around 4,000 in Montreal and the rest spread across Quebec City, Winnipeg, Toronto, Chicoutimi, and Sherbrooke. It’s been reported that Ubisoft plans to lay off another 200 to 400 people internationally this year (a company spokesperson declined to comment on the matter in a response to The Walrus). ## [READ THE FULL PIECE AT THE WALRUS](https://thewalrus.ca/ubisoft-canada-tax-breaks-layoffs/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Le procès qui pourrait redéfinir l'avenir des services de police URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/le-proces-qui-pourrait-redefinir-lavenir-des-services-de-police/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T05:02:23.000Z L’agente Geneviève Roy était soumise à un contre-interrogatoire. Ce troisième jour au tribunal, elle répondait à des questions similaires à celles des deux jours précédents. Aujourd’hui, l’atmosphère était tendue. Barbara Bedont, avocate principale de la défense, l’interrogeait sur les raisons pour lesquelles les 45 manifestants arrêtés n’avaient pas reçu d’eau ni accès à des toilettes. Aleksandra Seweryn, avocate adjointe de la défense, était assise derrière elle. En 2024, Roy avait suivi une formation sur la manière de gérer les manifestants. Malheureusement, elle semblait incapable de se souvenir d’une seule partie de cette formation. Sa réponse à presque toutes les questions : « Je ne m’en souviens pas. » Alors que Bedont continuait d’interroger l’agent, le juge intervint pour signaler qu’ils abordent des sujets qui avaient déjà été abordés. Le juge considérait que ces questions ne faisaient que retarder inutilement les procédures et ne permettaient pas de se concentrer sur l’affaire en cours. « Je n’essaie pas de faire perdre du temps à la cour, j’essaie de faire mon travail », a déclaré Bedont. Les deux femmes se sont toisées du regard. La juge a affirmé son autorité en tant que présidente de l’audience. « C’est moi qui dirige la salle d’audience. C’est moi la juge », a-t-elle dit. Bedont, émue aux larmes, s’est retournée et a dû reprendre son souffle. Dans un moment suspendu, elle s’est penchée sur les bancs et y est restée pendant une soixantaine de secondes. Tout le monde était figé sur place, retenant son souffle. Au fond de la salle d’audience, l’estomac de l’agent de sécurité n’arrêtait pas de gronder, [un bruit de gargouillement qui emplissait les oreilles de tous ceux qui se trouvaient près de lui](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKSMqEzIpE&ref=onthetrail.info). Soudain, le silence a été rompu lorsque Bedont a quitté la salle d’audience et que la juge, exaspérée, a ordonné une suspension d’audience de cinq minutes. [responsabiliser les puissants](#/portal/account/plans) ## Sit-in à la Banque Scotia Le 15 avril 2024, 45 personnes ont été arrêtées pour avoir organisé un sit-in dans une succursale de la Banque Scotia à Montréal. La Banque Scotia était visée car elle était alors le plus gros investisseur étranger dans Elbit Systems – Elbit est un fabricant d’armes israélien. En février dernier,[ la Banque Scotia a retiré tous ses fonds d’Elbit.](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/scotiabank-unit-sells-stake-israeli-221641316.html?ref=onthetrail.info) « Ces tactiques de pression ont été efficaces, mais deux ans plus tard, nous sommes toujours devant les tribunaux pour cette affaire », a déclaré TJ, l'un·e des personnes arrêtées. « Il est de notre devoir civique de résister à la complicité de notre pays dans le génocide. » Après leur arrestation, les manifestants ont consacré huit longs mois à collecter des preuves et à élaborer un dossier juridique contre la ville et le Service de police de la Ville de Montréal. Ils affirment que leurs droits garantis par la Charte ont été violés. Pendant leur détention, de 10 h environ à 15 h 30 environ, les manifestants n’ont pas eu l’autorisation d’utiliser les toilettes, de manger ou de boire de l’eau. Cela fait deux ans, et les audiences viennent seulement de commencer. Ce qui devait initialement durer trois semaines s’est transformé en quatre. C’est pratiquement sans précédent dans un tribunal municipal, d’autant plus que l’accusation portée contre les manifestants était de [méfait](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-430.html?ref=onthetrail.info). « Il y a des procès pour meurtre qui ne durent que deux jours », a déclaré Mme Bedont, avocate principale chez [Defend the Movement Québec](https://www.defendthemovement.org/fr?ref=onthetrail.info). Elle représente les 45 personnes arrêtées. « Les enjeux sont très complexes. Ainsi, même si l’accusation ne semble pas grave, les conséquences pour la société le sont. » Elle a expliqué que cela pourrait avoir des répercussions sur le reste du pays et sur les pratiques policières, ce qui explique pourquoi les tribunaux traitent cette affaire avec gravité. Cette affaire fait suite à la plus grande arrestation massive qui ait eu lieu au Québec depuis le printemps érable de 2012, lors duquel des centaines de milliers d’étudiants avaient manifesté contre une hausse massive des frais de scolarité décidée par le gouvernement libéral de Jean Charest. Le 15 avril 2024, des dizaines d’actions ont eu lieu dans toute la ville pour protester contre le génocide contre les Palestiniens de la part d’Israël. Ces actions à travers la ville constituaient un mouvement totalement décentralisé et non coordonné – bien que ces groupes aient délibérément organisé leurs manifestations le même jour. Les 45 personnes sont entrées, se sont assises et ont commencé à chanter et à scander des slogans. Elles se sont installées paisiblement. Tout à coup, un agent de sécurité a verrouillé la porte sur instruction du directeur de la banque, retenant ainsi quarante-cinq personnes à l’intérieur du bâtiment. Trois manifestants, qui ont demandé à ce que leurs noms ne soient pas divulgués, ont raconté leur sentiment d’angoisse. Aucun membre du personnel de la banque ne les avait approchés pour leur demander de quitter les lieux. Les employés de la Banque Scotia ont commencé à accompagner les gens hors du bâtiment, comme s’il y avait une situation dangereuse. Les manifestants n’ont bloqué aucune entrée et se tenaient tous assis sur le sol, ne représentant aucun danger physique. Ils étaient assis devant les guichets. Une fois que tous les clients eurent été escortés hors du bâtiment, les employés ont continué à travailler à leur poste. Un manifestant, qui a demandé à rester anonyme, a déclaré qu’aucun d’entre eux ne semblait inquiet. Les gens buvaient leur café et plaisantaient avec leurs collègues dans les cubicles voisins. TJ a raconté que le groupe aurait pu quitter les lieux sur simple demande. Cependant, peu de temps après, la police est entrée et a établi un périmètre à l’intérieur, bloquant toute issue quand la porte a finalement été déverrouillée. Ils ont commencé à arrêter des gens peu de temps après. « Les policiers sont arrivés et on s’est dit : "OK, on va continuer notre manifestation parce que c’est pour ça qu’on est là" », a affirmé Eli, l'un·e des manifestant·es qui a été appréhendé·e. « Les flics ont gardé les portes fermées. Puis ils nous ont mis en rang et on s’est dit : "Shit, OK." Ces policiers massifs se tenaient au-dessus de moi (alors que j’étais assis par terre). C’était assez intense. » La ligne de policiers était munie d’équipement antiémeute, mais sans bouclier. TJ, secouriste agréé·e, craignait qu’on ne l’accuse de possession d’arme parce qu’iel avait des ciseaux dans sa trousse médicale. Iel a dit à la police qu’iel avait des ciseaux dans son sac pour éviter que les policiers ne pensent que c’était une arme. [responsabiliser les puissants](#/portal/account/plans) ## Une arrestation efficace La police a installé un poste de commandement temporaire en utilisant les cabines de la Scotiabank, affirmant qu’elle devait faire preuve d’efficacité pour traiter tous ces cas. Au total, entre l’arrestation massive à 11 h 48 et la libération de la dernière personne à 15 h 35, plus de trois heures se sont écoulées. En même temps, la police affirmait qu’elle devait faire preuve d’efficacité. « Nous avons été immédiatement placés en détention illégale, puis encerclés, et avons subi de nombreuses formes de harcèlement, que nos avocats utilisent essentiellement comme exemples de la discrimination dont nous avons été victimes », a déclaré Harar, l'un·e des manifestant·es. La police a même commencé à faire remarquer qu’il y avait « beaucoup de femmes » parmi les manifestants. « Lorsque vous êtes en détention, vous disposez de certains droits en vertu de la Charte », a affirmé Bedont. « Ces droits ne leur ont pas été accordés. On ne les leur a même pas lus. » « Si vous êtes en détention, vous avez le droit de savoir pourquoi vous êtes détenu et de vous voir lire vos droits sans délai. Mais votre détention doit également être légale. Si elle n’est pas légale, elle est arbitraire », a affirmé Seweryn. « Nous affirmons que leur détention était arbitraire. » Seweryn a déclaré qu’il n’y avait pas de motifs raisonnables justifiant la détention, et qu’elles n’étaient pas détenues pour la détention elle-même, mais pour des raisons administratives. Elle a toutefois fait remarquer que, bien que leur détention fût illégale, elles étaient tout de même détenues et auraient donc dû se voir lire leurs droits. Environ la moitié des manifestantes ont été arrêtées par l’agent Geneviève Roy, l’autre moitié par les personnes sous ses ordres. Devant le tribunal, l’agente Roy a été interrogée sur le fait d’avoir refusé l’accès aux toilettes et à l’eau, ainsi que sur le fait de ne pas avoir lu leurs droits aux personnes détenues. Elle a affirmé qu’on ne lui a pas posé la question personnellement. et qu’elle n’en avait pas connaissance. Roy a déclaré qu’elle aurait autorisé les manifestants à utiliser les toilettes et à boire de l’eau si elle avait su qu’il y avait un problème. La Couronne allègue que les manifestants entravent le bon fonctionnement de la banque en tant qu’entreprise et les accuse de méfait. La défense a longuement contesté ce point, mais estime également que, car les droits garantis par la Charte ont été violés, l’ensemble de l’affaire devrait être classé sans suite. La défense soutient qu’il s’agissait d’une arrestation à motivation politique, car les personnes arrêtées étaient des manifestants pro-palestiniens. « 99 % des manifestants arrêtés par le SPVM sont pro-palestiniens », a déclaré M. Bedont. Ils ont obtenu cette information grâce à une requête déposée par les avocats pour obliger la police à la divulguer. Selon les manifestants, les agents ont complètement ignoré leur dignité humaine fondamentale. « À ce stade, alors que nous sommes détenus et arrêtés et que nous allons être soumis à la procédure d’enregistrement, on nous dit toujours que nous ne pouvons pas aller aux toilettes », a raconté Harar. « À un moment donné, les policiers nous ont dit que si nous nous portions volontaires pour être enregistrés en premier, nous pourrions aller aux toilettes. Ils ne nous ont en réalité jamais laissés y aller. » Selon la Couronne, les manifestants n’avaient pas demandé à aller aux toilettes, mais Harar a déclaré que les manifestant·es l’avaient demandé dès le début de l’arrestation. La police a explicitement refusé leur demande et a continué à refuser pendant les deux heures où Harar a été détenu·e. « Ils fonctionnaient par rotation — il y avait donc une pause déjeuner pour eux, et tout un groupe est parti déjeuner tandis qu’un autre groupe est arrivé », a affirmé Eli. « Ils disaient : “Nous voulons que nos agents restent en forme.” » La police, elle, a utilisé les toilettes. Au cours de ces arrestations, Savanna Craig – qui travaillait alors pour CUTV et travaille aujourd’hui pour APTN – a également été arrêtée. Elle a présenté sa carte de presse aux agents lorsqu’ils ont pénétré dans l’édifice,[ mais ils l’ont ignorée et l’ont arrêtée quand même. Les accusations portées contre elle ont été rapidement abandonnées.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2086112/savanna-craig-journalisme-liberte-presse-arretee?ref=onthetrail.info) [responsabiliser les puissants](#/portal/account/plans) ## Un système conçu pour décourager et humilier Quelques heures après la confrontation dramatique dans la salle d’audience, les émotions s’étaient calmées et les deux avocats étaient assis en train de manger. La confrontation intense au tribunal n’était pas un événement quotidien, mais le résultat d’une accumulation de frustrations accumulées au fil du temps. « Il y a beaucoup de frustration vis-à-vis du système. Il semble bien qu’il y ait un certain favoritisme envers la police et le ministère public », a déclaré Eli. C’est le deuxième juge qu’ils ont eu. Le juge précédent a démissionné après de nombreux conflits avec la défense. Eli a déclaré que le premier juge criait souvent sur les avocats et les maltraitait. Le tribunal n’a pas donné d’explication sur sa démission. Certains manifestants ont déclaré que le nouveau juge semblait partial envers Bedont et Seweryn. Bedont y voit un choc culturel. « Je pense que les juges ici sont le produit d’une culture différente de celle dont je suis issue », a-t-elle déclaré, étant originaire du Canada anglais. Les manifestants ont sacrifié deux ans de leur vie pour cette affaire, mais Bedont et son cabinet d’avocats, Defend the Movement Quebec, leur ont proposé un accord incroyable et les aident à lever des fonds grâce au financement participatif. Malgré ces difficultés, les avocats sont confiants dans l’issue de l’affaire. Les mauvais traitements infligés aux manifestants lors de leur interpellation ont été filmés sous tous les angles possibles, car la Banque Scotia filme ses locaux en permanence. Ils ont utilisé les nombreux angles de vue mis à leur disposition par la banque. « Le ministère public a peur », selon TJ. Iel a expliqué que certains témoins, appelés par le procureur, semblaient appuyer la thèse de la défense. Les avocats sont d’accord. « Certaines déclarations des policiers jouent en notre faveur », a affirmé Seweryn. Bedont a ri et a hoché la tête. « Le procureur semble faire notre travail à notre place », a-t-elle déclaré. « D’autres personnes qui ne sont même pas impliquées dans l’affaire devraient être indignées que l’on gaspille autant du temps des citoyens », a ajouté Felix, un·e autre manifestant·e. « C’était une action morale que nous avions la responsabilité d’entreprendre – nous avons la responsabilité de protester contre ces cas institutionnels de complicité dans le génocide et, au lieu de cela, l’argent public est gaspillé à nous traîner dans ce procès. » « On ne cesse de parler d’efficacité, d’efficacité, d’efficacité, et pourtant on nous traîne dans la boue dans ce long processus qui s’étire depuis deux ans », a lancé Harar. « C’est vraiment difficile de garder le moral, mais ce qui nous aide, c’est que la communauté se mobilise. » « La bureaucratie est censée nous démoraliser. Mais nous ne sommes pas démoralisés. Nous sommes toujours là. Nous sommes toujours déterminé·es à nous mobiliser et à nous battre, car c’est important. Il est important que les gens manifestent. Il est important que les gens organisent des sit-in. Il est important que les gens restent indignés et cohérents. Nous sommes donc épuisé·es, mais nous sommes là pour continuer à nous battre. » L’audience est ajournée jusqu’au 11 mai. ### Will Canada survive the global disintegration of liberal democracy? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/will-canada-survive-the-global-disintegration-of-liberal-democracy/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T13:00:57.000Z Welcome to the trail! Today we have a special episode for you! Instead of breaking down the news, we look backwards and forwards and look at the state of the world right now. We assess the past year— radical shifts in Quebec and Canada— and then we discuss how the election this fall will go, how Carney will continue moving forward, and finally how the war in Iran will shape the world. This will be the last episode of the Gab and Isaac show for a little bit, but don’t worry, a special show will be replacing it each week for the next little while. Keep your ears tuned for next week, because by this time next week, you should know what’s happening. [Keep power accountable](#/portal/account/plans) ### Separatists may have shown Whitehouse officials Albertan voters' private information URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/separatists-may-have-shown-whitehouse-officials-albertan-voters-private-information/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T21:20:52.000Z In leaked meeting minutes from April 13th, 2026, Emmott Kelsey, co-founder of The Centurion Project, seems to state that private information from Elections Alberta may have been presented to Washington a few weeks prior. > "The current focus of The Centurion Project is the referendum. We are using a new developed app, **it's actually so ground breaking that a few weeks ago it was presented to The Whitehouse**. This is going to revolutionize how campaigns are run,” Kelsey said during the livestream. [The video of the livestream was posted online by user kapowless on reddit. ](https://old.reddit.com/r/alberta/comments/1t38h2d/highlights%5Ffrom%5Fcenturion%5Fprojects%5Fengagement/?ref=onthetrail.info) 0:00 /5:48 1× We have emailed the Centurion Project to clarify what they meant by this statement, and whether they showed Albertan voters' private information while demonstrating the app. It is also unclear who in the Whitehouse they showed this information to. Although they did not respond in time for our deadline, we will update the piece with their clarifications or statement if we hear a response. The app that they claim to have shown the Whitehouse is the searchable database of the list of electors which was legally provided to the Republican Party of Alberta, [but obtained by The Centurion Project and leaked to the internet at large.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/livestory/elections-alberta-electors-list-9.7182971?ref=onthetrail.info) Centurion Project was not supposed to have access to this list. Centurion Project is a registered third party advertiser in Alberta. Elections Alberta issued a [court injunction](https://www.elections.ab.ca/resources/media/news-releases/message-to-albertans-re-unauthorized-use-of-list-of-electors/?ref=onthetrail.info) to The Centurion Project to take down this list and shut down the app. The Centurion Project agreed to shut down the app and said they would comply with Elections Alberta. The data breach is one of the largest in Alberta's, and potentially Canada’s, history. It contains the names, postal codes, telephone numbers and other private information of nearly 3 million residents - more than half the population of the province. The Centurion Project has close connections with other Alberta separatist groups, most notably one of its cofounders, David Parker, is also the founder of Take Back Alberta, which was [fined $120,000](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/david-parker-take-back-alberta-fines-political-advertising-1.7450567?ref=onthetrail.info) for political financing violations. Danielle Smith [criticized David Parker a few years ago, saying that he was bullying Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife.](https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-danielle-smith-slams-david-parker-tba-pierre-poilievre?ref=onthetrail.info) The meeting was chaired by FreedomCalendar.net, a pro-separatism website for conservative grassroots news, which has interviewed multiple UCP party officials regarding their [stances on separatism](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRmoGArhQx8&t=1266s&ref=onthetrail.info). This scandal has been rocking the province for a week now. A journalist from [The Line](https://www.readtheline.ca/p/scoop-jen-gerson-elections-albertas?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=android&r=54a7mb&triedRedirect=true) sent Elections Alberta notice of the data breach. They had originally received an anonymous tip showing that the data leak had been publicly available on the internet since at least late March. Premier Smith has continued to reiterate that she doesn’t want a separate Alberta, and that she is leading the push for a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.” However that reassurance isn't convincing most Albertans - a [majority of the province](https://abacusdata.ca/alberta-independence-remains-a-minority-view-most-believe-premier-smith-would-vote-to-separate/?ref=onthetrail.info) believes Danielle Smith would vote to separate if a referendum is held. We have reached out to the premier’s office for comment on this development, but they did not respond before the deadline. ### The court case that will determine the future of policing in Canada URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-court-case-that-will-determine-the-future-of-policing-in-canada/ Last updated: 2026-07-25T12:54:14.000Z \*Update to piece – the arrested got in contact with us with corrections of details throughout the piece. It has been updated to correctly identify specific timelines, and details around the event of the arrest. Officer Genevieve Roy was being cross examined. This was her third day standing in front of the court, answering similar questions to the previous days. Today, tensions were at an all time high. Barbara Bedont, the senior lawyer for the defense, was questioning her on why 45 demonstrators who had been arrested were not given water or access to a bathroom. Aleksandra Seweryn, junior lawyer for the defense, sat behind her. In 2024, Roy had taken a course on how to deal with demonstrators, and yet she seemed unable to remember a single part of her training. Her response to nearly every question: “I don’t remember.” As Bedont questioned the officer, the judge stopped her and told her she was covering subjects that had already been discussed. The judge felt that the questions were a waste of time, and were not efficiently covering the subject. “I’m not trying to waste the court’s time, I’m trying to do my job,” Bedont said. The two stared each other down. The judge asserted her power as the one presiding over the case. “I’m controlling the court room. I’m the judge,” she said. Bedont, emotional, turned around with tears in her eyes and had to breathe. In a dramatic moment, she leaned over the benches, and remained there for sixty seconds or so. No one moved. Everyone held their breath. In the back of the courtroom, the security guard’s stomach kept rumbling, [a squishing sound that filled the ears of anyone close to him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKSMqEzIpE&ref=onthetrail.info). Suddenly, the silence was broken as Bedont walked out of the court room, and the exasperated judge called for a five minute recess. [Hold power to account - Sign Up or Upgrade Now](#/portal/account/plans) ## Sit-in at Scotia Two years ago, on April 15, 2024, 45 people were arrested for performing a sit-in at a Scotiabank in Montreal. Scotiabank was a target because they were the largest foreign investor in Elbit Systems at the time– Elbit is an Israeli weapons manufacturer. This February, [Scotiabank divested all of their funds from Elbit](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/scotiabank-unit-sells-stake-israeli-221641316.html?ref=onthetrail.info). “These pressure tactics have been effective, but two years later we’re still in court for this,” TJ, one of the people arrested, said. “It’s part of our civic duty to resist our country’s complicity in genocide.” After their arrest, the protestors spent eight months gathering evidence and preparing a case against the city and the SPVM. They say that their charter rights were violated. During the hours of their detention \~10:00am until \~3:30pm, none of the protesters were allowed to use the washroom, eat, or drink water. It has been two years, and the hearings have only just begun. What began as three weeks of court dates has turned into four– this is essentially unprecedented in a municipal court, especially considering that the charge laid against the protesters was [mischief](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-430.html?ref=onthetrail.info). “There’s murder trials that only get two days,” Bedont, Senior Lawyer at [Defend the Movement Quebec](https://www.defendthemovement.org/fr?ref=onthetrail.info) said. She’s representing the 45 who were arrested. “The issues are very complicated. So even if the charge *seems* not serious, the consequences for society are.” She explained that this could have rippling effects on the rest of the country and around policing, therefore this is being taken seriously by the courts. This case follows the largest mass arrest that has taken place in Quebec since the Maple Spring of 2012, where hundreds of thousands of students protested against a massive school price hike by the then-Liberal government of Jean Charest. On April 15th, 2024, there were dozens of actions taking place around the city as protests against the violence which had, at that time, recently broken out against Palestinians by Israel. The actions across the city were a completely decentralized, and uncoordinated movement– although these groups purposefully did their demonstrations on the same day. The 45 walked in, sat down, and begun singing and chanting. They sat down peacefully. Suddenly, a security guard locked the door under the orders of the bank manager, trapping all forty five people within the building. 3 protesters, who’ve asked for their names to stay off the record, described a feeling of anxiety. They were trapped inside. Not a single person who worked at the bank had spoken to them, or asked them to leave. Scotiabank employees started to escort people out of the building, as though something dangerous was going on. No entrance was blocked by the protestors, and all of them were sitting on the floor, posing no physical threat. They sat in front of the tellers’ desks. After the clients had all been escorted out of the building, the employees continued working at their desks. One protester, who asked to remain anonymous, said that none of them seemed concerned. People drank their coffee, and joked with their colleagues in the cubicles next to them. TJ explained that the group would have left if asked to do so. Soon after, the police showed up, and formed a line inside, completely barring the chance to exit the building when the door was unlocked. Soon, they started arresting people. “The cops show up and we're like, okay, we're gonna continue our protest because that's what we're here for,” Eli, a protester who was arrested said. “The cops kept the doors locked. Then they were lining us and we're like, shit, okay. These massive cop men were standing over me (while I was sitting on the floor). It was pretty intense.” The line of cops was equipped with riot gear *sans* riot shield. TJ, a registered medic, was afraid that they would be charged for possessing a weapon because they had scissors in their medical kit. They told the police that they had scissors in their bag, fearing that the police would think it was a weapon. [Hold Power to Account - Sign Up or Upgrade Now](#/portal/account/plans) ## Efficient Arrest The police set up a temporary base of operations using the cubicles in the Scotiabank, saying that they needed to be efficient in processing all of these people. In total, between the mass arrest at 11:48am and the final person being released at 3:35pm, more than three hours had passed. During this, the police were saying that they had to be efficient. “We were immediately unlawfully detained, later kettled, and faced a lot of harassment, which our lawyers are basically using as examples of our discrimination,” Harar, one of the protesters, said. The police even started commenting on there being “a lot of women” who were part of the protest. “When you're detained you have certain rights under the charter,” Bedont said. “Those rights weren't given to them. They weren't even read to them.” “If you are detained, you have the right to be told why you're being detained and have your rights read promptly. But your detention also has to be legal. If it's not legal, it's arbitrary,” Seweryn said. “We're saying their detention was arbitrary.” Seweryn said that there were not reasonable grounds for detention, and that they weren’t being detained for detention, but for administration. She noted, however, that although their detention was illegal, they were still being detained, and thus should have had their rights read to them. About half of the protestors were arrested by officer Genevieve Roy, the other half by the people under her orders. Officer Roy, in court, was pressed about refusing bathroom access and water, as well as failing to read the detained their rights. She said that she wasn’t personally asked for these things, and neither was she aware of it. Roy said that had she been made aware of the problem, she would have allowed people to use the washroom, and have water. The crown is alleging that the protesters were obstructing the use of the bank as a place of business, thus charging them with mischief. The defense spent ample time questioning this, but also believes that because the group’s charter rights were violated, the whole case should be thrown out. The defense is arguing that this was a politically motivated arrest because the arrested were pro-Palestinian protesters. “99% of demonstrators that (the SPVM) arrest are pro-Palestinian,” Bedont said. They obtained this information through a motion the lawyers brought to force the police to make the information available. Protesters allege that the officers had no respect for their basic human dignity. “At this point where we are now detained and arrested and are going to be going through processing, we're still being told we can't use the bathroom,” Harar said. “At one point police officers tell us that if you volunteer to be processed first, you can go to the bathroom. They never actually let us.” The crown has claimed that the protesters didn’t ask to use the bathroom, but Harar said that they asked early on in the arrest. The police explicitly refused their request, and continued refusing throughout the two hours that Harar was detained. “They had a rotation– so there was lunch break for them and so a whole group of them left to go have lunch and a whole other group showed up,” Eli said. “They were like ‘we want to keep our officers fresh.’” The police used the washroom. During these arrests, Savanna Craig– then working with CUTV, now working at APTN, was arrested as well. [She showed the police her press card as they entered the building, but they ignored it and arrested her anyway.](https://ricochet.media/labour/media-labour/montreal-police-pursue-criminal-charges-against-journalist-for-covering-gaza-protest/?ref=onthetrail.info) [The charges against her were dropped soon thereafter.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2086112/savanna-craig-journalisme-liberte-presse-arretee?ref=onthetrail.info) [Hold Power to Account - Sign Up or Upgrade Now](#/portal/account/plans) ## Bureaucracy meant to demoralize A few hours after the dramatic confrontation in the courtroom, emotions had calmed down and the two lawyers sat eating lunch. The intense confrontation in the court was not a daily occurrence, but was built up over years. “There’s a lot of frustration with the system. It does seem that there’s some favouritism happening towards the police and the crown,” Eli said. This is the second judge that they’ve had. The previous judge stepped down after numerous conflicts with the defense. Eli said that the first judge yelled at the lawyers frequently, and mistreated them. The court did not elaborate on why he stepped down. Some protesters said that the new judge seems unfair towards Bedont and Seweryn. Bedont sees it as a cultural clash. “I think that the judges here are the product of a different culture than the one that I come from,” she said. She’s from English Canada. The protesters have sacrificed two years of their lives in this case, but Bedont and her Law Group, Defend the Movement Quebec, have given them an incredible deal and are helping them raise funds through crowdfunding. Despite these struggles, the lawyers are confident in the case. The mistreatment of the protesters during processing was recorded from every possible angle, as Scotiabank records their premises 100 per cent of the time. They used the many angles that were available to them through the bank. “The crown is scared,” TJ said. They explained that some of the witnesses the crown had called seemed to support the defense’s case. The lawyers agree. “Certain admissions from the police officers are favourable for our case," Seweryn said. Bedont laughed and agreed. “The prosecutor seems to be doing our job for us,” she said. “Other people who aren't even involved in the case should feel outraged that this much of the people's time is being wasted,” Felix, another protester, said. “It was a moral action that we have the responsibility to take– we have the responsibility to protest these institutional instances of complicity in genocide and instead (of focusing on the real problem,) public money is being wasted dragging us through this court case.” “There's all this talk of efficiency, efficiency, efficiency, yet we're being dragged through the mud in this long, run out two year process,” Harar said. “It's really hard to keep up morale, but one thing that has been helping is the community showing up. “The bureaucracy is meant to sort of demoralize you. But we're not demoralized. We're still here. We're still committed to showing up and to fighting because this is important. It's important for people to protest. It's important for people to conduct sit-ins. It's important for people to remain outraged and remain consistent. And so we're drained, but we're here to continue fighting.” The court is adjourned until May 11th. ### We’ve been nominated for a Digital Publishing Award URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/weve-been-nominated-for-a-digital-publishing-award/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T05:02:48.000Z Gabrielle and I have been nominated for a national publishing award for our housing podcast, [*Building the Crisis.*](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?utm%5Fsource=linktree%5Fprofile%5Fshare “The first time Isaac Peltz attempted to write a news article for *The Rover*, it read like an acid trip. Isaac took my advice to “get creative” in the story’s opening and went full novella on me, making up a fictional character called Gino and somehow working the term “little bitch” into the copy. I was mortified.” Do you know how Chris expressed this mortification? He said “You did great, and you’ve got a lot of talent as a writer. Here’s how I’d like you to adjust it. Get it to me by Monday, great work buddy.” When Gabrielle and I made the podcast, we were interviewing Virginie Dufour. During the interview I said > *« ben là qu’est ce que tu dis toé »* Which for those of you who don’t speak Quebecois, that’s like saying “what are you on about, bro?” Saying that to your buddy is okay. Saying it to an elected politician as a member of the press? Gab laughed, and after the interview lovingly told me I was dumb. I’ve tried to take the same approach since then. On the Trail is *anti competition.* We will not shit on anyone else (publicly) and we *never* complain. Ask Chris, he’ll vouch for the fact that I don’t complain about almost anything. We will only work to do better and take criticism on the chin. Chris gave me a chance. In my beliefs, everyone deserves seven times seventy chances. It’s easy to do that though, since my mentors, Christopher Curtis and Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours, have given more than that to me over the past year and a half. Today, I live more off of your support than I do off of anything else. I still publish all over the place (I have many articles waiting to be published with The Walrus, Briarpatch, Future For Good, I just published with Dogwood, etc…) but it’s through your support every month that I can do this today. This year I made a decision that I would focus on this publication over other things. Next year, we will be submitting quite a few projects to awards, and I believe that we will grow a lot over the next six months. We might not get another nomination ever again. But that doesn’t matter. Any nomination or recognition is entirely thanks to the readers here. Without you, I might be publishing, but it wouldn’t be my full time job. I make, as you can go scope, less than $30,000 a year. Many of you support On the Trail, and the Rover, as well as other indies. Thanks to you, these projects can be made. Well… thank you. From the bottom of my heart. We’re out to make a difference. We might be the tiniest of newsletters (about five thousand subscriptions, paid and free), but we’re mighty. This has been a week of small wins. But it isn’t the last week of positive news. I believe there will come a day when we think to ourselves… damn, that was worth it. That day isn’t close, but I believe in it. If I died tomorrow, I know I tried. The world often seems like it can’t get better, and things are sliding backwards. But we’re gonna keep trying. Because if there’s something that all of us, all these little indie publications, have been proving, it’s that we can change this backwards country one word at a time. [Support Us! Keep power to account.](#/portal/account/plans) ### Defending Canadian Sovereignty… By Funding American Billionaires URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/defending-canadian-sovereignty-by-funding-american-billionaires/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T13:12:00.000Z \*Updated to correct the name of “Blackstone” from “Blackrock.” I did this in the video as well. I apologize. The name is Blackstone. One year after the election of Mark Carney and his Liberals as the “new” governing party of Canada, their “Canada Strong” pitch for sovereignty seems to be more of what has come before– sell Canada piecemeal to the highest bidder, usually at the expense of taxpayers and the social systems that millions of Canadians rely on. The playbook isn’t anything new. Where [Trudeau promised decarbonization while increasing subsidies for major polluters](https://www.iisd.org/articles/unpacking-canadas-fossil-fuel-subsidies-faq?ref=onthetrail.info), Carney is selling Canada to the highest bidder under the veil of sovereignty. At the forefront of this faux sovereignty is the Ksi Lisims LNG project. With Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, the Liberals have granted themselves the power to bypass regulatory guardrails for any project they deem “in the national interest” through the newly christened *Major Projects Office (MPO)*. One of the first projects they referred to the MPO was the Ksi Lisims LNG terminal, a project financed and backed by American companies. Gab and Isaac dive deep into the news— including the new sovereign wealth fund! ## The Billionaires Western LNG, a Houston based company, [has raised more than $265 million ](https://www.westernlng.com/news/significant-investment-in-western-lng-funds-ksi-lisims-lng-and-prgt-projects-to-fid?ref=onthetrail.info)of private investment into the Ksi Lisims LNG project and owns[ 100 per cent of Ksi Lisims](https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/66d0bd026e43500022c60766/download/03%5FKsiLisimsLNG%5F1%5FProject%5FOverview%5FFinal.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info), despite claiming Indigenous ownership. Western LNG is backed by Blackstone and Apollo Global Management, which are led by two American billionaires who drove and profited off of the global 2008 recession: Stephen Schwarzman and Marc Rowan. Schwarzman is worth \~$43 billion, and is the chairman and co-founder of Blackstone. He is also one of the top ten donors to Donald Trump, and is a longtime adviser to the GOP. He personally contributed $40 million to elect MAGA candidates in 2024\. Rowan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Apollo. Rowan is part of the “Gaza Board of Peace”, a Trump backed initiative to “rebuild Gaza” after the genocide after the US backed Israel to the tune of at least $16 billion. Meanwhile, despite these American billionaires being big proponents of the pipeline *and* an American LNG company owning the pipeline, the government projects strength and [unwillingness to allow the United States to dictate the terms of the upcoming free trade negotiations.](https://apnews.com/article/canada-carney-us-trade-f5a635020c5032e91d4da24df9f62568?ref=onthetrail.info) [Keep Power Accountable, Sign up for $5 a Month](#/portal/signup) ## Tax Breaks Western’s investments in Ksi Lisims would not go as far if not for significant tax breaks awarded to energy companies by Canadian governments. Billions in dollars are not going to the Canadian and British Columbian treasuries because of these tax breaks. [The Canada Infrastructure bank would finance the project under their mandate to work with the MPO](https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/CIB-BIC/index-eng.html?ref=onthetrail.info). There has not yet been an announcement on how much they might give to Ksi Lisims. They might announce it today in their Spring economic update. We have reached out to Minister of Finance, Francois-Philippe Champagne’s office to speak to him about this. They did not respond. One of the biggest way the BC and federal governments give support is by providing millions in tax breaks. Those tax breaks include: lower electricity prices, (about half the price of consumer electricity),[ a two-year exemption from the B.C. carbon tax](https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-lng-carbon-pollution-break/?ref=onthetrail.info), a potentially lowered corporate tax rate from 12 per cent to 9 per cent, and a deferral of PST on construction worth up to $21 million– which is basically an interest free loan that will not have to be repaid for more than two decades (source: [CCPA](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/attachments/CCPA%5FBC%20Critiquing%20the%20LNG%20Canada%20agreement%5FFINAL%5F190506.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info)). Not to mention electricity prices increasing for consumers long term; a[ project like Ksi Lisims LNG would require 600 MW of power– roughly the equivalent to 250,000 homes, but at half the cost](https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-public-to-pay-north-coast-transmission-line-costs/?ref=onthetrail.info). These lower rates on electricity, paired with major public investment into the LNG infrastructure will also drive up costs for individuals in the province, since more power is being used, they have to scale up, and they have to make up for the higher costs of producing more energy. Meanwhile, most of this higher energy cost is being produced by companies that are paying less for MWh. The Liberal government and the BC NDP continue providing massive subsidies to these companies, [despite research showing that](https://www.elibrary.imf.org/display/book/9781475547900/ch007.xml?ref=onthetrail.info) for every 1 per cent increase in energy subsidies there is a reduction of spending on public services by 0.75 per cent. The funds used for this LNG project would pay for the healthcare of 440,000 Canadians, or 8 per cent of BC’s total population[ if we use the average annual cost per person of $9,626\. ](https://www.cihi.ca/en/national-health-expenditure-trends?ref=onthetrail.info)This, [while BC is in the middle of a health care crisis.](https://globalnews.ca/news/11321000/bc-er-closures-crisis/?ref=onthetrail.info) The IISD estimates that Canadian governments subsidize fossil fuel companies to the tune of at *least*[ $4.8 billion per year](https://www.iisd.org/publications/tax-subsidies-canada?ref=onthetrail.info), but this number is likely much higher. According to analysis by Environmental Defence, the federal government provided nearly [$30 billion in direct subsidies and public financing to the oil and gas industry in 2024.](https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Canadas-Fossil-Fuel-Funding-in-2024%5FEDC%5FApril-2025-1.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) Since 2020, the Canadian government has provided $74.6 billion in subsidies and financial support to fossil fuel companies. [To build an interprovincial green energy infrastructure, it would cost an estimated $24 billion](https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Canadas-Fossil-Fuel-Funding-in-2024%5FEDC%5FApril-2025-1.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info), less than the subsidies that they’ve provided to fossil fuels in the past two years. [These subsidies are given while these companies are reporting record incomes across the globe](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629625003020?ref=onthetrail.info), none of which go into the pockets of labourers or Canadians. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Liberal government (v2.0) hits 1 year old! URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-liberal-government-v2-0-hits-1-year-old/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T13:00:16.000Z ## [LISTEN ON ANY PLATFORM BY CLICKING THIS LINK](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) This week was an eventful one, but most importantly, we celebrate one year of Carney. Happy Carneyversary everyone! [support us](#/portal/signup) On the first anniversary of his 2025 election victory, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of a $25 billion sovereign wealth fund. The new Crown corporation aims to fund major infrastructure projects through partnerships with Indigenous peoples and organized labor. Carney stated the fund would avoid the historical displacement associated with projects like the Canadian Pacific Railway where indigenous people had their land taken from them. Specific financial details remain vague, with the Prime Minister stating that the upcoming economic update will clarify how the initial $25 billion investment will be sourced. A consultation period will take place over the coming months to finalize the fund's investment strategy. In Quebec provincial politics, Minister Gilles Bélanger resigned from the CAQ after Premier Fréchette appointed Bernard Drainville as Minister of Energy and Finance. Bélanger had been one of Fréchette’s earliest supporters. Simultaneously, Fréchette announced a $400 million investment for preparatory infrastructure work in eastern Montreal, specifically targeting water, sewage, and power networks for the expansion of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. This pivot toward public reinvestment has led to a slight recovery for the CAQ in polls, though the Parti Québécois (PQ) remains positioned to win the next election. A poll indicated the PQ could win a supermajority if they dropped their referendum proposal, but leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon rejected the idea as dishonest. A shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. A gunman is in custody, but the lack of footage from the media event has fueled online conspiracy theories claiming the event was staged. These rumors follow similar unverified claims regarding a previous shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. [Support!](#/portal/signup) **Other News** A Canadian woman was killed and 13 others injured in a shooting at the Teotihuacán pyramids in Mexico. Mexican officials report that a lone gunman opened fire at the tourist site, striking eight individuals, including another Canadian and citizens from the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Two minors, aged six and 13, were among the wounded. The woman’s identity has not been officially released. The Prime Minister’s Office has vehemently rejected a report from *The Globe and Mail* claiming Ottawa is considering an oil pipeline from Alberta to Southern British Columbia. While the article cited anonymous sources, the government corrected the claim the following day. Alberta continues to favor a northern route for the pipeline. The British Columbia NDP government has canceled planned amendments to UNDRIP laws for the spring session following significant public backlash. The controversy has negatively impacted the party's standing in recent polls. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers murdered two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old, amid a surge in settler violence. Instagram is testing premium, paid features, further transitioning the application toward a model where specific functionalities are locked behind a paywall. Manitoba has introduced legislation to increase electricity rates for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations to prevent industrial entities from being subsidized by the public. Quebec is set to implement a similar measure in June 2026\. Additionally, Manitoba has introduced a ban on social media and AI for children. While intended to protect minors, the bill requires users to submit identification to technology companies, raising privacy concerns. This first-of-its-kind legislation in Canada has sparked intense debate across the political spectrum regarding government overreach and digital safety. A British Columbia MLA faced widespread condemnation after using the Nazi slogan "blood and soil" in parliament. The MLA used the phrase while referencing the BC NDP’s policies regarding Indigenous peoples. ### A Landmark Recommendation to secure democracy in Canada URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-landmark-recommendation-to-secure-democracy-in-canada/ Last updated: 2026-04-25T12:00:05.000Z In a landmark recommendation, a study from a committee in the house of commons has recommended that Prime Ministers should have to sell their assets and divest from tax havens. This is the lede, and the headline. But there are a number of other suggestions in the report that would radically strengthen Canada’s Federal government’s ethics rules. At a time when most governments across the globe, including our own, are seeing democratic backsliding, this recommendation could spell a great strengthening of our democracy. This is the reason that *On the Trail* exists. This is the reason that we started our work. Today we pop a bottle of champagne, because what we’ve been fighting for is being heard. What we are doing is working. And this is an important step towards a much better accountability mechanism in government. [HELP US STAY IN THE FIGHT](#/portal/signup) ### What is a committee recommendation? First, it is important to note that this is a committee “recommendation”. So we mustn’t celebrate too much (although a bit is fine!) A committee in the house of commons makes non-binding recommendations, and the house is not *legally* required to follow the recommendations. This, however, will be hard to avoid for the governing party. "The committee's report should be applauded and acted on by the Liberal majority government as it calls for most of the long-overdue changes needed to close huge loopholes in the ethics law, and to make the ethics commissioner more independent and enforcement more transparent, and to ensure violators of the law are penalized,” Duff Conacher, founder of Democracy Watch, said. "If the committee's recommendations are enacted, Prime Minister Mark Carney would essentially be required to sell his investments in Brookfield and other companies that cause a serious, ongoing financial conflicts of interest for him, and several Cabinet ministers and top government officials would also have to sell their investments in businesses that cause conflicts, which would be important steps forward to reduce their many serious conflicts." Conacher explained that the Liberals can do anything they want with their newfound majority, but it will be politically costly if they don’t do anything about Carney’s blatant conflicts of interest. If the government doesn’t implement these recommendations, this will turn into a ballot box question, and cost the Liberals many seats, with people like Avi Lewis on Carney’s left pushing for a more transparent, accountable government, and Poilievre on his right who will use this as a major attacking point. "If the Liberals use their majority to bury the ethics committee's report, they will say loud and clear to voters that they are fine with Prime Minister Carney and many Cabinet ministers and top government officials having unethical financial conflicts of interest,” Conacher said. He specified that these conflicts of interest “ corrupt and taint many of their decisions on important issues and problems, and that they are fine with secretive, ineffective enforcement of one of the key laws that protects Canada's democracy." The reason this recommendation was able to go through is because the committee had been made up of a multilateral group, and had the Liberals been able to install their majority two weeks ago, this recommendation wouldn’t have happened. [HELP US FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Carney gets a majority without a general election! URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/carney-gets-a-majority-without-a-general-election/ Last updated: 2026-04-22T12:00:39.000Z I apologize that this is late. It was due to many minor technical issues. ## https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts Mark Carney earned a majority! It’s a tiny little majority bolstered by floor crossers. Many people have gone around calling this an illegitimate majority, but is it? And what are the consequences of this majority? Will Canada collapse now? We’re gonna find out in the next few years, as Mark Carney and the Liberals seem determined to continue selling off Canada to private corporations and get new corporate overlords possible. Here are the top headlines of the week Recruitment in the Canadian Armed Forces reached a 30-year high last year, with 7,310 new members. According to Defence Minister David McGuinty, these recruits “want Canada to remain safe and sovereign.” The Canadian Armed Forces thus exceeded its recruitment target for 2025–2026—set at 6,957—by 5%. Among the new members, 1,275 are women, 1,400 are permanent residents, and 241 are Indigenous. These figures even surpass those from the early 2000s, during operations in Afghanistan. Trump offered mixed messages Monday about the path ahead for the U.S. war against Iran, declaring that he was in no rush to end the conflict while also expressing confidence that further negotiations with Tehran will soon take place in Pakistan. With the 14-day ceasefire set to expire Wednesday, Iran still does not seem open to new peace talks. Iran still has control over the strait, despite US attempts to manipulate information around the war. Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, has hinted that Liquefied natural gas will be shipping out of the port of Churchill by 2030– or at least that’s what he believes Ottawa wants. He says Carney has presented an aggressive timeline of getting LNG outta the province. Air Canada suspends flights to several locations due to the unavailability of fuel, and rising fuel prices starting on June 1st. They will no longer offer flights to New York until Oct 25th they say. Doug Ford gets eaten alive by the media for the purchase of 28.9 Million dollar private jet ! He complained this morning that he’s more scrutinized than other leaders, and he can’t do anything. He quickly reversed the decision and set out to sell the jet he bought within a couple days. The criticism was levied that he did this while most ontarians can’t even afford rent. Danielle Smith is gerrymandering the electoral map in Alberta— Later this year, the government will present the new electoral map that will define Alberta’s political playing field for the next decade. This is a common tactic in the USA, and is completely against the way that every other electoral system in the country does it. It has been called an attempt to steal the election— something that Danielle smith doesn’t really need to do, considering she’s 14 points ahead in the polls. Quebecers are less favourable to Israel and the USA than the rest of the countries. Studies are indicating that this is due to the different media ecosystem that doesn’t favour US imperial thought as much as the English media system— this particularly comes into focus when looking at postmedia, and the hundreds of media companies they own across the country while being owned by a United States Hedge Fund. Slafkovsky gets a hat trick in the opening game of the playoffs, winning the first game for the habs! There is a 30% risk Canada enters a recession, the former governor of the bank of Canada says. Of course, for most people in Canada they’re already living through a recession considering the price of food at the grocery store and their monthly rent. Eight children are killed in a mass shooting in Louisiana. Large majority of women have a negative opinion of Pierre Poilievre. According to Angus Reid, 63 per cent of women have a negative opinion of him, and only 26 per cent say they’re positive about him. Poilievre has given some interesting comments about him, as he’s commented on their biological clocks before— but also only 33 per cent of Canadians in total like the man, almost exclusively conservative men building out that number. ### Forward Guidance... into what? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/forward-guidance-transcript-mark-carney/ Last updated: 2026-04-19T21:03:31.000Z Today Carney released a ten minute video that was more or less a reiteration of some of his ideas– and let me tell you I have a lot of thoughts. So many thoughts that I'm going to need a couple days to work on them, and I'm talking to Goose Media about a collaboration to discuss some of Carney's "innovative" ideas, because we've been on the same thinking path recently. Carney reiterates some of his feelings from Davos, and then goes on to say a few things that I think are worth mentioning. Here are my highlights. "The U.S. has changed, and we must respond." "the days that young Canadians have known all their lives haven't been that good. Their lifetimes have been marked by a series of shocks and crises from abroad, the Iraq War, the global financial crisis, COVID, and now this. We have to take care of ourselves because we can't rely on one foreign partner. We can't control the disruption coming from our neighbors. We can't bet our future on the hope that it will suddenly stop. " These two things stand out to me. He's continuing to propose his desire to reinvent neoliberalism, and we'll see how it pans out. His goals seem admirable, as does his desire to communicate more with Canadians, I think that would be good. I liked this speech, and I think it's a good approach. The best thing he says in here is that the social programs that are important to Canadians– Child care, pharmacare (which needs to keep expanding) and dental care– they aren't going anywhere. I think that was important for him to say. Not to mention the universal school lunches, and the automatic tax filing for lower income people. These are good initiatives. But there's also lots to criticize in this speech. There's a fair few... not factual errors, but *spin*\-- things that he's flexing, but aren't really true. I think it's important to fact check some of the claims in here. Specifically the housing claims are bothering me, which shouldn't surprise any of you. I'll have something bigger out later this week to talk about this. Here's the video and the transcript, I think it's pretty important to look at as Carney continues his path. It was clearly a strategy they cooked up after they got their majority. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, or emails! [Sign up to help us keep going!](#/portal/signup) --- **TRANSCRIPT** I know from experience that outside forces can sometimes seem overwhelming. My previous jobs at the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, it was part of my duties to make regular public reports on what we were doing to manage the economy. And I remember during the financial crisis, when there was a real risk of panic, I developed a practice called forward guidance. It was designed to assure people that however difficult the situation seemed on any given day, that we were acting and importantly, that we would continue to act with overwhelming force against our problems until they were solved. And that's the spirit I'm talking to you about today. Security can't be achieved by ignoring the obvious or downplaying the very real threats that we Canadians face. I promise you, I will never sugarcoat our challenges. Instead, I will talk with you directly and regularly about our plan, why we're doing what we're doing, what's working, what isn't, and what we're going to do next. So here's the current situation. The world, as I said earlier, is more dangerous and divided. The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression. Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become our weaknesses, weaknesses that we must correct. Workers in our industries most affected by U.S. tariffs, in autos, in steel, in lumber, are under threat. Businesses are holding back investments, restrained by the pall of uncertainty that's hanging over all of us. The U.S. has changed, and we must respond. Canada Strong is our plan to build Canada by Canadians, for Canadians. It will attract new investment so we can build more for ourselves, striking new partnerships abroad so we can sell into new markets. It's about taking back control of our security, our borders, and our future. There are some who say there's no need for a comprehensive plan. They believe we should wait it out in the hope that the United States will return to normal, that the good old days will come back. But hope isn't a plan, and nostalgia is not a strategy. And the days that young Canadians have known all their lives haven't been that good. Their lifetimes have been marked by a series of shocks and crises from abroad, the Iraq War, the global financial crisis, COVID, and now this. We have to take care of ourselves because we can't rely on one foreign partner. We can't control the disruption coming from our neighbors. We can't bet our future on the hope that it will suddenly stop. But we can control what happens here. We can build a stronger country that can withstand disruptions from abroad, that creates good jobs here at home, that's a leader in this new world with a vast network of reliable allies. That's the Canada Strong Plan we're putting into action. Its goals are ambitious, to catalyze a trillion dollars in investment, to create one Canadian economy out of 13, to build new trade and energy corridors, and to double the size of our clean energy capacity. Yes, that's ambitious. But in a crisis, fortune favors the bold. And there's comfort and confidence to be found in our country's history. After all, our ancestors built an improbable country in an inhospitable land where people were free to live their own lives. When I get into the office, I always look at this statue on my desk. It was given to me by Mike Myers just over a year ago. And this is General Isaac Brock. Brock was a hero who fought and gave his life for our forebearers in the War of 1812\. Before Canada even existed on paper, it had a shape in Brock's imagination. Faced with the threat of an American invasion, Brock built alliances across our land and inspired what would eventually become Canada. Others carried that effort forward. People like General de Salibari, citizens like the Voltageur, who defended Chateau Guy, and indigenous heroes such as Chief Tecumseh, who united indigenous nations across the Great Lakes to resist U.S. expansion and protect their lands. They battled together against a common foe, and by doing so, they made our life today possible. This statue of General Brock that I see every morning in the Prime Minister's office reminds me that when we're united as Canadians, we can withstand anything. Long before Confederation, our country was forged by indigenous peoples, courier de Bois and voyageurs, who mapped their continent and built vast trading networks from coast to coast to coast before the Americans had even left St. Louis. When the Second World War ended, Canada was ambitious, determined, and united in a mission to build big things. The St. Lawrence Seaway, Trans-Canada Highway, Expo 67, the CN Tower. We built new neighborhoods for hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families. And we opened new universities to launch their careers. We've begun to make big structural changes in the Canadian economy. And they're all designed to make us stronger at home and less reliant on the United States. On housing, we're taking a solution from the past, modernizing it, and creating a new housing agency to build affordable homes faster and transform the housing sector in the process. It's already up and running. And though we have a ways to go yet, housing affordability is already improving. For example, asking rents across Canada at their lowest level in nearly three years. On energy and infrastructure, we're removing roadblocks that have been getting in the way of big projects. On trade. To sell our goods and create new jobs, we're building relationships with other countries. We've signed 20 new deals on four continents in less than a year because Canada has what the world wants, from energy to education. We have the values to which most of the world aspires. And we're a reliable partner in a world that is anything but. We're defending Canadian sovereignty by investing in our security and creating an industry to support it. We've embarked on an ambitious new mission to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces with the single largest increase in defense investment in generations. As a result, recruitment to serve our country is already up 13%. This is the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall that Canada will be spending what our allies expect and what we need for our defense. And we're just getting started. Our defense strategy will catalyze $500 billion in investment in Canada over the next decade. Our plan for Canada is gaining momentum and it will work. But we are not going to fix all our problems tomorrow. And there will be setbacks along the way. The biggest payoffs will take time. So we know that Canadians need a boost today and a bridge to tomorrow. That's why, as we build a stronger economy, we're focused on lowering costs for Canadians. On day one in office, we canceled the consumer carbon tax. We cut taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians, saving a two-income family up to $840 this year. We've cut taxes for first-time homebuyers, saving them up to $50,000 on their first homes. We've reduced tolls for vehicles on the Confederation Bridge and cut fares by 50% on ferries in Atlantic Canada. We've launched something called Automatic Federal Benefits. What it does is it will help 5.5 million low-income Canadians get the benefits that they're entitled to. We've made the National School Food Program permanent, feeding 400,000 children and saving their parents $800 a year on groceries. We're protecting the social programs that give every Canadian a fair chance to get ahead. Childcare, dental care, and pharma care. We have everything we need here at home. Most of all, we have each other. Canadians are the hardest working, best educated people in the world. We care deeply about each other and about our country. And Canadians have responded to this crisis with that spirit. We're buying Canadian. We're investing Canadian. We're exploring Canadian. Canadians everywhere are all in. We all desire a better country. We've been a great neighbor, always willing to help our friends in their times of need. We've stood shoulder to shoulder with our allies in some of the toughest circumstances imaginable, in Kandahar, on Juneau Beach, and at Vimy Ridge. We've been a beacon to the world with our values and our ability to always overcome incredible challenges. The situation today feels unique, but we've faced down threats like this before. And in the weeks and months ahead, I'm going to want to talk with you again. I know you have busy lives and you don't need daily interruptions from me. But the truth is, there's a lot going on in the world and not all of it is good. And the stakes could not be higher. The way we're going to get through this is together. There's much forward guidance to be found in our shared history. We will get through this because of who we have always been. A country of tough, decent, caring people. People who grow stronger in adversity. It's our country. It's our future. We are taking back control to build Canada strong. It's already working. Let's keep going. Thank you for your time. I know it's precious. ### Changing the slavery conditions of coffee production URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/changing-the-slavery-conditions-of-coffee-production/ Last updated: 2026-04-18T13:00:52.000Z Along the border of the canal in Montreal there sit dozens of old factories no longer in use. The city, once a bastion of the labouring class, has long since transitioned into a service economy. These empty brownstone buildings slowly turn decrepit after decades of neglect, and have since been turned into loft apartments that cost exorbitant amounts of money despite the nearest grocery store being kilometers away. [God bless Griffintown.](https://thewalrus.ca/can-montreal-save-its-soul-amidst-gentrification/?ref=onthetrail.info) But in some of these old, collapsing buildings, magic is made. Inside some, towering steel tanks, legacies of the pandemic, brew beer that combine unique flavours and strange concoctions birthed in the periphery of an artisan’s imagination. [Support investigations and gonzo journalism](#/portal/signup) In others, there stand tall roasters that cook sweet cherry seeds into what we refer to as coffee beans that possess the most popular liquid in Canada. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-33f2fb95-eb37-4dbb-905b-be6e8186c004.jpeg) **The most popular drink in Canada?** Apparently [Canadians drink more coffee than water.](https://madeinca.ca/coffee-consumption-statistics-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) We remain one of the largest coffee consuming nations on earth. Strange, considering that most countries that [remain in the commonwealth overwhelmingly prefer tea.](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/tea-consumption-by-country?ref=onthetrail.info) [10,440,000,000 kg (ten billion, four hundred and forty million kg)](https://www.verenastreet.com/blogs/all-about-coffee/coffee-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOoqNg8dNzWZtjDUzSw8xZBqHbHm5CPKpHci9bYjWEa7zM07q7kMJ&ref=onthetrail.info) of coffee is produced each year. [300 million kg of coffee are consumed by Canadians every single year.](https://madeinca.ca/coffee-consumption-statistics-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) Coffee prices have been skyrocketing these past years, as droughts ravage coffee producing nations and climate change brings major consequences to warm climate countries. [The price of coffee saw a 31 per cent increase in 2025.](https://globalnews.ca/news/11648957/coffee-prices-inflation-explained/?ref=onthetrail.info) This, like so many other things, has deeply cut into the daily spending of most Canadians. Like gas, coffee is so ubiquitous in our culture that when the cost rises, we think first about our pocketbooks and not of the geopolitical problems that are causing the price rises to occur. [For Semilla and its founder, Brendan Adams, politics are the entire game.](https://www.semilla.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### It’s time for a revolution URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/its-time-for-a-revolution/ Last updated: 2026-04-15T22:00:56.000Z ### Canadian governments have a transparency problem. It’s not just us at *On the Trail* who think this. [The IJF just released a fantastic report on this Monday. ](https://theijf.org/article/governments-limiting-foi?ref=onthetrail.info) [Justin Ling released a great piece about it last week.](https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/ford-is-trying-to-bury-his-cellphone-records-carney-is-paying-lip-service-to-transparency-times-are-good-for-politicians-with-something-to-hide/article%5F490aa441-6a12-4326-a6e9-f20be1a9b795.html?ref=onthetrail.info) I’ve been yelling about this for the better part of two years now. Aedan has dug into the foundations of the broken transparency of Canada. [Dónal Gill and I have yelled about it at Canadian Dimension.](https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no-longer-be-ignored?ref=onthetrail.info) Canadian governments are often legally bound to release forms that detail their assets, investments, and possessions that could become conflicts of interest in their time serving as public employees. These systems are broken, hard to access, and more or less useless for most people. Even from a technical perspective, there are few API's, fewer archives, no consistent release schedules, no consistent data structures and no email lists or RSS feeds. **The only consistency is the lack of it.** This isn’t really an opinion— anyone who has to use these websites regularly (journalists, for example) are subjected to look at them and become acquainted with their antiquated tools and UI that, admittedly, has improved as of late. Aedan and I had a meeting with someone recently, whose entire job is looking at Lobbyist data. We laughed endlessly at how terrible the system is, and that their entire job was to suffer by looking at the website. [Here, go ahead and give it a try.](https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/guest?ref=onthetrail.info) It’s quite exhausting. [Even worse is the conflict of interest website for the feds. ](https://prciec-rpccie.parl.gc.ca/EN/PublicRegistries/Pages/PublicRegistry.aspx?ref=onthetrail.info)Entire provinces don’t have this data available at all, the eastern provinces are particularly egregious. In order for Aedan and I to access the Conflict Of Interest disclosures in Newfoundland we must *go there in person* and hope that the ethics commissioner is in a good enough mood to show us the papers. We are not allowed to scan these files, or leave with them because Anne Chafe, the interim commissioner for legislative standards, [thinks it’s dangerous to have things on the internet. ](https://theindependent.ca/news/only-province-in-the-dark-inside-n-l-s-broken-ethics-system/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### We fixed the problem. Well, we at *On the Trail* have been secretly working on a fix for this for a long time now. Aedan has designed, from the ground up, a system that automatically pulls together information for every elected official in the federal or provincial government and presents the following info: Stock Performance Donors Lobbying Assets Gifted Travel Liabilities Alternative Sources of Income Contact Information We have designed the system to generate the charts of the stock performances of any who has stocks declared (Federal officials must have stocks declared if they own over $10,000 of any stock, for provinces this threshold varies). MPs have a much higher than average stock performance. [Subscribe to help Aedan get paid](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-d60b4884-5bb5-42a9-8b3b-a74f5c80deb1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-0b43dbca-7614-4d09-aaa3-3871d0344378.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-9f4d333a-0836-4f97-bd36-f33234f4a45a.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-f0bdff1f-b099-41e0-b1f3-a5ca4cb20116.jpeg) We possess this information about every single federal official. Aedan has written code to scrape different websites run by the government in order to present *normal people* with the capability to hold their local representatives accountable —without having to beat their heads against the wall that is government website design. **Design that is, by the way, purposefully obtuse.** Existing tools are lacking. There are good databanks, but few are easily usable by normal people, people who aren’t going in with a purpose and a pre-determined goal. ### **Do one better** We did one better than that though. Not only did we make all of this available right now for you to go look at, you can also search organizations in our system that have contractual or lobbying relationships with any government in Canada. You can search them by a variety of attributes – and the search feature is able to capture many of the different spellings and aliases used by the people in the government. A good example is Garda World, whom we wrote about recently. It is referred to by many different names in government records. Some of them are just misspellings, left completely uncorrected by government employees. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-71b18ccb-17dd-4d68-ae60-b3159e9ddce8.png) There is no other political database in existence in Canada that can perform *entity resolution* to this level of efficacy - the process of recognizing two distinct database entries as referring to the same thing. This allows us to present an entirely new level of information about how various organizations interact with Canadian governments. The comprehensive nature of this database is unlike any that has ever been built in Canada. But this is just the beginning. This is version 0.01 of the database. We dug into *On the Trail’s* highly limited bank account and paid Aedan to design this. Right now, only the Federal government and BC are fully available, but significant data is already present for other jurisdictions. We are aiming to build this out over the next five months. This fall, we’re hoping to launch version 1.0 of this database, with every province fully built in the system as much as possible. *On the Trail* started with one goal: to be a strange, diverse journalistic platform. We’ve been able to find our audience with a relentless focus on *data backed* work that focuses on accountability with the government. **This tool will revolutionize what we’re doing long term.** It is completely attached to subscribers here. Everyone has limited access to the database, with assets, portfolios, and conflicts of interest available to all people, as well as donors and contracts related to lobbying. Meanwhile, the data on stocks, and lobbying itself are available to all people paying $20 or more. We might change it later, but the purpose for this is to help us develop the system further. It will take months to fully implement the system and make it as comprehensive as we need, and it will take repeated effort to ascertain the information that the eastern provinces don’t freely provide. ### FUN SIDE NOTE: Anyone who gets a 1 year subscription to the $20 or higher tier will get a free t-shirt with their subscription! For those of you who have recently already paid this, I am getting to it this week! I am sorry that it took so long. It’s been a big deal setting all this up. [You can even order merch à la carte now!](https://www.onthetrail.info/merch/) In order to support Aedan in the development of this project and correcting Canada’s serious problem with accountability, we need help. Subscribers of $20 or more will be divided between Aedan and I, incentivizing his exceptional work on the database. Meanwhile, those who subscribe at lower tiers are (hopefully) helping me to save the money to pay him for his work. Long term, this will be further integrated into our journalism. For now, the beta is available to everyone on the website. Simply click the tab at the top that says “Data Trail beta” or [click this link to look at it yourself. ](https://data.onthetrail.info/?ref=onthetrail.info) Thank you for your help in growing this project. We are hoping to revolutionize the country and government accountability with this robust tool. [Subscribe to help us further develop our work!](#/portal/signup) ### Homelessness is exploding in Quebec URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/homelessness-is-exploding-in-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-04-14T14:53:59.000Z [ ](https://youtu.be/puFtRMXnhmo?si=93K-FoLnWgJj3--5&ref=onthetrail.info) ## [LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON ANY PLATFORM BY CLICKING THIS LINK](https://linktr.ee/isaapeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) 12000 people are living on the streets in Quebec, a record amount. People are lining up more than ever at food supports, and for help with their basic needs, and as per usual, the government hasn’t done anything to help out with those who are suffering. Meanwhile, Christine Frechette is the new leader of the CAQ, and thus the new leader of Quebec. In an interview with Alexplique, she said she wants to be the leader of people owning their houses, instead of the leader of a province of renters– she will do this by cutting pst on new homes. Of course, when a house costs 1.5 million, this will lead to few savings and not make it more affordable for most people. Finally, A social conservative crosses the floor to the liberals. Marilyn Gladu has spoken out against abortion, and didn’t want to ban conversion therapy– the practice of trying to convert people away from being homosexual. She also supported the convoy truckers in 2021, and opposed vaccines during the pandemic. She says now that she will support abortion, and the LGBTQ, although that is yet to be proven. Mark Carney and the Liberals are under fire for this decision. Carney says that it doesn’t change the values of the party… but does it? [Support us! We do this entirely with your help](#/portal/signup) ### OTHER HEADLINES Artemis II returns to earth! The first astronauts to see the dark side of the moon since the 1970s, they returned after a great success. Apparently there wasn’t much news coverage of it, but In Canada we had loads! Apparently Americans are not as cool as Canadians. Trump declares he won’t invade Canada after all. “I can’t deal with 200 years of history” during his remaining time in office, he told a biographer. Israel is wiping out entire villages across the south of Lebanon in their illegal invasion. Trump said “a whole civilization will die tonight” in a menacing tweet, prompting bi-partisan calls to remove him from office, as well as an acute rejection of his actions by MAGA influencers. Trump did not, in the end, carry through on these threats, instead signing a two week ceasefire. 18000 lives have been lost to the opioid emergency in British Columbia. Despite recently declining fatality rates, almost five people a day continue to die from fentanyl overdose. Illicit drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death in the province, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, motor vehicle accidents, drownings and fires *combined.* BC cuts the climate agency and sends some of their staff to work on pipelines, another step towards the BC NDP becoming a right wing government. Cole Caufield scores his fiftieth goal, and Nick Suzuki gets his 100th point! This is probably one of the greatest news pieces of all time. Mexico is rolling out universal health care. Another amazing reform by their president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Viktor Obran has been voted out as leader of Hungary! After spending 16 years running the country and creating an “illiberal democracy”, it seems that the country is set to go back towards democracy. The Alberta NDP are incredibly unpopular! 53 per cent look to vote for the UCP and 36 per cent are looking at the NDP The Federal, and Provincial governments are reducing public access to information. There is a trend towards secrecy, as seen this morning on the IJF. The US began a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire discussions broke down. Iran is threatening retaliation. It is likely to escalate this week. ### The Community Sector Stands Up URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-community-sector-stands-up/ Last updated: 2026-04-16T22:17:28.000Z **Last year, the provincial government gave Caroline Chartier’s organization $3,600 to provide raises across her company.** Her staff consists of 65 employees, whom she pays for 52 weeks a year. Divided among the staff, she was able to offer them a $1.06-per-week raise. This is the constant burden of running a community group, the backbone of every neighbourhood and every society. They help specific demographics of society and try to advocate for them. Moisson Montréalis the largest food bank in Canada, addressing food insecurity. La Maison des jeunes L’Ouverture in Montreal North is a community-based centre that provides a supervised meeting place for kids aged 12 to 17, offering educational workshops, sports activities, and psychological support to promote social development and citizenship. Chartier explained how they can’t budget for the future, because they’re constantly on the edge financially. Beyond that, Chartier says, they’re not able to pay their employees enough, who are bordering on burnout from long hours doing emotional heavy lifting and irregular hours that don’t provide a simple work-life balance. To denounce the government’s refusal to finance the community sector, 10,000 workers stood before the National Assembly on April 2 holding signs that read “Le Communautaire à boutte” (“the community sector is fed up”). For the sector to get back on track, Chartier and Mathieu Gélinas, the other spokesperson for Le communautaire à boutte, said they would need an injection of $2.6 billion. ## [READ THE FULL PIECE HERE FOR FREE ON THE ROVER](https://therover.ca/the-community-sector-stands-up/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### How could a social conservative become a Liberal? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/how-could-a-social-conservative-become-a-liberal/ Last updated: 2026-04-11T13:00:28.000Z This week, a social conservative crossed the floor to the Liberals and the reaction has been predictable from both mainstream newscasters, the right wing, and the left wing. The mainstream starts spinning the web of drama: will Poilievre leave? Is this unprecedented? Here’s my clever one liner that I thought about before coming on (insert show or article). The right wing says they’re shocked and appalled that their unpopular leader is still losing members (little insider tip here: They are not shocked, even if they are earnestly upset.) The left wing is astonished that the Liberals would accept a social conservative, and they demand answers as to whether the Liberals have morals or values beyond power. My audience (you) is more intelligent (and more attractive) than most audiences (you!), so I figured it would be a perfect time to talk about how nonplussed I am to see someone like Gladu cross the floor. It’s time to shut the book on Trudeau, and reorient ourselves with the Liberals, and who they’ve always been, dive into generational trauma & psychology, and grasp a fundamental flaw at the heart of our system that allows politicians to claim they care about human rights while creating an economic system that benefits the few over the many. ### A weird misconception People keep telling me that **Justin Trudeau was a conservative, and definitely not on the left**. The floor crossing this week, and the universal reaction that this “reflects poorly on Mark Carney’s values” indicates that people don’t really know much about the Liberals, or how far left Justin Trudeau moved the Overton window for Canadian politics. **Mark Carney is the standard. Justin Trudeau was an aberration.** People need to stop approaching Carney as the movement *away* from Liberal politics. Mark Carney is moving *back* to Liberal politics. Everyone got used to Justin Trudeau’s approach which was left wing. I know it hurts to hear me say this when you’re a rad leftist with deeply rooted values. Trudeau wasn’t a social democrat, and he was far too quick to capitulate to corporate demands, but he was definitely a leftist. It’s a big ol’ spectrum. ### Lefties, please don’t unsubscribe. I need you. I’ll *literally* die without you. Justin Trudeau was further left than the NDP under Jack Layton and Thomas Mulcair. I think by now the partisans who read this newsletter are probably aware that I’m highly critical of Jack Layton and his move to liberalise the NDP in order to make it more appealing for the broader Canadian public. Not to say that Layton wasn’t a leftist. He was just closer to the center. Like Trudeau! Who had almost the same policy ideas as Layton. Carney should not be compared to Justin Trudeau. Carney needs to be compared to Paul Martin, Jean Chretien, or Brian Mulroney. Yes, Mulroney and Chretien were in different parties, but we must look at history to understand why that doesn’t matter so much. Mainstream pundits saying “he’s a blue grit” or “he’s a red tory” doesn’t mean very much when they were *both always purple.* The Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals used to be essentially the same party with some specific issues where there was a huge gap. From the beginning this is the case. The second Liberal prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier, learned everything about his approach to politics from the first prime minister, John A Macdonald. A conservative. In the 80s the question was free trade. In the 70s it was the nationalizing of oil. Joe Clark wanted to privatize Petro Canada, but he also wanted to continue expanding and funding health care. It’s not a hard stretch to argue that one of our best and most progressive Prime Ministers was John Diefenbaker, a Progressive Conservative. In fact, [I’ve done it repeatedly!](https://www.onthetrail.info/bypassing-nostalgia-was-stephen-harpers/) He was a civil rights activist, an anti-racist (at least for his time), he believed in the Canadian Bill of Rights, and he fought against apartheid in South Africa. I’ve mentioned him in many different articles [because he’s awesome.](https://diefenbaker.usask.ca/documents/online-exhibits/1957-1958-elections/campaign%5Fspeech%5F1957.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) First prime minister to put women in his cabinet. A warrior for the freedom of religion and belief. I should do a profile on him or something. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-b5c450e1-4f4e-4d71-87bf-4ae4309c3e04.jpeg) ### Changed stances Until the 1990s, the PC and Liberal party were essentially the same and led with the same consensus. The PC eventually fell apart, and Reform was born, and then eventually Alliance, and then the CPC. But we can’t compare Carney to the CPC. He is nothing like them. [Carney just announced $3.8 billion for nature conservation](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-conservation-announcement-9.7148498?ref=onthetrail.info). [Carney has a robust auto plan that will transition the country towards electric cars. ](https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2026/02/prime-minister-carney-unveils-canadas-new-automotive-strategy-to-protect-jobs-and-position-our-country-as-a-global-leader-in-next-generation-vehicl.html?ref=onthetrail.info) [Carney’s government has made free lunches for students permanent](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/school-food/reports/national-policy.html?ref=onthetrail.info). Stephen Harper moved the Conservative significantly to the right. The modern Conservative party is nothing like the Progressive Conservative party. The modern Conservatives are the child of the Reform party and the Canadian Alliance, where Harper cut his teeth, and where Poilievre got his chops. This is how I would have framed the election with different leaders. **This is the Conservatives under Harper, the NDP under Singh, and the Liberals under Trudeau.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/IMG_0235.jpeg) Here is **my interpretation** of the current political landscape, with Lewis as NDP, Poilievre as Conservative, and Carney as Liberal. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-43fb1f54-a92b-4ac0-9ed2-d4794c244e7d.jpeg) Please keep in mind that this is *my analysis* and nothing more. The Conservatives, in Mulroney’s era, would have been much closer to the center and would have been comparable to the Liberals. The Liberals *are* the center. They do some progressive stuff. They do some conservative stuff. They aren’t bound by ideology, they react to what’s going on as they see fit. It is how their tent is so large under Carney, and when we talk about Jean Chretien, we will see how it was similarly large under him. Now, under Trudeau I would have had the Liberals to the left of center, and I would have had them towards the Libertarian end of the scale. Under Carney, they are demonstrating a desire to control speech much more and to pass authoritarian laws, [such as Bill C-12.](https://www.onthetrail.info/these-people-are-not-deserving-of-safety/) Avi Lewis’ NDP have moved further left, and I would put them towards the northern part of the graph because they would clamp down on neo liberal policies. What’s interesting is that the NDP and the Liberals are much closer to their historical roots. The CPC, however, have remained further right and openly talk about it now. So how do we deal with Carney’s ideology? Who is he? Why does he have certain progressive ideals, and why do the Liberals “campaign to the left, and govern to the right?” I believe I’ve found the answer. [Subscribe to read the rest of the article! Help us survive!](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Minister returns to a disgraced party after messy break up URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/minister-returns-to-a-disgraced-party-after-messy-break-up/ Last updated: 2026-04-07T13:23:34.000Z ### [CLICK THIS LINK TO LISTEN ON ANY PODCAST PLATFORM](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) Another week with lots of headlines– but none more interesting than Lionel Carmant returning to be among the CAQ faithful. After leaving the party because of their poor management of doctor’s remuneration, he has returned to the fold. Is it to run again under the CAQ colours? No! Instead Carmant is returning for the last few months of the CAQ, not running again, and then leaving the party to flail in the wind, likely to lose every seat that they have. The new leader will be elected for the party next week, and they seemed doomed before even starting. What will happen to the CAQ? Without Francois Legault, who are they? Meanwhile, Canada is introducing a fascist immigration bill that can allow for people to be deported as they wait for asylum. What happens next? I suppose we’ll find out. [Sign Up and help support our upcoming endeavours!](#/portal/signup) Israel kills three more journalists. Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in Iran conflict. Report finds Canadian healthcare access favors the wealthy over universal availability. Exploding food costs place major burden on Quebec public hospitals. Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers killed in Lebanon with suspected Israeli involvement. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne paid consultants 14000 dollars for a speech. Mark Carney tells Indigenous protester I can outlast her during Toronto talk. Doug Ford and Mark Carney announce 8 billion dollar Ontario housing initiative for developers. Canada Transportation Agency lowers airline fees despite consumer advocate backlash. Catholic priest killed during Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Alberta bill removes government deadlines for responding to citizen petitions. Clarification: Stephen Lewis passed away in 2021. Mark Carney pledges not to prorogue parliament if he wins a majority. Newfoundland and Labrador government withheld 1000 freedom of information requests in one year. Correction: Pam Bondi was not fired as US Attorney General; she previously served as Florida Attorney General. Doug Ford appeals for Liberal majority and claims Mark Carney is more conservative than him. Artemis II breaks the record for the furthest crewed flight from Earth. David Eby faces backlash and polling decline over Indigenous rights legislation in BC. Pierre Poilievre returns to populist branding with new Axe the Gas Tax slogan. Alberta eliminates environmental assessment for world’s largest data center. Scientists complete first full map of the human clitoral nerve system. Donald Trump posts an easter sunday special: Open the fuckin strait you crazy bastard or you’ll be living in hell– praise allah he said in a tweet ### These people are "not deserving of safety" URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/these-people-are-not-deserving-of-safety/ Last updated: 2026-04-03T13:00:42.000Z ### All subscriptions made from this newsletter will go directly to the author to help support her. [Give Emelia Cash!](#/portal/signup) About a hundred people were crammed into the tiny Parc-Ex Brique par Brique community centre, but you could hear a pin drop. They were here to learn about how [Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/03/new-immigration-and-asylum-measures-from-bill-c-12-the-strengthening-canadas-immigration-system-and-borders-act-have-become-law.html?ref=onthetrail.info), now law, would impact them and their loved ones at an emergency town hall on March 28\. "It's important not to panic," repeated presenters from the Immigrant Workers’ Centre (IWC) and the Migrant Justice Clinic (MJC). The residents of Parc-Ex and beyond listened closely as lawyers and community activists calmly and clearly explained the impacts of this bill, leaving time for live interpreters to echo their words in Spanish, Punjabi and Hindi. ### [**If you're an asylum seeker and would like to know if this legislation affects you, take this quiz.**](https://migrantrights.ca/c12islaw/?ref=onthetrail.info) ## **One-year time limit to apply for refugee status** Because of this law, you have one year to apply for refugee status from your first entry into Canada. It applies retroactively to anyone who entered Canada from June 24, 2020 onward and who made their claim on, or after June 3, 2025\. It doesn't matter how short your stay was, if conditions in your home country have changed, or whether you entered as a child or as an adult. You can't file a refugee claim with the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) if more than one year has passed. Before this bill, there was no hard time limit to apply for refugee status, although excessive delays could affect your credibility at an IRB hearing. Before, if you crossed into Canada from an official US between crossing, you could apply for refugee status after 14 days. Bill C-12 removes this exemption. If these new restrictions apply to you, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) may invite you to apply for a [Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5523-applying-removal-risk-assessment.html?ref=onthetrail.info). This is a written application with no appeal process. An immigration officer with less in-depth training evaluates your written application, instead of going before the immigration and refugee board, where lawyers and other professionals will evaluate your application. You can challenge the decision in court, but it's a costly process and **there are no guarantees that you won't be deported in the meantime.** Ali\*, who wished to remain anonymous, is a queer international student who filed their refugee claim with three days to spare before the one-year first entry cut-off. Some of their loved ones were not as lucky. "I'm watching people who are fleeing violence, my friends, my community, people I love and care about, just lose all safety after working so hard to get safe," said Ali\*, their voice wavering with emotion. "I feel this immense grief and this... I cannot explain the sadness. I don't even think I'm angry anymore. I just feel devastated." [The government ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-immigration-reform-law-9.7145624?ref=onthetrail.info)has painted international students who later seek refugee status as dishonest, but in Ali\*'s case, it was the most surefire pathway to get into Canada as a 2SLGTBQ+ youth. "I came by a student permit because that was the only way I could come to Canada safely... I knew I was going to be an asylum seeker since I was like 17," they said. "I've seen people be burnt alive for being gay. And then I've worked so hard to be safe and they're telling me either this (refugee claim process) works or you go back home and live with that." Ali\* feels that this legislation sets a dangerous precedent. What's to stop the government from arbitrarily changing that delay from 12 months to say, nine months in the future? "We're literally telling people that they are not deserving of safety," Ali\* said indignantly. [All subscriptions on this post will go to Emelia](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Is Poilievre being lobbied off the rails? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/is-poilievre-being-lobbied-off-the-rails/ Last updated: 2026-04-01T21:40:05.000Z As [Pierre Poilievre calls for an end to the high speed rail project](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-against-high-speed-rail-alto-9.7148975?ref=onthetrail.info) in the Quebec-Windsor corridor, public data shows that he has been lobbied many times in the past six months by oil companies and car companies. On the Trail has been collecting and aggregating every lobbyist meeting for every elected official in Canada, along with detailed data, dashboards and live metrics about elected officials' stocks and other assets. We have not released the full system to the public yet, but are hoping to give an early test release to $20 a month subscribers in the coming months. The data is sourced from the lobbyist registry, and is publicly available. The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) last lobbied Poilievre on November 26, 2025\. CADA calls themselves the “eyes and ears” of the **new** truck and car dealers in Canada. “CADA speaks out whenever proposed rules, regulations, or legislation may help or hinder the industry,” it says on their site. The Insurance Brokers of Canada (IBAC) last lobbied to meet with Pierre Poilievre on November 17th, 2025\. IBAC represents a large number of insurance brokers across the country, who provide car insurance as well as other kinds of insurance. Their expressed goal on their site is to “promote the interests and value of Canadian insurance brokers.” On October 9th, 2025, Enbridge lobbied for meetings with Poilievre. Enbridge is one of the largest, and most powerful oil companies in the country, with an estimated market cap of around $170 billion. Cenovus energy lobbied Poilievre on the 21st of October, 2025\. Cenovus is a major oil and gas producer based out of Calgary. Kal Tire is a well known tire company that is one of North America's largest tire dealers. They lobbied Mr. Poilievre on September 24th, 2025. Lobbying data does not necessarily mean that Poilievre has met with the groups, but the Conservatives have long been allied with the oil and gas industry. A high speed rail would enable Canadians to rely less on cars to travel within Canada’s most densely populated region. This would have a long term effect on oil and gas profits in Canada. Poilievre is calling for the end to a major green energy & infrastructure project during a time when [Canadians are unable to pay for gas](https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/inflation/article/will-gas-prices-go-down-and-a-look-at-what-canadians-pay-at-the-pumps-on-average/?ref=onthetrail.info), since gas prices have nearly doubled in every part of the country due to America’s [illegal war in Iran](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/are-us-attacks-iran-legal-2026-03-04/?ref=onthetrail.info), and the subsequent closure of the strait of Hormuz. Recently, during an international tour, Pierre Poilievre called climate change “BS (bullshit)” on a right wing podcast called TRIGGERnometry, which calls itself a “free speech podcast”. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYXMTlcKvN0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYXMTlcKvN0&ref=onthetrail.info) Steve Mackinnon, the federal transport minister, blasted Pierre Poilievre’s position. “Pierre Poilievre, once again, is showing Canadians that he has no vision to create jobs and grow the economy… The Conservatives, as usual, think small. Turning away from nation-building investments is the wrong choice, and one Canadians reject at a time when we need to build and grow.” Pierre Poilievre’s position seems completely opposed to his past positions, where he has frequently summoned the legacy of John A. Macdonald, [specifically calling for a return to the ambition of Canada’s first leader](https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/conservative-leader-pierre-poilievre-to-speak-at-canada-first-rally-in-ottawa/?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=Jeremie%20Charron%20reports.,bondage%2C%20to%20American%20tolls.%E2%80%9D)– who is most well known for the Canadian railways that he built from coast to coast. In this video on youtube, which has 75k views, Pierre Poilievre asks whether Canada would even build the pacific railway today– to a bust of Macdonald. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5qdzzAdoIQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5qdzzAdoIQ&ref=onthetrail.info) [The train would service 55 per cent of the country’s population,](https://brilliantmaps.com/70-of-canadas-population/?ref=onthetrail.info) allowing for a carbon-free, high speed transportation solution to travel from Montreal to Toronto in 3 hours, versus the current \~6 hour trip with Via rail or by car– if there's no delays or traffic. Even fellow conservative [Doug Ford has expressed a deep support for the project](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/premier-doug-ford-alto-high-speed-rail-401-corridor-kingston-stop-9.7130817?ref=onthetrail.info), saying he believes it should follow the highway, and even be expanded to have a stop in Kingston. The train is slated to have “shovels in the ground” before the end of the decade, and the Liberals are apparently considering adding it as a “major project” to speed up regulatory work, although when we spoke with the Minister's office, they could not confirm that. ### Avi Lewis' Socialism is doomed to fail (Or is it?) URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/avi-lewis-socialism-is-doomed-to-fail-or-is-it/ Last updated: 2026-03-31T15:30:06.000Z [LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON ANY PLATFORM](https://onthetrail.transistor.fm/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) [DIRECT LINKS TO PLATFORMS](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) Avi Lewis is the new leader of the NDP, indicating a move to the left. The party has gone back to its roots, literally and philosophically. Lewis is the third in a lineage of Lewises who have led NDP parties– his grandfather led the federal party, and his father led the Ontario NDP. Avi Lewis did a few things this past weekend that are set to radically transform the party. Not only is his ideology more radical and openly populist left than the NDP of the past twenty years, but the executive elections this past weekend are going to be the most significant part of this election. Lewis won, yes, but if his team hadn’t won the executive elections as well, his job would be much harder. Now, with the insiders all aligned with one vision, it’s set to move the NDP into a truly social democratic territory. Of course, many people argue that they were already this under Singh, but this is debatable. Isaac and Ludvic dig into what it means to be socialist in a post-industrial world– Ludvic, a philosophy teacher, explains what constitutes socialism today and why labourers have moved away from the movement. Afterwards, the two discuss the Danish Parliament, and the lessons that might be learned by the Liberals from that election! [Help us keep going!](#/portal/signup) ### Top Headlines this week: Trump is trying to back out of his war with Iran, but Iran isn’t letting him. 2 Pilots were killed in a collision at LaGuardia Airport. The Two Pilots saved many other lives with their quick decision making, and sharp instincts. The Air Canada CEO is stepping down after he didn’t speak in French in his video mourning the death of the two pilots. Us Military is using Canadian airspace in order to refuel on the way to the middle east. NORAD agreements mean that they don’t have to seek permission to do so. Leonid Radvinsky, the secretive billionaire owner of Only Fans, died at 43. Celine Dion is set to retake the stage! The Eiffel tower created a lights display to honour her. Mark Carney has left the federal ombudsman empty whose job it is to assure that human rights abuses are not being done by Canadian corporations overseas. The government is declining to say whether federal budget cuts have affected staff who enforce canada’s forced labour import laws. It seems Carney is starting to ignore his commitment to human rights to promote interests with India and China. Michael Ma, the floor crossing MP, is in hot water after becoming aggressive with a human rights watchdog who monitors china. He aggressively cast doubt on the proven fact of the ongoing Uygher genocide and the concentration camps of Uyghers in China, further feeding questions about Carney’s position on labour human rights overseas. Ontario hospitals are on the brink of collapse, Ontario’s budget does little to address this, although more than expected. Pakistan offers to host peace talks with Iran and the US. Iran vows to fight until complete victory. The Liberals debated the use of “disallowance” against laws passed with the notwithstanding clause. This power hasn’t been used in a century, but it is within the right of the federal government to shut down any law that a province passes. Sora, the AI video making social media app, is shutting down. Violence is growing at an alarming rate at schools in Quebec– specifically violence against girls. There are no francophones in the writing team of Mark Carney. Karl Malenfant, the architect of the SAAQ Cliq scandal, is demanding a cancellation of the Gallant Report. Canada officially hits 2% Nato spending target. Montreal saw no frostbite amputations in 2026, thanks greatly to Soraya Martinez-Ferrada’s warming stations. Sponsored travel by MPs dropped to a 15 year low outside of Covid-19 pandemic. Nova Scotia budget bill vote was shut down by singing protestors Trans women barred from participating in women’s sports at the olympics. Israel has been officially certified as invading lebanon by AP news. BC conservative MLA ousted from caucus over domestic abuse charges. ### Can Avi Lewis reinvent socialism, or is he doomed to fail? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/can-avi-lewis-reinvent-socialism-or-is-he-doomed-to-fail/ Last updated: 2026-03-29T23:50:30.000Z ### A socialist won and will destroy the NDP and probably the fabric of our society Prepare yourself for the next few weeks of headlines that say this. The mainstream media has already started freaking out. Personally, I'm going to see what happens and analyse things as they happen instead of freaking out in one direction or another. Avi Lewis won. We all knew he would. I said as much in my last article on the NDP. The question now is what comes next. This is opinion and analysis. I hope you will bear with me as we hypothesize without reaching firm conclusions; none of us can see the future. Instead of offering a hard-edged "hot take" designed to surprise or delight, I am going to speculate on where the party might go and the future of the Canadian left. The election of Avi Lewis is a reaction against the last 25 years of what we should call the "liberalizing" of the NDP. The party moved toward the center under Jack Layton, a shift further cemented by Thomas Mulcair. [TRY A TWO WEEK FREE TRIAL!](#/portal/signup) ### Jack Layton (RIP) the Liberal Jack Layton has become a saint to the NDP voter base, yet it was through his strategic moves that the party became the entity it was under Mulcair and Singh. He transformed the NDP from an overt socialist party into a leftist liberal party. Saint Layton and his neoliberal beliefs are the beginning of what many of the base now hate, despite every single person invoking his name with a hail Mary and the sign of the cross. He was clearly taking a cue from the successful provincial wings of the party, which have historically enjoyed much more electoral success than the federal branch. The NDP has seen dominant performances in the West for sixty years by essentially becoming the Western centrist party. Not originally, mind you, but they’ve become the Liberals of the west since the 90s, similar to how the Parti Quebecois became identical to the Liberals in Quebec. In 1933, the Regina Manifesto called for the eradication of capitalism, and the NDP constitution once used "socialism" as an explicit descriptor. Jack Layton and Thomas Mulcair wanted it removed; following Layton's death, it was officially purged in 2013. The NDP has long been perceived as a left-leaning Liberal party. It was Lester B. Pearson who famously called the NDP "Liberals in a hurry," and the same label could apply to the party under Layton, Mulcair, and Jagmeet Singh. It is a testament to how far right the political spectrum has shifted since the 1960s that Pearson and Tommy Douglas were not divided by a massive gap. It is difficult to consider the Liberals or the NDP of 2000–2025 as being anywhere near as socially minded as those previous leaders. If a single-payer healthcare system were not already in place, the modern Liberals would have no interest in creating it, and the NDP would likely be only marginally interested in supporting it. (If libraries didn’t exist already, it would be a for-profit rental system) Until today. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Notwithstanding Clause; Authoritarian? Or Democratic? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-notwithstanding-clause-authoritarian-or-democratic/ Last updated: 2026-03-28T13:00:52.000Z This week, one of the most substantial hearings ever conducted in the supreme court is happening. The question at the heart of it: Should there be limits on the use of the Notwithstanding clause? Bill 21, a Quebec law that disallows people from wearing religious symbols in public workspaces, was passed with the Notwithstanding clause. The challenges against this law have been immense, and this week it is being heard by the supreme court. The court's decision will take time, but this is only the second time in its history that there have been four days of hearings. When their decision comes out, it will set a permanent precedent in Canada, and decide whether there are limits to section 33\. [I highly recommend this article by the Globe and Mail about the subject.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/5477d90c29ee51d80eded66e355e6799b8d8222e79f72fd653eeac2d1c6a2f2e/KEBKVAIJ7FGM7K2Y57RTIZDOZE?ref=onthetrail.info) But what is the notwithstanding clause, and when has it been used? Here is every use of the clause in Canadian history, as well as a brief descriptor of what happened. \* **Note, to see the full chart, open the article on your browser.** Today, many people are angry about the existence of the clause. With the slide towards authoritarian legislation (such as in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec), and the rapid move to the right that Canadians are seeing across the country (both federally and provincially), the concept of the notwithstanding clause seems like it’s a terrible idea. Most Canadians outside of Quebec didn’t think much about the Notwithstanding clause until the past few years. This is because, as you can see on the chart, it was mostly Quebec that has used it, at least until recently. This is because of the recent misuse that seems common in governments everywhere. There have always been abuses of this clause, however. The worst of these was in 1998 by Alberta, when the government wanted to ban people from suing it. [For fifty years, Alberta sterilized people, particularly indigenous women, against their consent.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/alberta-backs-down-on-sterilization-compensation-1.158995?ref=onthetrail.info) When **Leilani Muir** won a lawsuit against the government for $1 million in damages. The government did not want to take responsibility for its eugenic practices, and tried to stop anyone else from suing them by legislating a $150,000 payout for the hundreds of victims, saying “the bill was needed to protect taxpayers from lawsuits.” The outrage was palpable, and the electorate forced them not to pass the bill. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-29f7c326-2be2-4732-855b-0411b56f4c78.png) Leilani Muir But the main argument *for* the existence of the clause was that the greatest accountability measure against it was the electorate. The Sterilization Compensation Act is almost a perfect example of government tyranny facing democratic accountability. One of the most interesting uses of Section 33, other than Quebec, was the third use of the clause. The federal government– the same government who created the charter– tried to use the clause to execute a serial killer. There’s a deep irony to that. The speaker of the house vetoed the bill citing Parliamentary tradition. Within a year, the Federal government demonstrated how the clause could be used maliciously. So then, why would a country create something that could be so obviously used by bad actors? The court case this week has reopened this debate in a spectacular way; the arguments both for and against the clause have merit. To fully grasp this debate, we must return to 1982 when the Constitution was repatriated, and the cost that Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau was willing to pay to see it through. [Sign up, or upgrade your subscription!](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Taxes and Income Transparency Report URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/taxes-and-income-transparency-report/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T13:00:16.000Z **Before I begin exposing the details of our taxation to you all, I wanted to encourage everyone to make sure their subscription is still good to go over on the website– it’s been mostly stress free getting off of substack, but there’s been some minor glitches and some people have been lost in the transfer. Unsurprising, but still challenging for the pocketbook. Regardless, I will be continuing on, but if you wouldn’t mind double checking your own subscription, that would be great!** ### **As all of you know, On the Trail is completely reader funded.** In the beginning, I had been open to working with companies such as ground news, but at this point I am uninterested in taking money from corporations. I have no problem working with small, local companies, or doing collaborations with excellent journals such as The Rover and Pivot (my two biggest collaborators)– or even if there are grants that come in, although the problem with grants is that they're temporary. That being said, I remain committed to being reader funded. There’s something special going on here, and I think everyone knows it. Despite the fact that this continues being one of the smaller publications active in Canada, we have a real good thing going on here. I try to make myself available for all of you, all you need to do is reply to this email and it'll go straight to my work inbox! Right now, I remain a small player with around 4700 subscribers to this little newsletter. But you’ve all provided me with enough money to keep going, to pay for my rent, and to continue working in an exceptionally tough time for Canadians. There’s also an insane diversity of audience members who read this publication– I’m happy to tell you that the diverse backgrounds of people and the fun characters who follow this work is amazing, and I hope that it never stops being such a strange little coalition. This little publication has the possibility of growing rapidly. The most important thing for me is that I grow rapidly while simultaneously maintaining our ethics, and values. I wouldn’t have grown like this without being open and transparent. Much of our style is inherited from The Rover, who, frankly, are the reason I exist today. And so, in another effort to copy them, I am showing you exactly how much I made last year, and how I made it. [Support transparent journalism!](#/portal/signup) ### **How much did I make** Last year on Substack I made $30,820.12, and I was paid $6435.90 in freelancing fees from the various publications I work with. I had around $7500 of “subcontractors” (amount I paid to people working with me). I also paid another $13,241.04 in business expenses (I could claim about half that to Revenu Quebec). Add in a few more expenses, and another $7000 in expenses beyond that last year. The calculation in Quebec is a bit weird– the Federal government said my taxable income was $9730, but Quebec said it was more. I owed nothing to the Federal government. I owed $1349.66 in taxes to the Quebec government. Obviously, since I pay taxes at the end of every year, I do not get a tax return. The money I make on the website is split fairly equally between monthly supporters ($5 a month) and yearly supporters. As of March 2026, there are around 800 active paying subscribers, although switching from substack to the new website means I lost about 60 of them through uncontrollable circumstances. It will take a while to rebuild these supporters, equalling about $500 per month. The largest individual contributors to the support are the $50 yearly plan and the $5 monthly plan, which together account for nearly 83% of my total revenue. The rest are the other plans. The fact that I have so many paying the lowest tier is an example of how far I can go when dividing costs among many of us– instead of relying on a single donor for huge sums of money, I’m relying on all of you and this combined effort, where no one is taking too much of a burden, is able to help me float along. Substack was taking up to 20 per cent of every transaction– specifically if you were giving $5 a month, I was getting about $4 from that. For those who paid annual fees, Substack took about 15 per cent. Now, I’m getting $4.88 per $5 paid. This means that your support is going much further. 88 cents more per month from 800 people adds up! A bit. The churn rates (people unsubscribing) are fairly low, and that blows my mind. In August last year, I had thousands of people sign up. I am a realist. I am expecting many of those same people to unsubscribe this year in August– a lot of them may have only wanted to support me for a short period of time, people's financial situations may have changed, some people may feel they didn't get their money's worth, etc... all reasons are viable. My calculations, based on economic trends and average churn rates, is that 50 per cent of them will unsubscribe. I will lose $6000 dollars from my annual income from that, therefore. The current amount of people paying for the publication is unlikely to be maintained long term, since it is higher than the average publication. Most publications have between 5-10 per cent of their total free subscribers as paying subscribers. I have about 17 per cent. This reflects something deeply special, I think. It's also unrealistic to expect it to continue. **There will most likely be a return to the mean.** That's normal, but it'll be tough! In order to keep going, I have to be quite vigilant about my production, and continue to maintain my work throughout it all, as well as continuing to try finding new sources of revenue from every direction. As per usual, instead of seeking corporate income, I will continue grassroots fundraising. Hopefully, we will grow through the forthcoming work. [Help us survive](#/portal/signup) ### Onward We’ve released so much lately.[ An analysis of the current state of the NDP](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-ndp-has-a-lot-of-blind-spots/),[ an investigation into the data behind future pandemics](https://www.onthetrail.info/exclusive-will-canada-survive-the/),[ we’ve bounced off the Rover by carrying forward with their reporting on the EMSB](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-emsb-helping-to-send-children-into-active-war-zone/),[ we’ve reported on the Legault government](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-last-legault-budget-continues-the-slow-decline-of-quebec/) and this [Saturday I released our report on the state of policing in Montreal.](https://www.onthetrail.info/marching-against-police-violence-in-montreal/) I have several reports coming out with freelancers in the next few weeks, because I want to work with more people. Upcoming reports include a historical breakdown of the obsessive nature of deficits in Canadian governments, a piece about the sovereignty impacts of petrol reliance, I’ve been working with the Walrus on two pieces (both are in the editing phase, they don’t work on the breakneck pace that I do because they’re *normal*), work with Briarpatch, and more! It’s all made possible by this support. As I go forward, I plan to continue growing and proving to everyone that we’re the best publication around. I want to do the most hardcore work, with the most effective product. I hope I can grow in reputation, and constantly keep our ear to the ground, stay humble, listen to feedback and stay strangely diverse. One of the most interesting parts of my work is that I don’t really have a single thing I write about; I think I write about money *a lot* but that’s why *On the Trail* is our name. Meanwhile, I’m greatly interested by a broad variety of things– all domestically focused. If you want to help us grow and keep going, there are multiple paths: First, obviously, you can sign up as a paid subscriber. But more than that, you can share with your friends, and tell those close to you to subscribe. If you’re an activist organization, or political organization, share our work with your subscribers. If you’re another news organization, share our work with your subscribers. This publication has a list of people I recommend, which is bound to grow! When anyone signs up, they are recommended to other newsletters. Help me grow with that! I’m committed to what’s in my ethics disclosure, which is now available in both French and English, and I’m committed to staying humble. I make mistakes, and I have character flaws. But that’s why people support us. I will continue being transparent, because I believe in something at On the Trail. And hopefully as time goes on, I will be able to become big enough to affect greater change. For now, that’s it. I hope you liked our transparency report, and if you want to help, please do! Thank you as always. Isaac Peltz [Help us survive](#/portal/signup) ### Canada will never be the same after this week URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canada-will-never-be-the-same-after-this-week/ Last updated: 2026-03-23T12:52:16.000Z [On the Trail with Isaac Peltz | Canada will never be the same after this weekSign up for the newsletter, and support our work at https://onthetrail.info ! This is entirely reader funded, and we don’t accept corporate payouts. Support the hardest hitting journalism in Quebec…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/icon/favicon-636b619b27c8932b15adac78178e70ebdf1f2c3a33de896176872b88cb3a5e48.ico)On the Trail with Isaac Peltz![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/thumbnail/YzgyNi5wbmc.webp)](https://onthetrail.transistor.fm/episodes/canada-will-never-be-the-same-after-this-week?ref=onthetrail.info) Good morning everyone! The format of the podcast has changed– there is no application with a built in podcast. Now, you'll have to use a podcast player. ANY PODCAST PLAYER WILL WORK. Look up **"On the Trail with Isaac Peltz" on literally any podcast platform** [**using this link**](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info)**, or manually.** **I'll make sure to remind you for the next two or three weeks.** Or, [take this RSS feed, and add it to your podcast player manually! ](https://feeds.transistor.fm/on-the-trail-with-isaac-peltz?ref=onthetrail.info) ### The biggest week since the 1980s for Canadian Law Gab and Isaac dive into one of the most important weeks in Canada since the 1980s. The results of this week's Supreme court case could change the future of the country, and of human rights in the country. In front of the Supreme Court, they are deliberating on whether or not Bill 21 can carry through. Bill 21 is a Quebec bill that disallows people to wear "religious symbols" while working for the public service. The government used the notwithstanding clause twice since taking power in 2018, (we wrongly said in the episode that they used it every year- but this isn't true, they used a different controversial clause called a "baîllon" every year.) The Liberal government under Justin Trudeau challenged the bill, and although Mark Carney hasn't weighed in on the subject, his Liberals have continued the challenge. There will be 4 days straight of court hearings about the subject, which has only happened one other time in 1998\. The Supreme Court almost always does hearings that last 1 day, sometimes 2\. The Globe and Mail made a fantastic article on the subject. Other than that, we dive deep into the Troisième lien in Quebec city, and the new CAQ budget- as well as new developments on the controversies that ended Pablo Rodriguez' career. ### Other headlines we covered: Canada and Nordic countries meet and vow “closer collaboration as a middle power bloc.” The Federal Liberals have reached new highs in the polls, not seen since 2016 after Trudeau swept a surprise majority and was at the peak of his honeymoon. Donald Trump’s administration was paid $10 billion to broker a TikTok deal to create a US version of TikTok. Trump says he plans on attacking or annexing Cuba. He was quoted as saying, “I do believe I’ll have the honour of taking Cuba.” Social assistance is not helping people keep housing. Disabled people, people who are unable to make their own income, people on temporary leave, etc., are unable to pay for both food and housing. This has been a long-known problem. More than half of the Metro stations in Montreal received a failed grade for their current state of repair. More than a third of hospitals are in the same level of decay, including Laval’s only hospital, which is unable to respond to the city’s needs. Heather McPherson tried to convince Rob Ashton to make a deal during the NDP leadership election, but was rejected. She wanted to make a deal where NDP members would choose one of the two as their first and second choices on the ballot. The two seem set to lose to Avi Lewis, a Democratic Socialist, and party insiders are reacting negatively to a shift to the left. Ottawa is spending $1.4 billion to ramp up domestic ammunition production. 800 groups are demanding the cancellation of the Quebec 'faux constitution' project, put forward by the CAQ government as it reaches unprecedented levels of unpopularity. Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, sees a rapid decline in support after his most recent budget looked set to include massive cuts to art programs, as well as social services, in the province. Protests were so organized and effective that the Premier walked back around fifty percent of the cuts. 20 people in Montreal were arrested for major extortion scams. Two full train wagons of drugs were stopped on their way to Quebec. Pierre Poilievre went on Joe Rogan; the interview went well, surprising a lot of commentators. Canada, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan announced “their readiness to contribute appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” No one is quite sure what that means, as Canada continues repeating that it will not be involved in military action Gas prices are set to hit $2 a litre. An investigation by the CBC revealed that a Canadian company, Entropy, is helping to fundraise money for white supremacists. The company is based out of Alberta. Ontario is proposing a cap on ticket resale prices at original value, effectively killing the after-market scalping scams. The bill was introduced by the Liberals originally, but was killed by the Ford government, which has now reintroduced it. Switzerland bans arms exports to the US over Iran. Longeuil and its police are being sued for $1.9 million because of the murder of Nooran Rezayi. The US and Israel have killed or injured 1,800 children in Iran and Lebanon. Israeli settlers smash cars and set fires in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Community groups are going on strike this week. France municipal elections occurred; Paris remains left-of-center under the slogan, “Don’t let conservatives win like they did in Montreal.” The big CAQ debate occurred; they talked a lot about the "troisième lien.” ### **Big Headlines** The Supreme Court is holding four days of hearings this week about Bill 21\. This week-long hearing is set to set a major precedent in Canada that could permanently change our governance and legal systems. L’UPAC, the anti-corruption team in Quebec, is unsure of the authenticity of the text messages that brought Pablo Rodriguez’s career to its bitter and dramatic end. ### 30 Years of resistance in Montreal URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/marching-against-police-violence-in-montreal/ Last updated: 2026-03-21T15:17:24.000Z In the afternoon of March 15, 2026, upwards of 250 demonstrators gathered at the headquarters of the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) in Longueuil, Quebec. The march was originally organized in 1997 by the Collectif Opposé à la Brutalité Policière. It has taken place every year since. Incidents of police brutality, including mass arrests, pepper spray, tear gas and beatings, have been a common feature of the annual event. In 2025, the service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) attacked the peaceful demonstration with a range of chemical weapons and beatings. ## Sign up for On the Trail Isaac Peltz & Friends Journalism Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/_24A3354.jpg) 2025, Photo by William Wilson ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/_24A4016.jpg) 2025, Photo by William Wilson The police justified dispersing the demonstration by claiming demonstrators shot “fireworks and projectiles” after demonstrators shot a couple rounds of roman candles into the air. This year’s iteration was held outside of the headquarters of the BEI in Longueuil on the South Shore of Montreal. The choice of location was steeped in significance. Both the BEI and Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL) have been under intense public scrutiny and outrage following the shooting and killing of an unarmed child, Nooran Rezayi in September 2025 by an SPAL officer. The BEI’s report on the killing was submitted on March 11, 2026\. Their findings, as always, were not made public. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Le dernier budget de Legault poursuit le lent déclin du Québec URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/le-dernier-budget-de-legault-poursuit-le-lent-declin-du-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-03-19T15:17:43.000Z Le budget final de la CAQ se transforme en un discours funèbre pour un gouvernement qui n’a pas obtenu la majorité des votes des Québécois. En 2022, la CAQ a remporté une supermajorité avec une minorité de voix. Avec 41 % des votes, elle a remporté 72 % des sièges. Forte de ce mandat, elle a mis en œuvre une série de lois draconiennes et a permis au système social québécois de se dégrader rapidement. L’état de l’infrastructure de transport est maintenant extrêmement précaire. En mars 2026, 46 % des actifs du métro de Montréal sont classés comme étant en « mauvais » ou « très mauvais » état (City News). Pourtant, nos routes sont encore pires. Près de la moitié de nos routes sont dans un état déplorable. Malgré cela, 76 % des fonds alloués au réseau routier sont destinés à l’« entretien », mais une grande partie de cette somme est absorbée par des dépassements de coûts, plutôt que d’améliorer le pourcentage global de routes en « bon » état (Bullet Proof Logistics). Radio Canada a rapporté que plus de 50 % des bâtiments scolaires au Québec sont actuellement classés D ou E pour leur état de réparation. Pourtant, la Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) a tenté de réduire de 570 millions de dollars le budget de l’éducation l’année dernière, et a finalement réduit ce montant à 30 millions de dollars (CBC). Le système de santé s’est encore plus détérioré. En début d’année 2026, 38 % des 594 bâtiments hospitaliers provinciaux étaient classés « mauvais » ou « très mauvais » (CBC). Presque toutes ces infrastructures ont été construites dans les années 60 et 70\. Depuis les années 90, chaque administration québécoise a imposé des mesures d’austérité, ce qui a entraîné la détérioration progressive de nos infrastructures jusqu’à leur état actuel. Au lieu de proposer de taxer les Québécois les plus riches, la province affirme que le budget est "sobre". L’ensemble du déficit pourrait être comblé par des taxes sur la richesse. Cependant, chaque administration semble favoriser le déclin du Québec. Le gouvernement ne taxera pas les riches, ce qui permettrait de résorber les déficits et de financer les infrastructures. À la place, il fait payer aux Québécois les échecs de cette politique au détriment de leur santé et de leur bien-être. Analysons les points principaux de ce budget et entrons dans les détails mathématiques. ## Sign up for On the Trail Isaac Peltz & Friends Journalism Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. --- _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The last Legault budget continues the slow decline of Quebec URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-last-legault-budget-continues-the-slow-decline-of-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-03-19T15:15:37.000Z The final CAQ budget is a eulogy to a government that the majority of Quebecers didn’t want. In 2022, a supermajority was won by the CAQ with a minority of votes. With 41 per cent of the vote, they won 72 per cent of the seats. With this mandate, they have implemented a series of draconian laws and allowed Quebec’s social system to rapidly degrade. Transit infrastructure is now in an extremely poor state: As of March 2026, 46 per cent of Montreal Metro assets are classified as being in "poor" or "very poor" condition (City News). Still, our roads are even worse. More than 50 per cent of our roads are in a state of disrepair. 76 per cent of road network investments are technically earmarked for "maintenance," much of this is consumed by cost overruns rather than increasing the total percentage of roads in "good" condition (Bullet Proof Logistics) Over 50% of school buildings in Quebec are currently graded D or E in their state of repair (Radio Canada). Despite knowing this, the CAQ tried to cut $570 million from the education budget last year, and wound up cutting $30 million (CBC). The health care system is even worse off. As of early 2026, 38 per cent of the province's 594 hospital buildings are rated as "poor" (Grade D) or "very poor" (Grade E) (CBC). Almost all of this infrastructure was originally constructed in the 60s and 70s. Since the 90s, every Quebec government has implemented austerity measures, and allowed our infrastructure to degrade into the current state. Instead of offering to tax the wealthiest Quebecers, the province says that the budget is “sober.” All of the deficit could be paid off with wealth taxes. Instead, every government prefers to help the decline of Quebec. The government won’t tax the wealthy, which would eliminate the deficits and pay for infrastructure. Instead, they’re letting Quebecers pay for these failings at the cost of their health and well being. Let’s break down the major points of this budget, and really get into the mathematical weeds. ## Sign up for On the Trail Isaac Peltz & Friends Journalism Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The EMSB Helping to send children into active war zone URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-emsb-helping-to-send-children-into-active-war-zone/ Last updated: 2026-03-17T14:44:49.000Z The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is helping to send children into an active war zone. Last week, [*The Rover* reported](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV1ndxlj4gD/?ref=onthetrail.info) that the EMSB is sending children to Israel to participate in the Israeli “[The March of the Living,](https://motl.org/?ref=onthetrail.info)” an annual holocaust remembrance ceremony. This ceremony also takes place in Poland, where the Holocaust happened. The EMSB corrected Chris, saying that they are not *sending* children into an active war zone, they are only helping to fund the trip, and they are providing a teacher chaperone. All three children attend EMSB schools. We will not be naming them here, as they are minors. The EMSB has decided to add its branding to the entire trip, encouraging family members to donate to this trip. Several people in the EMSB administration have donated to it, including Michael Cohen, the spokesperson for the EMSB. [The fundraiser is found here, and all names donated are open to the public.](https://fcja.crowdchange.ca/128329?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-821fe7dc-20d1-4ed5-83b5-69599add4bc7.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-d956d1fd-aca5-4559-b197-87c1614e9b71.png) The teacher chaperone in the video says that she and her family never had the chance to go participate in the Israeli March of the Living because of “Covid and war,” but believes that right now is the time to go. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-55a08ff0-912c-4129-8923-4757a60a7606.png) [Al Jazeera is reporting](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/17/iran-war-what-is-happening-on-day-18-of-us-israel-attacks?ref=onthetrail.info) that there are at least 18,551 injured in Iran, and 1,444 killed. Nonetheless, it is not safe to send children into Israel either, since many missiles have breached the iron dome. As of the 17th of March, 15 have been killed in Israel, as well as 3,369 injured. An estimated 285 ballistic missiles have been fired at Israel, as well as 107 drones. [Many have breached the “Iron Dome.](https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/3/15/moment-iranian-missile-hits-tel-aviv?ref=onthetrail.info#flips-6390973108112:0)” Still, this hasn’t stopped the EMSB from putting their stamp of approval on sending children from their schools into this active war zone. [This doesn’t even account for intense pollution in the area which will kill people for decades to come.](https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-03-17/toxic-pollution-from-iran-war-will-spread-last-for-decades?ref=onthetrail.info) Sending children to this region right now is subjecting them to harmful pollutants which could have long term consequences. This is only a few months after an [EMSB school suspended a student for saying](https://therover.ca/royal-west-student-suspended-for-posting-fck-israel-on-instagram/?ref=onthetrail.info) “Fuck Israel” on an instagram post. The child who was suspended is Mohawk, and saw much of her own culture’s story in the plight of the Palestinian people. Israel’s armed assault on Palestine has been broadly condemned as a genocide, and was confirmed to be a genocide by an independent committee at the UN.[ We produced a summary of their findings here at On the Trail.](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-uns-gaza-genocide-report-summarized/) Independent Jewish Voices has spoken up and condemned both the suspension of the student, as well as the decision to send children into an active war zone. ### Goodbye Substack URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/goodbye-substack/ Last updated: 2026-03-16T17:10:10.000Z Good morning everyone, and happy Sunday. I wanted to quickly inform you all that I am quitting Substack this week. In fact, it's already done. I am working out the kinks right now, but this email you are receiving is from the new site. It is much better for us all. I have moved the website into its own hosting. I want to explain why I’m doing this, and then I want to explain how this will affect you. TL;DR, You don't have to do anything, however I won't be releasing a Gab & Isaac podcast this week because I have to finish building the site. If anything else gets interrupted, I will let you know. Please be patient as we make this switch. No one was lost in the process. If you want to sign in on the website, don't worry! Go to the "sign in" and enter your email. It will send you an email with a confirmation code– no sign up necessary. It's already there. If you're a paid subscriber, you are still a paid subscriber with no changes. You can now change your subscription tier if you want, higher, lower, your choice. People can give "one time tips"– and I'll receive the whole sum! No substack fees, or ko-fi fees. ## Why leave substack? First, I want to have my own site. It's better for my work, it's better for me long term, and although I lose some special access to certain things, I think this is a better option long term. I have never gotten any benefits from the substack social network, since no one is recommending me– almost everyone is here from my work online. So I am paying substack for nothing basically. I would rather just pay for a hosting fee. Second, on that same point, Substack takes 10 per cent of every single payment. I believe that means that they have taken a cut of between 5000-8000\. It’s hard to say, simply because the payment processor takes another 2 per cent— there’s not a lot that I can do about the payment processor, but since I’m not experiencing any benefits from the Substack social platform, I would rather maintain that money that you find folks give me, and switch it to my own platform. I don't like the Substack app. I find it to be lacking. People can't even sign up paid on the substack app. Such nonsense. Make sure your email is connected here, as your payment will continue to be processed on the new platform, but now I will receive 98 per cent of the payment. Third, I want tiers of support. Some people want to give more than 5 a month. Some people want to give a one time donation. I hate having the Ko-Fi link, since it’s separating the income into multiple places. Very frustrating. With the new website, it will look similar, have much more capacity for development, and will have options on the support given, and 98 per cent of your money will go to my work! It’s a better deal. Fourth, the whole reason for being on Substack is the social features that increase subscriber count. I have experienced essentially none of that. Essentially my growth has been entirely through pulling people in from socials, from my reputation online, and from your generosity. Fifth, I want more customization, and I want a more powerful platform. I am working with someone on a big expansion of what On the Trail is about, and we’re hoping to launch in the fall. On the Trail is in a good spot right now. I’m proud to have so much support from fantastic publications everywhere, and to be published in so many different media. I am nowhere near as well read as the Rover, Pivot, the Walrus, or any mainstream publication— but I have a vision that will take time to implement. In order to implement it, I need to have my own site and control over everything myself. Sixth, I want to grow On the Trail to a state where it can be considered a “media” in a more official sense. There are many grants and opportunities available for media companies, and It’s harder arguing that I’m a media when I’m on substack. In fact, as far as I know, most grants are not possible for me unless I get off of here. I want to work with other people, and I don’t have the capital for this. Thus, time to move on. I don’t want to do this work in a silo, I want to empower other, fantastic journalists. I want to invest in the community. I feel frustrated by the culture of competition and financialization of one of the most important forces in democracy. ## What do you have to do? Literally nothing. The end. I am (and already have) transferred all of your information to the new site— nothing will change for you at all. Every subscriber was changed properly. Right now I’m working to get Substack’s tendrils out of the payments, because they let you export your payments, but they continue taking 10 per cent. I have partially set up the website already. But mostly, you’ll be able to read everything in the email platform already. Please feel free to peruse the website, I'm still learning what to do with it, and how it works, and I'm gonna have to learn some html to make the website truly great. Still, it's a lot of work, and I'm working on transferring the podcast outta there. That'll take some more time. I'm also preparing new features, and better discoverability... What I'm saying is: ### Welcome to On the Trail 2.0 I'm preparing to go further with some very cool projects that I think you'll all like, and I should be ready to go in the next couple weeks. This week I am working the big 12 hour days to get everything ready for the next steps of the work I'm doing. If you have any questions, please just reply to these emails and I will receive it! I can't answer everything, but you're all welcome to email me any time. Thank you, and I'll see you soon! ### Exclusive: Will Canada survive the next pandemic? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/exclusive-will-canada-survive-the/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T13:02:13.000Z Share this with everyone. Help us grow Another pandemic is inevitable. If it struck tomorrow, Canada would be woefully unprepared—potentially worse than in 2020\. Our vaccine research lags behind major economies, PPE supply chains are fractured, and international alliances are broken. “With the impacts we are having on our natural world– deforestation, our direct linkage with animals both domestic and wild, and globalization– pandemics will be more frequent going forward”, Dr. Srinivas Murthy, a member of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia said. No one can predict exactly when the next virus will develop. A global measles outbreak is already underway; [Canada recorded more cases between January to March 2025 than it did for the entirety of 2024.](https://health-infobase.canada.ca/measles-rubella/?ref=onthetrail.info) [We have officially lost our measles elimination status.](https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.6973195?ref=onthetrail.info) In the United States, vaccination rates are falling, and compulsory vaccination is being removed. The United States is likely to become a major exporter of preventable diseases in the coming years. Meanwhile, [vaccination rates are declining](https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/vaccination-rates-are-slipping-around-the-world-canada-isn-t-immune-says-new-study-1.7570776?ref=onthetrail.info) as far-right groups spread baseless conspiracies, and anti-vaccination has gained a [global platform to undermine life saving vaccines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2lh-r7poLo&t&ref=onthetrail.info), thanks to RFK Junior becoming the health secretary of the US government. Millions have died, and continue dying worldwide due to COVID-19\. Many continue to succumb to complications from the virus. [For the first time, mRNA vaccines were produced in Canada this September](https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2025/09/government-of-canada-announces-major-milestone-in-the-canadian-biomanufacturing-sector.html?ref=onthetrail.info). We remain dangerously vulnerable to another emergency, and despite the federal government talking about our sovereignty at length, they have blinders on to anything except “ECONOMY” as the tool for sovereignty. The country failed to respond effectively to the pandemic. No vaccine research came to fruition, and we lacked the capacity to produce mRNA vaccines. Now we can produce them, but our preparedness is still uncertain. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How can democracy survive this new era? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/how-can-democracy-survive-this-new/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:12.000Z *Democracy’s Second Act* came out recently, a book by Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson. [You can purchase it here.](https://www.democracyssecondact.org/?ref=onthetrail.info) I make no money off of your purchase. I asked, and received a review copy of the book because I thought it could be an important one. **The book doesn’t seem to be making waves in the political world. I think I know why.** The main thesis of the book: **Democracy is more than a vote, and to secure it we need to have regular people more involved in every aspect of the process.** At least that’s my takeaway. The book is good, but it isn’t great. It lacks a strong conclusion, with suggestions on creating “democracy’s second act”, despite spending the whole book showing *examples* of what it thinks democracy needs to do. It expects the reader to extrapolate and invent these ideas. Fair enough. It is a book about Still, I found it missed out in having the impact it could have, because the book doesn’t have a target audience. It’s a bit too broad, and failed to highlight problems. It stayed too far back, observing many countries, many places, but it didn’t even zoom in on anything to point out particular flaws with individual democracies, instead highlighting the problem with western philosophy and culture around democracy. Let’s philosophise in response, because the ideas in the book need to be reckoned with. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ## Our democracy is broken The book highlights a big problem. The structure of our democracy is broken; Journalists, activists, & politicians, they’re too close to power, and furthermore, they act as gatekeepers separated from the general populace. This leads to a degradation of trust in institutions. Journalists are two steps away from power, and tend to gatekeep knowledge and information. We hold the secrets of the country, the universal knowledge that predicts what will occur and we’re only gonna tell you if we feel like it. Yes, journalists often keep power accountable, but with that power, we have a tendency to be arrogant. Activists get seen as too loud and radical, dismissed by journalists and politicians unless it’s conducive to their own agenda. They feel separate, and are often viewed as important by their little subculture, a leader, and rarely have time out of their constant organizing and fighting for justice. Politicians are often the elite, at least most visible ones are. The ones who take up the most space tend to be the most elite of the bunch, the wealthy, the long term power brokers. Meanwhile, the electorate is unable to engage in a meaningful way. We often tell people to vote, that it’s the greatest expression of our democratic rights. This falls short of true participation. Voting isn’t the great bringer of change, otherwise the electoral system would be truly representative, and the voters would feel more trust in institutions. The book advocates for citizen committees that can help with major decision making– committees that are reflective of the demographics of the country, selected randomly, and brought together to make significant decisions. **At the core of this idea is a simple truth: Individuals in our society have better ideas than we think.** Still, despite this book’s fantastic premise, it falls short. *Democracy’s Second Act* shows how it *has been* done, but it doesn’t give many concrete examples of how to go further. One of the biggest problems with this book is that it’s a broad overview that isn’t targeted towards any specific country. It believes that we need to trust in the electorate, yes, but because it talks about countries all over the world without the goal of helping one country in specific, it doesn’t present the concrete ideas that are needed to secure democracy’s future. Otherwise said, it presents a framework, but lacks followthrough. By giving this power back to the electorate, the book argues, we will be able to renew democracy and decentralize decision making. This will make democracy strong once again. I don’t *not* agree, but I also don’t think the book nails the landing. Plus, there’s a problem with its argumentation. ## Targeted audience “At any given moment, public opinion is a chaos of superstition, misinformation, and prejudice… A chaos, we would add, that is regularly exploited by politicians and elites,” it says. Of course, we know this to be true. But then it replies to its own conclusion by saying “it is incumbent upon states to create the conditions for publics to emerge and be productive.” The book lives in a paradox, because the same elites and political class who are manipulating the public to its whims are the class who must create the conditions of better public engagement. The same elite who control the power, and drive the country’s machinations are unwilling to return power to the people. In the 1960s there was a class of politicians who were the bourgeois, but they had ideological views of the world. They wanted to strengthen democracy. Diefenbaker in Canada, and Lyndon B. Johnson in the USA. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/ec73663a-89d4-4f35-bf2c-16821fd5d474_960x1210-jpeg.jpg) One of the two or three greatest leaders in Canadian history, John Diefenbaker The book falls short of truly being great or revolutionary because it doesn’t focus on any one system, or because it doesn’t dissect the particularities of electoral systems in any country. Without a targeted audience (Canada, Ireland, the USA, etc…) the book won’t appeal to the subject that it highlights– normal people. Canadians might not see themselves in the book. Thus, Canadians might not read it. But the other target, the ruling class, won’t be interested in the book, because the ruling class is directly criticized in it. ## Democracy’s decline Since the 1980s, there has been a rapid, concerted effort by politicians to centralize power, and refuse any attempt to redistribute it. Since Mulroney, democracy in Canada has been on the decline through a distribution of power towards corporations and moneyed interests– [Nora Loretto wrote an entire book about it.](https://www.cbc.ca/books/corporate-control-by-nora-loreto-1.7458225?ref=onthetrail.info) In some ways, Justin [Trudeau reinforced our democracy](https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-76/royal-assent?ref=onthetrail.info). His government introduced good laws that prevented things such as the government using public money to advertise its own achievements ([which Carney recently changed)](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carney-government-alters-federal-ad-rules-set-up-to-curb-partisan-agendas/article%5F3601ecec-af87-4a4f-9987-cd4eafb4eabf.html?ref=onthetrail.info), [increasing access to advanced voting](https://globalnews.ca/news/10374198/canada-elections-act-update-advanced-voting/?ref=onthetrail.info), [reintroducing the vouching system](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/vouching-voter-id-advertising-how-new-elections-law-changes-impact-you/?ref=onthetrail.info) (making it possible for people without identification to vote), putting harder campaign spending limits (it still favours Liberals and Conservatives), adding polling stations all over the country, making it easier for Canadians living abroad to vote, making the voter identification card an acceptable ID, the list goes on. On the other hand, he promised electoral reform and then didn’t do it. So, feel as you will about these reforms. But more than that, he fell prey to the same problems as Chretien and Harper– a single vision, and tight control over the caucus. Carney is the same. ## The technocrat vs the demagogue Carney is the CEO of Canada. I don’t think there is another way to describe him. He doesn’t seem particularly interested in debates of philosophy and questions of democratic strength– he simply wants diverse trade. What’s his solution to our social problems? Trade. What’s his goal for social peace? Trade. How will he fix health care? It doesn’t matter. Trade. Carney is a one man show. By all accounts in Parliament, Carney is the boss. He’s the smartest man in every room. When he’s around, it’s his vision. He says to his team, “let’s do this,” and they follow suit. He’s the CEO of the Liberals, and thus the CEO of Canada. But I don’t want to be unfair. Carney’s biggest success isn’t his vision for Canada– it’s that every premier wants to work with him. In fact, this is a great example of Carney’s Liberals improving our democracy. His cooperative federalism (a term that simply means that the premiers work together with the Prime minister to get work done) is genuinely the strongest point of his leadership so far. It’s *Mulroney* coded. Mulroney called up the Premiers and met with them all constantly; he was willing to have the fight that many leaders aren’t. Our leaders since then were interested in one thing: rule by pocketbook. The feds have money. If the provinces do what the feds say, they’ll get cash. Seeing as Canada is the most decentralized democracy in the world, with more or less no ability to change it, working in tandem with the premiers is an important act in Canadian democracy. But on the other hand, Carney is the most elite of the elite– and he shows it through every action he takes. This is the least efficient parliament that we’ve seen in thirty years. A way to judge efficiency is to look at the number of bills passed by a party. The Carney Liberals have passed 12 bills. Carney’s Liberals are using *omnibus* bills on a near constant basis– huge, sprawling bills that hide things within their pages so as to avoid scrutiny. Not only that, but the Carney Liberals are in such a dominant position nationally that they’ve managed to beat the conservatives and NDP into a docile, whimpering opposition. It might be fortunate that they don’t have many domestic policy goals, because the Carney Liberals fear no man. In this wonderful chart by the CBC, we see how many bills have been passed by each Parliament, and we see how many bills have been passed “on division”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e42a6cf2-5eea-4b45-bcf6-d9fb0afcb0e2_1598x1086.png) “On division” means that the opposition parties did not record their votes– it means they don’t agree with the bill, but they don’t want to contest it. The Conservatives are horrified by another election, and the Liberals are going to win a majority by attrition (which I believe will be the first time a ruling party has ever won a majority like this.) If we do some quick math, the 45th Parliament is pathetically inefficient on passing bills. If they continue this rate of passing bills, by the next election in 2029 they will have passed a total of 66 bills. *(9.5 months = 1.26 bills per month, multiplied by the remaining months left until the next election, plus 12.)* For comparison, Paul Martin (a technocrat and banker, like Carney) had a minority government and in one year he passed 60 bills, with few of them “on division.” Many have compared the two Liberal leaders, but Carney is nowhere near as efficient or effective as Martin. At least on a completely technical reading. The Carney Liberals have an absolute power that’s quite remarkable to watch, despite them not often using it. *Democracy’s Second Act* calls out this type of control and power directly. *“Those who would prefer to see us citizens remain as spectators hold more power and influence than ever– as elitist technocrats and theorists who barely tolerate the public while purporting to steer the sinking ship, but more ominously as autocrats and toxic demagogues who divide people into tribes, stir up outrage and conflict, and whittle away our cherished freedoms, institutions and the very decency of civic engagement– all so they can enrich, entertain, and flatter themselves in the guise of democratic rule.”* Half this quote applies to Carney– “technocrats and theorists”, but it’s obvious that Carney doesn’t divide people into tribes or stir outrage. No, that was Polievre’s thing. Carney doesn’t tolerate much input from the public. He holds the most influence. He’s already abandoned many aspects of his campaign promises around [climate change](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-climate-guilbeault-analysis-9.7007724?ref=onthetrail.info) and [housing](https://www.junonews.com/p/pbo-carney-housing-plan-will-only?ref=onthetrail.info). He’s changed his tune on many parts of his [values](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Values:%5FBuilding%5Fa%5FBetter%5FWorld%5Ffor%5FAll?ref=onthetrail.info) that he claimed to have, and he’s moved further and further right as an expression of his own ambition to maintain power for the elite. In fact, the elite and the corporate class are so in tune with Carney that the [lobbyist registry has had its most active period since its founding](https://theijf.org/article/year-in-lobbying-2025?ref=onthetrail.info)– corporate elites know who’s in charge. A fine example of his disinterest in external input would be last week, where his communication about Iran divided the Liberal caucus. [Althia Raj does a fantastic breakdown of this on Peter Mansbridge’s podcast.](https://youtu.be/EHGFGwtmGKM?si=pEf0mEqGLBFJL76k&ref=onthetrail.info) The Liberal caucus was infuriated about Carney’s hints that they might engage in the Iran war, even in Carney’s vague terms. [His original communication sided with Trump](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-carney-us-attack-trump-iran-nuclear-weapon-9.7109886?ref=onthetrail.info), which proved to incense the Liberal base, and the caucus. [Then he stepped back, because of the backlash.](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mark-carney-backs-us-strikes-095849119.html?ref=onthetrail.info) Then he blundered again, saying that we [couldn’t rule out participation in the war](https://time.com/7382663/carney-iran-war-response-canada-involvement-united-states-approach/?ref=onthetrail.info). Finally, this week, (probably after hearing a lot of anger from his party) he said a clear, full stop, [we will never participate in the Iran War.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/canada-will-never-participate-in-iran-offensive-carney-says/?ref=onthetrail.info) A lot of pain could have been sidestepped had he said that off the bat. Or maybe had he consulted his team a bit more. On the other side of Carney was the divider, the tribalist. Pierre Poilievre was part of the “toxic demagogues who divide people into tribes, stir up outrage and conflict, and whittle away our cherished freedoms, institutions and the very decency of civic engagement”. [He intimidated people](https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2024/05/10/Pierre-Poilievre-Politics-Intimidation/?ref=onthetrail.info). He stirred up anger and divided people into tribes, [obsessing over conspiracy theories](https://thewalrus.ca/poilievre-conspiracy-theories/?ref=onthetrail.info), [attacked democratic institutions](https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/it-is-time-for-canadians-to-confront-poilievres-assault-on-decency/article%5Fcb32beea-4a95-11ef-8506-23b3042203b3.html?ref=onthetrail.info), [didn’t care for democratic accountability](https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/04/26/What-We-Risk-Normalizing-Poilievre-Politics/?ref=onthetrail.info), [treated journalists ](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6717169?ref=onthetrail.info)[with disdain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WKbhYI7NEw&ref=onthetrail.info) and is [possibly one of the greatest reasons for anti-journalist sentiment in Canada](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-defund-cbc-change-law-1.6810434?ref=onthetrail.info). His brand was that of Trump– divide and conquer. Poilievre is by no means a technocrat, but he is an elite. He’s the spearhead of the democratic backsliding seen [during Harper’s final mandate.](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/bypassing-nostalgia-was-stephen-harpers?ref=onthetrail.info) **Canadians chose the technocrat over the demagogue.** [They are set to continue doing that, at least in the meantime.](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/liberals-reach-49-voter-support-and-the-partys-biggest-lead-in-10-years-leger-poll/ar-AA1XzGJE?ref=onthetrail.info) ## The smartest country on earth? [Canada has the most educated population on earth.](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-educated-countries?ref=onthetrail.info) And the second highest, Ireland, is a full 7 per cent less than us. This fact can explain a lot about our country. First, it explains why Canada has elected Liberal governments for 70 per cent of its history. Education systems and their voting are intrinsically linked– A broadly liberal country, with liberal education will lead to a country that votes… Liberal. During the Davos speech, Carney sounded *educated*. He pieced together rich sentences as a man who is well read, university educated, and didn’t dumb down his ideas. Canadians are well educated– they hear a well thought out speech which uses a few “philosophisms” that wouldn’t appeal to a less educated population. He mentions “This aphorism of Thucydides” and he talks about Václav Havel– a common subject of study in universities. Canada’s highly educated population hears that, and appreciates the intelligence and leadership of the man. They relate to this form of thinking. **Canadians are intelligent. They’re thinkers.** After the election, we’ve seen Poilievre’s support melt away. The people who are left are partisans– people who believe in the Conservative movement. Ideological people. Since the Conservatives are the only “right wing” party in Canada, they get support from anyone who is *ideologically* right wing. But Canada’s right wing is tempered by extremely high levels of education. A large portion of Canada’s “right” are close to the centre. Poilievre gained popularity through a dissatisfaction with institutionalism. [Canadians got a front seat view of what anti-institutionalism looks like in the USA](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5196704-trump-executive-order-federal-agencies-eliminate/?ref=onthetrail.info), and changed their minds. Education often breeds adaptability. Many Canadians are swing voters. They’ll vote where they think it best at any given time. Because of our flawed system, Canada often votes Liberals because they’re a relatively safe government, and voting Liberal is pragmatic. Canadians clearly feel that the Liberals have been doing a pretty good job– and the facts seem to support it. Canada is considered one of the [most peaceful countries on earth](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-peaceful-countries?ref=onthetrail.info), [with a high standard of living.](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/standard-of-living-by-country?ref=onthetrail.info) Seeing as 70 per cent of Canada’s existence has been under the leadership of Liberals, there’s a strong argument that they’re consistently a reliable government. Their achilles heel remains though: [They often succumb to arrogance,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVfGIAraCw&ref=onthetrail.info) and [think of themselves as Canada’s only choice](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberal-party?ref=onthetrail.info). Natural governing party indeed. In *Democracy’s Second Act* they argue for citizen committees, and a direct involvement by the electorate. In Canada we have the highest educated population on earth, [with the most diverse country in the western world](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-diverse-countries?ref=onthetrail.info)— and no other western democracy comes close, by the way. Canada is rife with potential to involve its population in governance. Yet, the government tends to ignore the expertise that’s sitting right there. It’s a shame that this book isn’t making huge waves in the Canadian political world, because the Liberals could take this concept far in practice. But I think that this is the book’s own fault. ## Not Targeted The book is thoughtful and has a good thesis. But it winds up being so broad that it doesn’t quite land. It’s a Canadian written and published book, and it was an easy read. Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson are good writers, with the nucleus of something good. Yet the book might not ever see its objectives fulfilled. If this was pointed towards Canada specifically, it might have more impact. If this was pointed towards any country at all, it might have more impact. Right now, it’s a bit stuck. David Moscrop wrote about the book, and now I’m writing about the book. But there isn’t a *Globe* article about it. There isn’t a CBC books article. Had this been a more pointed, focused book, I think this could have made a splash. At a time when Canada wants as much help reinforcing itself against what is happening in the United States, the book would have likely found a lot of success if its principal idea was that **individuals in our society have better ideas than we think: Here’s how Canada can do this.** But clearly this wasn’t the goal of the authors. And sadly, that means that this book doesn’t quite stick the landing. The book is good. The thesis is good. It’s smart. It’s well written. But it falls somewhat flat. It’s academic, but it isn’t pointed. Ten years ago, this book would have made more sense– but right now we might need more urgency and specifics to secure democracy, because it could slip away at any moment, and I don’t think a citizen committee is going to stop that. ### Mark Carney had a bad week URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mark-carney-had-a-bad-week/ Last updated: 2026-03-09T17:20:46.000Z Mark Carney had a bad week 0:00 /200 1× Subscribe today at https://onthetrail.ca for $5 a month, or for our free newsletter! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) It was a slow news week, but for Mark Carney it was a bad one. The war in Iran continues: the US and Israel bombed 20 schools & 13 hospitals in Iran in 1 week. War secretary Pete Hegseth boasted of unleashing death and destruction to provoke collapse with “no stupid rules of engagement.” According to the world health organization the us and israel bombed 13 hospitals minimum. Washington and Tel Aviv have bombed at least 20 Iranian schools according to Unicef. They destroyed a desalination plant, depriving dozens of Iranian villages of water. The US and Israel killed more than 1300 Iranians in the first week. Children make up 30% of the victims. Carney’s rapid response was too quick and probably not well thought out— seemed like he was trying to curry favour with the big orange man! The media ate him alive. The man couldn’t get a break, despite trying hard to clarify his position. First he was pro US-Israel strikes. Then he was taking that stance with regret. Then he wouldn’t rule out involvement. But wait, no it was specifically for our gulf allies. Now, he refers to Iran as a bad place, and the US-Israel strikes as the aggressors. Still, despite this, it won’t be likely to stop the unprecedented success of Carney’s Liberal party in the polls. In Quebec, the Liberals and the PQ are almost tied in the polls– however, the PQ would still win because they have a more diverse voting base among francophones. With the CAQ, even if Frechette wins, the CAQ would still win 0 seats. Other top headlines this week: Conservatives call for an independent inquiry into the Tumbler Ridge shooting 3 dead and 14 injured in shooting in Austin Texas Study finds sharp rise in young men contacting Ontario gambling helpline. BC ends time changes– permanently installing daylight saving time. Immigration could soon account for all of Canada’s population growth. With decreasing immigration numbers, we are likely to decrease in population. Alberta is excessively vulnerable to foreign interference, experts say There is now a riding in Nova Scotia that is permanently given to Acadian french speakers, a great achievement for this underserved community. Trump Promises the next new war soon– probably cuba. Nintendo is suing the USA over tariffs. Doug Ford looking to fill in a part of Lake Ontario to build a Toronto convention center Most Albertans believe that Danielle Smith would vote to separate from Canada, despite her repeatedly saying she wants to stay in Canada and leading the movement to stay in Canada. ### The blind spots of the NDP are gonna hurt them. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-ndp-has-a-lot-of-blind-spots/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T05:03:12.000Z ### Tl;dr Yesterday a brutal poll came out. The poll showed something that should be causing the NDP to panic. 70 per cent of NDP voters are happy with the Carney Liberals, and the NDP are potentially as low as 5 per cent in the polls. Whoever inherits the NDP is potentially leading the party into its final election. This isn’t doomsaying— Leger is almost always within 2 per cent of the final election results. They are the best pollster in the country. Under these numbers, the only MP who would stay in parliament is Heather McPherson. There would be no seats won in BC or Ontario. Since Avi Lewis is most likely to be the next leader of the NDP, it would be quite something to see Heather McPherson be the only MP elected after losing the leadership race to Lewis. I’m fairly certain that would set a historical precedent. [I’m going to push this piece](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/the-liberals-are-definitely-gonna?ref=onthetrail.info)— I’m so sure of there being an election this year. Insiders are saying that Carney doesn’t want one, but the entire staff do. There will never be another time that the Liberals will be this popular again. They will never have a better chance, and even if Carney doesn’t want it, the Liberals know it. The debate happened two weeks ago now, and I wanted to highlight some big blind spots I perceived at the debate, and perhaps in the NDP overall. The “English debate” (as though the first one wasn’t an English debate) was a long shot better than the previous debate [(which I shredded.)](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/the-french-ndp-debate-did-not-live?utm%5Fsource=publication-search) This one was tolerable. But it wasn’t “good.” These debates are more or less red meat for the base, stuff that makes members excited, and bores everyone else. **The way I’m going to approach this critical analysis is by assuming that they’re going to try and translate these ideas to a federal stage. The debate is for NDP partisans. However, taking that next step is much harder. This entire article will revolve around the idea that one of these people will win, and have to speak to Canada, not just the left.** No one watches leadership elections. No one knew who Poilievre was until after he was elected leader. Leadership debates are about internal party stuff, and the only people outside partisans who care are going to be media people. Every legacy media commentator is like “well, none of these leadership candidates are moving the dial for the NDP.” How out of touch are media pundits? With the exception of the Liberal leadership race last year, which *decided who would be our next Prime Minister*, no one cares about leadership elections. So, here’s a primer for those who didn’t watch. **TL;DR: It was a boring hour and a half, where the candidates mostly agreed on everything. This was a conversation for the NDP loyalists, and no one else. The only one who faced any heat was Avi Lewis, who is most likely going to win the race. The party is poised, regardless of who wins, to move significantly to the left on most issues. Despite that, they seem to have massive blind spots, specifically about Canadian sentiments on the military, that will lose them future elections. The two front runners, Lewis and McPherson, struggle to talk like human beings, and insert ‘political sloganism’ into every sentence. This will probably be perceived by most Canadians as something akin to how Poilievre speaks, but on the left. In my opinion, none of these candidates have yet to prove themselves as serious contenders in the future, but they have time to work on their skills. Their French continues to be a serious concern.** I wouldn’t even talk about this if I didn’t know that NDP staffers and leaders read my reports. So here is a (potentially scathing) criticism of the NDP debate. #### Some extra thoughts before we put up the paywall: Tanille Johnston was fantastic, if she learns French she’s a real contender in the future. Right now, she isn’t. Heather McPherson, in my opinion, won the debate. She’s the most practical of the bunch, and her experience in Parliament shows. She’s much further left wing than people are giving her credit for. Also, she’s on track (based on current numbers, which can change rapidly) to be the only NDP MP left in the event of an election. Avi Lewis is going to win the race. Everyone on the stage knew. He was the only target on a stage with five people. Lewis is the only candidate who seems like he’s serious about learning French. All these people are going to struggle to stand out against Carney in the short term. Long term, the Liberal’s support will fade. How much time do these candidates have? How much time does Canada have? Lewis is in danger of becoming the Pierre Poilievre of the left. Every sentence is a slogan. Too many shots at Carney. Also, saying Canada is going to become a petrol state arms dealer is a fast way to lose an election. He will be dismissed by most Canadians with that type of language, except for those on the far left. That being said, this is a leadership debate within the NDP, I don’t think someone running nationally would say that. [We don’t have a robust enough electoral system to support people with opinions.](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/what-does-the-country-look-like-under?utm%5Fsource=publication-search) Ashton still has a vibe that the others don’t. Could be the manly, beer bellied union leader thing. I think he would be appealing to a lot of people across the spectrum. Tony McQuail has disqualified himself as a legitimate candidate in my eyes. We will talk about why in a moment. First, I’m writing this with the assumption that Lewis or McPherson are winning. Honestly, it’s probably going to be Lewis. Money doesn’t lie. He’s winning the fundraising. That usually means that this person will win. Heather is the only other candidate in the running. McQuail is toast, and Johnston hasn’t found momentum. Ashton had some momentum, but has fallen behind in the conversation. Take one peek at the NDP subreddit. It’s a good gauge of where the NDP base is at. **The choice is down to one question: Does the NDP want to have the candidate of continuation (left/center left, big tent, Heather McPherson) or become a different party (socialist, left wing, Avi Lewis)?** I don’t think there’s a wrong choice, and both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Socialism is mainstream in Canada now. People are open to it. I still think the NDP has a tough road ahead. Also, Canada is a nation of 65-75 per cent centrists as far as I can tell, so there’s a real argument to be made for center left politics. The NDP base seems to like Lewis, and it might be simply because they want a change– fair enough. It’s their party. Both approaches can win nationally. It’s unserious to believe that a socialist candidate couldn’t win in future elections. Either winner will have to rebuild the party. Both McPherson and Lewis clearly know how to fundraise. Under current circumstances, being the leader of the NDP sounds like one of the least desirable jobs in the country. [Mainstream media keeps saying nonsense about socialism not being able to win people over.](https://archive.ph/iGA5v?ref=onthetrail.info) It makes me roll my eyes every time I see that. [Thomas Mulcair is on CTV all the time saying that Avi Lewis can’t win because he’s too far left](https://www.ctvnews.ca/video/2026/02/20/avi-lewis-is-bringing-something-radically-different-to-the-ndp-as-leadership-candidate-mulcair/?ref=onthetrail.info), but the man[ is also a zionist](https://youtu.be/Uvx9764wVLk?si=R4X%5Fa1UOSeqwE96T&t=1876&ref=onthetrail.info) (this link is just the *most recent* time I’ve heard him be a zionist.) Bro, you were so centrist that *Justin Trudeau* outflanked you on the left. You literally pulled a Poilievre. You were ahead in the polls, and lost to the Libs. But it’s not just Mulcair, it’s the Toronto Star, it’s the CBC commentators, it’s the French media, etc. For some reason, the mainstream media struggles to realize that socialism is now normal, or at least acceptable. Still, our hyper wealthy, consumerist country might never accept socialism— we’re not Europe, we’re the love child of the US and Britain, and we don’t have a good electoral system. That being said, [legacy media is in denial about social media, the influence of indie journalism, and continues to lose traction in how much people trust them. ](https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/journalism-media-and-technology-trends-and-predictions-2026?ref=onthetrail.info)So, I dunno, they are potentially just out of touch about the complexities of modern politics. Alright, let’s start breaking this down piece by piece. I don’t get angry much, but I was livid when these words were spoken: “That’s what translators are for.” Jesus Christ. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### February in review (woops it’s March!) URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/february-in-review-woops-its-march/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:13.000Z I have continued with my plan to do one major weekly piece, and at least the G&I podcast. I have been happy with the response to it, at least superficially. This week I’d like to ask for your feedback. **BELOW ARE SOME POLLS. I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEVERAL THINGS, SO PLEASE PARTICIPATE AND HELP ME FINE TUNE MY APPROACH!** On a personal note, We’ve been growing again which is great, it makes me happy to see, and happy that people are connecting with the work that we’re producing here. Some updates on pieces that are coming out soon: I have a breakdown of National Post and Postmedia coming out with J-Source soon. I went through an entire year of their work, and labelled every article that has discriminatory language around race, gender, or things such as Zionism. I’m looking forward to that article coming out, and my partnership with J-Source looks to continue in the coming year. I should be doing a bit more with them– they’re great. I have two pieces coming out with the Walrus in the next few weeks, one about Ubisoft and one about proportional representation. Looking forward for those to come out– just waiting on fact checking for the Ubisoft piece, and my portion of the prop rep article is done. That’ll be soon! Will share with you as soon as it’s done. I’ve also started paywalling some of my pieces. This is a sad reality that I have to start doing. I talked about it beforehand, but it’s part of the reality of living under capitalism. Many of my articles are still un-paywalled. But some of them are going to be now. Thank you as always to my subscribers for keeping the lights on. With social media, I’ve been doing more writing over there than videos for the past while, but it’s all a pendulum. In Quebec, my work is ramping up– the election coming up is exciting for me, and with the new polling numbers, I think this is going to be much more fun than most of us assumed. I’ll also be announcing a large scale, ambitious project in May. It will take up the better part of several months, and I’m excited to share it with you. Right now we’re busy finding the resources to make it happen, and when it happens, I think it’ll be extremely exciting for all of you, and me!!!! Can’t wait to tell you about it. Keep your eyeballs peeled (this is a terrible sentence, but I’m not changing it.) On with the polls. I need feedback. Am I going in the right direction? Or do you want changes? I’m going to actively respond to this polling, so **PLEASE PARTICIPATE! It’ll take two minutes of your time.** ### 2 partielles et une guerre URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/2-partielles-et-une-guerre/ Last updated: 2026-03-03T17:16:05.000Z 2 partielles et une guerre 0:00 /200 1× Soutenez-nous sur https://onthetrailmtl.ca ! [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Les États-Unis et Israël ont attaqué l’Iran sans l’approbation du Congrès. Trump continue de poser des gestes illégaux sans pratiquement aucune opposition, tant à l’échelle internationale que locale. Le monde se plie à toutes ses volontés. Mark Carney a déclaré que l’attaque était justifiée afin d’empêcher l’Iran d’obtenir la bombe nucléaire, faisant preuve d’une hypocrisie totale après son discours bien accueilli à Davos, où il affirmait que l’ordre international fondé sur des règles était un mensonge. Et maintenant ? Eh bien, nous n’avons pas répondu à cela. Au moment de l’enregistrement de cet épisode, nous étions le matin du bombardement. Depuis lors, Pete Hegseth (l’homme de Fox News devenu secrétaire à la Guerre) a déclaré qu’ils n’avaient pas l’intention de transformer cela en une « guerre éternelle », tout en ne fournissant aucun calendrier. Mark Carney et la plupart des dirigeants occidentaux ont approuvé l’action américaine, mais n’ont offert aucune aide. Israël et les États-Unis semblent isolés — du moins pour l’instant — malgré les beaux discours. Pendant ce temps, Gab et Isaac analysent les récents changements dans les sondages au Québec et ce que cela pourrait signifier pour les élections de cette année. L’état du Québec, les changements de leadership et la course électorale suscitent de nombreuses discussions. Force est de constater que les choses ne s’annoncent pas bien pour le chef du Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. Nous évoquons également l’élection partielle au Royaume-Uni où les Verts ont battu les travaillistes dans une circonscription où ils étaient stables depuis plus de 100 ans. **Les points marquants de la semaine :** - Le Canada perd au hockey ! Nous sommes tous déprimés. Montréal a également perdu jeudi ; nous sommes déprimés par cela aussi. - Un chef de cartel a été tué au Mexique, provoquant une réaction violente de ces syndicats du crime. - Les voyages vers les États-Unis ont chuté de plus de 20 %, incluant une baisse de 5,1 % du trafic de camions, 18,8 % pour les véhicules personnels, 15,4 % pour les piétons et 14,6 % pour les autobus. - L’Ontario n’a pas réussi à fournir de locaux de bureau aux fonctionnaires, malgré un mandat de « retour au bureau ». - Le Parti Québécois remporte une autre élection partielle dans Chicoutimi. - La STM dévoile un tunnelier unique pour les nouvelles stations de la ligne bleue ! Le symbole du métro y est peint. - Le coroner de l’Ontario confirme des centaines d’autres décès d’enfants dans les pensionnats autochtones. - Alexandre Boulerice n’a pas annoncé officiellement sa candidature pour QS... mais il l’a en quelque sorte confirmée. L’information a fuité et tout le monde est maintenant au courant ! Cela signera la fin du NPD au Québec, dont le retour est peu probable. - Des soldats de l’armée israélienne (IDF) ont été invités comme conférenciers dans des écoles du Québec, bien après le 7 octobre. - Le SPVM mène une opération qui pourrait mener à l’arrestation de mineurs dans la juridiction d’une autre ville. La police a commencé à enquêter sur les amis de Nooran Rezayi au lieu de faire progresser l’enquête sur la personne qui a tué Nooran. - Le Pakistan est en guerre ouverte avec l’Afghanistan. - Starmer, le chef du Parti travailliste britannique, a subi une défaite cuisante face au Parti vert (gauche). Le siège perdu était détenu par les travaillistes depuis plus de 100 ans. - Evan Solomon, le ministre de l’IA du Canada, a déclaré qu’OpenAI, le créateur de ChatGPT, n’en faisait pas assez à la suite de la fusillade en Colombie-Britannique. Des mois avant la tuerie de Tumbler Ridge, la tireuse avait été signalée pour avoir discuté de la fusillade avec ChatGPT. Elle a été bannie de la plateforme, mais au lieu d’informer le gouvernement canadien, l’entreprise a gardé le silence. - Ottawa accorde 8 millions de dollars à Cuba pour aider à l’approvisionnement alimentaire du pays face aux blocus américains. - Deux semaines seulement après l’arrivée de Milliard à la tête du Parti libéral du Québec, celui-ci a presque rattrapé le PQ dans les sondages. À l’heure actuelle, le PQ est toujours en position de l’emporter, mais la course est désormais lancée — le soutien pourrait continuer de s’effriter pour eux. - Israël et les États-Unis attaquent l’Iran. Leur affirmation, selon laquelle il s’agirait d’armes nucléaires, a été catégoriquement réfutée à plusieurs reprises. C’est une guerre impérialiste. ### The US Attacks Iran illegally, western leaders don't condemn it URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-us-attacks-iran-illegally-western/ Last updated: 2026-03-02T19:20:55.000Z The US Attacks Iran illegally, western leaders don't condemn it 0:00 /200 1× Subscribe today at https://onthetrail.ca for $5 a month, or for our free newsletter! [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) The USA & Israel have attacked Iran, without Congressional approval. Trump continues doing illegal actions with essentially no push back internationally, and locally. The world cowtows to his every whim. Mark Carney said that the attack was justified, in order to prevent a nuclear bomb getting in the hands of Iran, essentially showing himself to be completely hypocritical after his well received Davos speech, where he said the international rules based order was a lie. Now what? Well, we didn’t answer that. When this episode was recorded, it was the morning of the bombing. Since then, Pete Hegseth (Fox news guy turned secretary of war) said that they didn’t plan on making this a “forever war”, while still not giving a timeline. Mark Carney, and most Western leaders, expressed approval of US action, but offered no help. Israel and the USA seem to be alone— at least for now— despite lip service being paid to them. Meanwhile, Gab and Isaac break down the recent Quebec polling changes, and what that might mean for this year’s election. A lot of discussion is coming around the state of Quebec, and the changes in leadership and the race. Suffice to say that things don’t look great for leader Paul St Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Quebecois. Top items this week: Canada loses at hockey! We are all depressed about it. Montreal lost on thursday as well. We are depressed about that too. A Cartel leader is killed in Mexico, prompting violent reaction from these crime syndicates. Travel to the USA is down by more than 20 per cent, including a 5.1 per cent decrease in truck traffic, 18.8 per cent in personal vehicles, 15.4 per cent in pedestrians, and 14.6 percent in bus traffic. Ontario failed to provide office spaces for public servants, despite a “back to office” mandate. The Parti Quebecois wins another byelection in Chicoutimi. The STM unveils unique tunnel boring machine for the new Blue Line stops! It’s got the Metro symbol painted on. Ontario coroner confirms hundreds more children’s deaths from residential schools. Alexandre Boulerice didn’t announce he would be running for QS… but he sort of confirmed it. This was leaked, and people are now fully aware! This will spell the end of the NPD in Quebec, with them unlikely to return. Israeli Defense Force soldiers were invited as speakers at schools in Quebec, long after October 7th. The SPVM are holding an operation that could lead to the arrest of minors in a nother city’s jurisdiction. The police have started investigating Nooran Rezayi’s friends, instead of helping with an investigation of the person who killed Nooran. Pakistan is at open war with Afghanistan. Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour party, saw a crushing defeat to the left wing Green Party. The seat that they lost has been held by labour for more than 100 years. Evan Solomon, the AI minister of Canada, said that Open AI, the makers of Chat GPT, aren’t doing enough in the wake of BC shooting. Months before the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, the shooter was flagged for talking to ChatGPT about the shooting. She was banned from the platform, but instead of informing the Canadian government, they stayed silent. Ottawa gives 8 million dollars to Cuba to help provide food to the country amid USA blockades. Within two weeks of Milliard taking the reins of the Liberal Party of Quebec, they’ve almost caught up to the PQ in the polls. Right now, the PQ is still on track to win, but the race is now a race– support might keep sliding for them. Israel and the USA attack Iran. Their claim, that it’s about nuclear weapons, has been categorically disproven repeatedly. This is a war of imperialism. ### Will Poilievre abandon his base, or ignore most Canadians? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/will-poilievre-abandon-his-base-or/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:13.000Z “Nearly two thousand years ago, Marcus Aurelius expressed a timeless truth,” Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada said to the Economic Club of Canada. The title of the speech was “A Vision for Canada-Us Relations.” The law of politics is simple. Either you’re ahead, or you’re behind. A ball that gets lobbed into the air hits the peak of its arc, and then starts falling. Poilievre hit his peak, and sadly for him, it was during the era of Trudeau. Right now, Poilievre is playing catch up, and it’s hard to watch. Take one glance at that cover photo, and the opening words of the speech. Who does he want to sound like? Who does he want to look like? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/0a8cccca-9076-4e53-a56e-464dbe8846fc_1600x899-jpeg.jpg) Poilievre is a man out of time. He’s the final word on an era that died when Trump returned. In 2015, Trudeau was ushered into power at a time where neo-liberals were posing as socialists. The country wanted someone who built social systems and a more just society after nearly a decade of backsliding and anger (see my article on Stephen Harper.) Trudeau didn’t really do it, but nonetheless, 2015 was a time of optimism. The NDP looked poised to win an election. The Liberals came in on their left, and stole the show. Canada wanted the LGBTQ to be safe, wanted investments into our social system, and wanted a new day. This isn’t a story about how bad Poilievre’s speech was yesterday. This is the story of how a man at the peak of his power is doing anything he can to get it back. This is the story of Justin Trudeau after 2022, this is the story of John Turner in 1984, this is the story of Mulroney in 1992, and Chretien in 2004, and every leader who fights to hold their power as party leader. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Liberals are definitely gonna call an election* Updated URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-liberals-are-definitely-gonna/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:14.000Z [\*I’m probably completely wrong.](https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/nunavut-mp-lori-idlout-crosses-floor-from-ndp-to-liberals-davies/?ref=onthetrail.info) I’m not saying this because I have insider knowledge. I don’t. I’m just reading the tea leaves here, and delivering some thoughts based on the slew of polls that are being released, uh, everywhere. I also *might* have some interest in them calling an election. Specifically, I have an ongoing bet with my francophone colleagues from my French podcast– Le plancher des vaches. For those of you who are not French speakers, we have become gambling addicts on our French podcast. I recently won our first bet– that Francois Legault would quit as Premier. They each owe me a beer. We also bet whether there will be an election or not this year. I bet yes. They bet no. Whoever wins gets wine. Gabrielle, a new journalist (she’s only been doing journalism for 20 years versus my…1 year), is completely convinced that there’s no election coming. I, however, with my vast swathes of experience, know what’s happening. Yes, Gabrielle has one of the best reputations in the country as a journalist. Yes, she’s known all over Canada. Yes, she founded two media outlets and was the president of the Independent Journalist Association. Yes, she helps run the $100 million Google money every year and speaks to journalists every day across Canada. Yes, she is invited to conferences, and is exceptionally famous. Yes, she can write an article that comes out perfectly within an hour with no edits. Yes, she has a master’s degree in journalism versus my music degree. Yes, she’s covered a dozen elections and I’ve only covered one. Yes, she is calmer than I am and more rational. Yes, she is more experienced, a better journalist, and wiser than me. But I have one thing she doesn’t. I have a following on Instagram and Tik Tok. And I say that the Liberals are going to call an election in April or May. Let’s look at some polling– I’m going to use the fine work of [Eric Grenier](https://www.thewrit.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) and [Philippe Fournier](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-liberals-preparation-under-way-election-mark-carney/?ref=onthetrail.info) as my baseline! Please go check out their work and subscribe to them– I subscribe to them both! _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Danielle Smith looks to create an independent country while keeping Canada's cash URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/danielle-smith-looks-to-create-an/ Last updated: 2026-02-23T17:32:25.000Z Danielle Smith looks to create an independent country while keeping Canada's cash 0:00 /200 1× Check out our work at https://onthetrailmtl.ca and support us for $5, or sign up for our free newsletter! [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Danielle Smith introduces a referendum that is to be held next October. In this referendum there are nine questions, ranging from highly racist to impossible and aspirational. It seems clear— Danielle Smith doesn’t want to be part of Canada anymore, but she wants to continue benefitting from the financial stability of the country as well as transfer payments for things such as health care. Don’t tell me how to run my province, but please keep giving us your cash. This isn’t our opinion. She says it herself in her question 8 of the referendum. **8\. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?** We don’t want to do what you say, but you have to give us the money anyways. Despite campaigning to receive more immigrants in her [Alberta Advantage Immigration Program,](https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-advantage-immigration-program?ref=onthetrail.info) lobbying the feds to allow them to receive more labourers to deal with their labour shortage. [Now, as she defunds health care and actively dismantles the public system,](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/the-end-of-canadas-public-healthcare?ref=onthetrail.info) she is claiming it’s the fault of immigrants. She also wants to create a second class of citizen in the province, and to introduce the largest democratic backslide in *Canadian history.* Gabrielle and Isaac Break it down for you. Share this with people! Help us grow! Here are all the top headlines this week: Canadians can now travel visa free to China starting last week, as China continues their work to become a major soft power influencing western democracies away from the United States. 1 Dead 1 injured after shooting in Chilliwack. US choking out Cuba through sanctions. This is a historic ally of Canada. Canada still hasn’t spoken up about it. A massive trade delegation was sent to Mexico this week. Jamil Jivani desperately asks for media attention by talking to breitbart and saying Canadians throwing “hissy fit” over the United States. He clearly wants to be the next leader of the CPC Charles Milliard hits the right tone in his leadership speech, but austerity measures seem to be on the way. 100,000 houses built a year, tele medicine, funding education. But he does not indicate a strategy to pay for it. Scotiabank fully divests from Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems due to protests, proving that sometimes civic action works. 3 shot dead at rhode island youth hocket game BC produces a budget that is both underwhelming and poor management. Food Inflation spiked in 7.3 per cent in january, largely due to the cost of beef. Former prince andrew arrested CANADA LOSES AT HOCKEY VS THE USA QS accepts bending their rules about gender parity. Rumour has it that Alexandre Boulerice is switching to provincial politics, essentially leaving Quebec shut out to the NDP #### BIG STORIES Third Conservative crosses floor SAAQ Clic report is out! [In a politico poll released this week, Canadians broadly dislike the united States, preferring every single other western democracy over them, and barely preferring the United States over Saudi Arabia.](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/19/5-charts-show-just-how-badly-the-us-has-torpedoed-its-relationship-with-canada-00787084?ref=onthetrail.info) Danielle Smith announces racist referendum, trying to remove health care from immigrants and asylum seekers. The referendum is the following questions: 1\. Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities? 2\. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services? 3\. Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs? 4\. Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the healthcare and education systems? 5\. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election? 6\. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts? 7\. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate? 8\. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs? 9\. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province’s laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province’s laws and federal laws conflict? ### Exclusive: The end of Canada's public healthcare on the horizon URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-end-of-canadas-public-healthcare/ Last updated: 2026-02-21T14:01:39.000Z Help this article get seen by the people who need to see it. Canada might be facing the end of our public healthcare system. It probably won’t happen tomorrow, but the die has been cast: Alberta has created the first two-tier system in the country, one that allows for the wealthy to receive better health care. Ontario looks to follow suit, and Saskatchewan is already signalling their intention to follow. [In a report from the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/the-end-of-canadian-medicare-alberta-legislation-opens-the-door-to-u-s-health-care/?ref=onthetrail.info), they explain that the UCP’s bill 11 will increase public wait times and create unequal access based on income. It allows for physicians to simultaneously be paid by state based insurance, while simultaneously running a practice. They are allowed to offer their patients these services during consultations, giving them an immense amount of pressure to force patients to pay in order for them to receive health care in a timely manner. **This is creating Canada’s first private insurance market for health care, which will drive up costs for both patients, and the public system, plus it will further fragment Canadian negotiating power, possibly driving up costs in other provinces.** ### “Administrative costs” The result is physicians who will charge “administrative costs” and charge them to both public and private insurance– but this raised cost drives up the cost on public funds and eventually the public system has to remove access to certain services, narrowing their health care provisions. The clincher in all of this is that the most likely group to provide services are private companies from the United States. *The privatization of health care in Alberta is a major blow against sovereignty in Canada, particularly in Alberta.* Whether there is hope or not is unclear as of yet. The Bill explicitly violates multiple portions of Canada’s Health Act, and will lead to a major confrontation between Ottawa and Alberta, something that Danielle Smith is hoping for. As friendly as she’s become with Mark Carney and the 2025 Liberals, Smith has signalled several times that she wants to separate from Canada without fully separating. “Alberta didn’t start this fight, but rest assured we will finish it,” she said during a press conference in 2025\. During the Infoman 2025 end of year segment she said she wanted a “sovereign alberta” in a “united Canada”, but it’s the same words that the CAQ uses in their speeches– they want to have the perks of Canada, but none of the rules and cooperation that come with it. Many Canadian provinces have been pushing for health care to be dismantled slowly introducing inflationary privatization into the system through backdoor means for decades. Many services are already outsourced to private companies, driving up costs enormously. Nurses are often employed by private groups, and those private groups have contracts with hospitals. Per capita spending in Canada is around 7,300 a year, with around [$2,000 of that being private companies providing services.](https://www.statista.com/statistics/283221/per-capita-health-expenditure-by-country/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### The Law The Canada Health Act (CHA) passed in 1984 guarantees the right to health care equally for all Canadians. It sets a federal standard and is [“to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.”](https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection%5F2018/sc-hc/H1-4-2017-eng.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) Bill 11 explicitly goes against that, by promoting different levels of access to health care based on financial barriers. In other provinces, notably Quebec, there is a private health care sector on top of the provincial one. There is a massive difference between Quebec’s system and the one Alberta is introducing– notably, that no one is allowed to practice in both the public and private systems at the same time. Quebec chooses the number of people able to practice in the private system, and has been working to allow fewer people to leave the public system. If other provinces create this system of dual access, enabling practitioners to work in both the private and public sector simultaneously, the feds will lose any leverage to fight these law breaking violations. Bill 11 ignores some of the CHA. However, major legislation in Canada is often slowly dismantled by a failure to challenge clear violations. If the federal government doesn’t maintain and uphold the letter *and* principle of the CHA, it will be dismantled. Not overnight, but over the next decades. If the government doesn’t stand up to this, public health care in Canada could be a shell of itself in twenty years, depending solely on which provinces choose to vote in leaders who fight against this. There are fewer leaders every year who seem willing to push back against this trend. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Fallout The fallout from this will be interesting to watch, and may further splinter our divided country. There are several factors to consider. If medical care in Alberta becomes solely accessible to the wealthy, there could be a large exodus of individuals from the province into neighbouring provinces like British Colombia.[ However, BC is already dealing with a growing extremist wing in their parliament with One BC](https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/06/16/BC-New-Right-Wing-Party/?ref=onthetrail.info) having come and gone this past year, and a far right, Alberta-esque wing of the BC Conservatives beginning to take over the party. Meanwhile, Ford’s PC in Ontario have shown a strong interest in privatizing everything possible, and Saskatchewan is a long way removed from Tommy Douglas’ leadership. The most overwhelming costs of private health care are false, inflated administration costs. In the United States,[ “Billing and Insurance-Related” (BIR) costs are costing $496 billion a year. The Center for American Progress says that $248 billion of that cost is “administrative excess.](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/excess-administrative-costs-burden-u-s-health-care-system/?ref=onthetrail.info)” In Canada’s system, we have a similar problem that isn’t quite as acute– as previously mentioned, our Private Public Partnerships (PPP) within the system costs significantly more in administrative costs while simultaneously making sure that nurses and health care workers are not paid appropriately for their work. For profit medical providers are making huge profit off the backs of Canadian tax payers. [Studies show that public medicare saves billions a year.](https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20110920.013390/?ref=onthetrail.info) The United States has the highest cost for medical procedures in the world, and systems like Canada are fundamentally flawed because of how inefficient they are. If everything was in house (which it used to be), it would decrease costs and raise efficiency. Public insurance systems typically operate with overhead administrative costs of 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent, [and private insurance operates with upwards of 12 per cent.](https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PDF-HowMuchIsTooMuchPlanProfits.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) Inflation for public insurance is exponentially more than public insurers as well. In New York, private insurance spending per beneficiary increased by [38 per cent, while medicare rose by 16 per cent, and Medicaid by 8 per cent.](https://fiscalpolicy.org/public-payers-control-healthcare-spending-better-than-private-insurers?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Nothing to brag about Nonetheless, no one should be writing home about our health care system. The constant fragmentation and capitulation to private drug insurers, and PPPs in our system leads to much higher costs for Canada. The semi-subsidized drug insurance in most provinces has led to Canada having the third highest drug prices in the OECD. Meanwhile, we have higher administrative costs because of the PPPs that we rely so heavily on. Private systems are also significantly less efficient with costs. [Carpal Tunnel surgery in the private system costs $908 in Quebec’s private system, vs $495 in the public system, an 84 per cent increase. A colonoscopy casts $739 vs $290, a 155 per cent markup.](https://thenorthstar.media/2025/05/15/bureaucracy-and-health-care-costs-explode-the-caq-betrays-its-commitments/?ref=onthetrail.info) However, calling a system like Quebec’s private health care “private” is a lie. In Quebec the private system is semi subsidized, with the [CAQ spending $6 billion on the private system ](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-spent-more-than-6-billion-financing-private-health-care-last-year/?ref=onthetrail.info)according to a CSN calculation. If the government had relied on the public service, it would have saved them $700 million. Guillaume Hébert, a researcher at the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques explained that significant investment in public healthcare—and a move away from “hospital centricity,” where funding is disproportionately allocated to hospitals—would create a more resilient and responsive health system in the event of a national emergency. “A public system is best able to respond to people’s needs. But it needs to be decentralized… that is the way the system can best respond to \[an area’s\] needs with the available resources.” Most provinces, particularly Quebec, have increasingly centralized the system over the past decades, leading to a less efficient system than it could otherwise be. This privatization has taken place under our noses, and with Alberta breaking the dam open it will likely become a flood before it’s too late. [Ontario is seeing a workforce crisis. Per capita spending on private companies staffing their public hospitals doubled between 2013 and 2023.](https://healthydebate.ca/2025/05/topic/report-private-staffing-agencies-ontario-hospitals/?ref=onthetrail.info) The cost of hiring private staff can be more than three times the cost of hiring staff in house. There is no excuse to do so, except for a slow privatization of the health care system with the eventual intention to completely privatize it. Share this with everyone! It concerns every Canadian. ### Who’s gonna fix it? Unless there is a massive shift in Canada, a government ready to reinforce the Canada health act looking to outlaw private corporations operating in our public system, this trend will likely continue. We are barrelling towards the end of our publicly funded system at an incredible speed (incredible speed being within a couple decades.) On the horizon of almost every province there is no indication of a strong political will to fix this. Charles Milliard is the only candidate who seems to have solutions in Quebec, and it is well needed. He wants to implement a telemedicine system in Quebec, which would significantly help. In the previous election, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wanted to ban private health care. His party, the PQ, is on track to win the election this year, but his rapid movement to the extreme right is well documented, and his party refuses to speak about anything except their dislike of immigrants.This means that the Liberals are the only ones talking about improving health care in the province, but it’s their fault in the first place that the private system even exists in Quebec. Ontario and BC also have telemedicine, and they’re still struggling. Ontario and Saskatchewan have highly conservative governments that more openly want to privatize. The federal Liberals in their current makeup have announced an insignificant, [almost negligible amount for expanding health care in Canada](https://www.cna-aiic.ca/en/blogs/cn-content/2025/11/05/cna-disappointed-by-federal-budgets-lack-of-focus?ref=onthetrail.info), [as well as much lower increases to health transfers compared to the Trudeau era.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/budget-signals-lower-increases-to-health-transfers-end-of-funding-deals/?ref=onthetrail.info) Most provinces, and especially the feds, are betting on AI to increase efficiency around health care. Of course, this poses other problems that are not within the scope of this article to discuss. [AI has proven to be a more effective diagnostician than many doctors](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8285156/?ref=onthetrail.info) in certain cases, [but there are many legal grey zones around the use of the technology because of privacy concerns.](https://www.mltaikins.com/insights/artificial-intelligence-in-canadian-healthcare-opportunities-and-legal-risks/?ref=onthetrail.info) AI being in our health care systems might improve efficiency long term, but that is not guaranteed. [The technology has been an overall failure since its inception, costing many jobs with minimal benefits.](https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/12/ai-facts-siepr-policy-forum-fei-fei-ling-mark-kelly?ref=onthetrail.info) It also opens the door to another private company slithering its fingers into our public systems. In the end, the data tells the whole story: Inefficient spending, and a purposeful, slow privatization of our health care system is slowly choking the system until one day it will be completely gone. The political reality is that there are few, if no governments with an interest in truly fixing the systemic problems. This article has endeavoured to highlight the simple, but effective solutions that would repair our health care across the country. Alberta might be the first place to explicitly defy the CHA, but when a dam breaks, it’s hard to rebuild. If Ontario follows, and the federal government doesn’t stop the onslaught, it might be too late. ### 9 Lives taken in Tumbler Ridge URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/9-lives-taken-in-tumbler-ridge/ Last updated: 2026-02-16T16:41:14.000Z 9 Lives taken in Tumbler Ridge 0:00 /200 1× Good morning everyone, This week Gab and I couldn’t figure out the time. No biggie. Organizing is hard! A challenging week this week for the whole country, when a shooting took place in Tumbler Ridge, BC. This small community of 2000 people saw the largest massacre of children in Canadian history, and has resulted in mourning across the board. It’s likely you, along with everyone else, walked around with a pit in your stomach and heaviness around you. The people in Tumbler Ridge will never be the same. This isn’t supposed to happen to us, we say. But it did. Now the time comes where we have to ask why. So Chris and Isaac dive into it. After breaking down the top headlines of the week, we ask ourselves why this happened, and how we can change. We discuss the frustrating details of the situation and are honest, and emotional. Chris describes the fear he felt as a father, in an honest, and empathetic conversation. We can’t just accept the status quo. We need real action. And we discuss what that might look like. Before getting there, we discuss every headline of the week— this week there was a lot going on in Quebec! Here are all the headlines of the week of Feb 9th. Bad bunny was amazing at the Superbowl. Anyone who disagrees is simply wrong. UK Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, faces pressure and possible job loss because of historic unpopularity, and for employee who was heavily associated with Jeffrey Epstein. 65% of albertans set to vote to stay in Canada, with only 8 per cent strongly in favour of leaving. 600 RCMP officers faced gender based violence disciplinary charges since 2014\. Many of them still have jobs. Conditions at federal office buildings “horrendous” PSAC boss says. Trump threatens to block new bridge between Windsor and Detroit built by Canada. Many Federal employees terminated and suspended in 2600 cases of misconduct and wrongdoing in 2025. BC Premier, David Eby, says austerity measures are coming in 2026\. The province faces an 11 billion dollar deficit. Eby’s predecessor, john horgan, had many surpluses in the province without cutting jobs– but instead by raising taxes and places tax burdens on employees. Eby has moved the NDP in British Columbia to the right of center, and refuses to raise taxes while mismanaging the province’s finances. Elizabeth Lemay had a radio column for Radio Canada that critiqued misogyny. Due to harassment by online extremists, Radio Canada removed her segment from socials instead of defending her. Chrstine Fréchette promises to institute a grandfather clause for those affected by the cancellation of the Programme Experience Quebecoise if she wins. The American House of Representatives blocks tariffs against Canada, including 6 Republicans. Surprisingly few considering the past year. The Liberal Party of Canada is set to win a majority in almost every poll in the country. It seems less likely every day that they will go into an election. The Epstein files continue ravaging Trump, although no one in the United States has faced consequences about it. People are facing consequences globally though, including in Canada. Protestors at GARDA world security headquarters were violently beaten on friday, with the SPVM more violent than usual. Extreme amounts of tear gas and pepper spray were used, with a journalist, william wilson, being assaulted and having his lens cap broken. **TOP HEADLINES/DISCUSSIONS** The Election in Terrebonne, where a Bloc Quebecois candidate lost by one vote, has been annulled because of problems with the mail in system. One vote that was sent by mail was mislabeled, and because of that, it wasn’t counted. There will be a new byelection held in the next six months. Soraya Martinez Ferrada announces an audit of bike lanes in Montreal, and promises no more orange cones downtown Charles Milliard wins Quebec Liberal Leadership 9 dead after shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC ### Federal MP landlord update 02/2026 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/federal-mp-landlord-update-022026/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:14.000Z [Please see the full database here](https://ismympalandlord.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) Ten months after the Federal election, there are still only 231 MPs who have finished their conflict of interest disclosures. Nonetheless, we believe that it is important to publish the percentage of those who are landlords, their assets, and to provide the public with the necessary information. Of those who have provided their disclosures, we see that the numbers have barely changed since the 2021 election. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) There were more people in 2021 who were landlords, but that was with the entire body of 338 MPs submitting their conflict of interest disclosures. When the final 112 finish their work, or more likely when the Ethics Commissioner finishes publishing the disclosures submitted, it is likely to be a similar number of MPs who are landlords. Here are the numbers from the 2021 election. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/5df051c6-d3c9-4256-95ea-b7b222c73eda_994x426.png) We have broken down these numbers by province and party as well. What’s more interesting to us this time is their assets. We are developing better tools to identify assets, donors, and lobbying, but it will not be ready for a long time. We are also working with the Investigative Journalism Foundation on a comprehensive analysis of these assets, due to be out in April. Aedan has been at work with all of this information. The full database is updated, although the flags are not perfectly set. [Please feel free to peruse the database. We have also created a table for you to search that we could embed on this website.](https://ismympalandlord.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Here are all of the 112 MPs who have not filled their disclosure yet. For every person who’s MP has not fulfilled their conflict of interest disclosures, we encourage you to go over to [Our Commons](https://www.ourcommons.ca/en?ref=onthetrail.info) and email your MP. Be polite, and ask them if they would get it done, as it is important to our democratic security. Do not be harsh, and treat them with respect. They have to deal with people like Isaac hounding them every day. **\*Editor’s note: We believe that they have been working hard to get the disclosures online because the two of us are emailing them so much. It might seem prideful to take credit, but we’ve decided that this is thanks to us.** [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) We will not be performing a comprehensive analysis based on these numbers because they are not complete. We also are unable to predict how the rest of the numbers will be with only ⅔ of the data available. A preliminary analysis would indicate that there should be some concern. The movement of the Liberal government towards the center has proven to be somewhat discouraging, specifically when people like [Gregor Robertson are claiming that it is not the cost of housing that is the problem,](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-housing-minister-says-supply-not-costs-root-of-canada-s-real-estate-crisis-1.7535338?ref=onthetrail.info) it is the supply. We know this to be untrue. It is the cost. Despite significantly less immigration, increasing supply, and a variety of other factors changing, the cost of housing is still rising. Landlords are working hard to prevent their housing prices from going down. Many landlords are so unwilling to bring their prices down that they’ll offer gift cards for hundreds of dollars, but will not decrease the price. Rental prices are rising at an alarming rate, and even traditional hubs of affordability are doing poorly, such as Quebec. [Sadly for around 90 per cent of the country](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/canadas-ceos-are-making-248-times?ref=onthetrail.info), housing prices will not be decreasing any time soon unless there is mass government intervention, or unless there is a major recession that causes the economy to reset– something that will likely happen sooner or later, despite the government doing everything it can to prevent it. ### Is this the end of Canadian press freedom? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/is-this-the-end-of-canadian-press/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T05:03:27.000Z Is this the end of Canadian press freedom? 0:00 /200 1× Welcome back to the best political show in history. This week was a slow news week, but nonetheless we talk about everything that happened this week, both nationally and internationally. This week the top topics are the olympics, which Gabrielle and I are hyped about, as well as the trial on the west coast for Amber Bracken who was arrested by the RCMP who were impeding upon her reporting. She seems poised to win the trial, but the results of it, whether positive or negative, will radically transform the state of indie news in Canada. Reporters are being arrested, whether Oona Barrett, Savanna Craig, or people like me— getting beaten up and pepper sprayed by the police ([please see this video:](https://youtu.be/Gl01ZSAJF3I?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) We are hopeful that this works out, and we’re thankful that the Narwhal pursued this, and is fighting for the independence of the press everywhere. If you like this type of content, subscribe for $5 or donate one time at https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz ! Here is every top headline this week: Trump says that the US should “nationalise” elections, and his former advisor, steve bannon, 400 members of the RCMP are accused of misconduct, leading to at least 20 dismissals and many resignations. Twitter offices in France raided for the child abuse images and deepfake porn. Parasite found in the drinking water of Kashechewan first nation. Health care workers and locals are evacuating. Liberal Party of Canada is well within majority polling in every major pollster. Jamil Javani travelled to the states “to negotiate free trade with the president” against the wishes of the liberals, against the wishes of the conservatives, and in an obvious bid to get media attention as he seems to be setting himself up for a future conservative leader run. Israel strikes gaza killing 19 women and children Canada and France first countries to establish diplomatic presence in Greenland, other than Nato and security bases by the USA. The police in Quebec arrested a ton of gang members this week including people linked to the hells angels A kilo of cocaine in montreal is suffering from rising prices due to inflation, costing two times more than it used to. Toronto police officers charged in organized crime and corruption probe. New Carney automotive strategy has been released. It’s pretty good! Go read about it. The Olympics begin with a bang! Everyone booed the americans and Israel. For obvious reasons. A court case is going on in Vancouver for the future of democracy. Will Amber Bracken, arrested for doing her job, be vindicated and win against the RCMP? This could set the future of press freedom in Canada ### Snooty intellectualism VS the future of journalism URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/snooty-intellectualism-vs-the-future/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:15.000Z ### (*Please read this pedantic article in the snootiest voice you can muster.)* Over the past week a dozen or more Washington Post writers have shown up on substack. Welcome. I think this is just another result of the sheer change that we’ve seen in the mass exodus away from legacy media, but it’s also, obviously, the result of a failure in the business models of mainstream media. These good journalists from across the mainstream have made the transfer fairly seamlessly, and they’re fortunate because the United States has so many people with money, and who are highly concerned about the state of their democracy. What we’ve seen is a sanitization of legacy media, something that’s been happening since the late nineties, and an untenable financial situation, where many of these places failed to see the writing on the wall, failed to see that their version of writing was a thing of the past. Why did this sanitization occur? The simplest explanation is that advertisers don’t want to be on platforms that are too critical of the systems that they profit off of. It works in both directions as well. In 2023, when Elon Musk, a neo-nazi, purchased X, advertisers ran away in record numbers. It didn’t matter to Musk and his band of far right oligarchs, simply because he, and others, realize that they don’t need advertisers to make money. For Musk, it’s a machine to propagandize the world and dismantle systems that prevent him from constantly gaining money. ![https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/01/23/multimedia/23elon-salute-1-fbvg/23elon-salute-1-fbvg-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600-v2.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/fe64f841-918d-4312-8d58-510e457c26f2_1600x901-jpeg.jpg) The complete destruction of the media machine, particularly in the United States, has led to the most significant scandal in American history essentially having no effect. The Epstein files, the fact that a pedophile has ties with nearly every wealthy business owner has led to no prosecution and has seen almost no change in Donald Trump and the Republican’s base. But the same can be said about Israel, and the genocide in Palestine. In the eighties, it was fairly common to refer to Israel as “occupiers,” at least calling a spade a spade, but in 2026 we don’t have that same fearless quality to mainstream writers. Major scandals happened in the Trudeau era. Instead of causing an end to the career of Trudeau, he won two more elections. The man literally wore blackface and voters awarded him with another government. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e85a7ca0-f0da-460f-ad8a-04e48eb1f36d_1280x719.png) (Whether this is the fault of the media, or the fault of Andrew Scheer, who was the opponent on Trudeau in 2019, is hard to say. Scheer is, at the best, an uncharismatic man with few redeeming qualities.) Now that so many people are leaving the constraints of false premises of “objectivity”, what will happen to the media? We are not going to see millions of people suddenly subscribe to substack. To be frank, substack is faux-intellectual twitter. It’s an endless cesspool of AI and op-eds, or it’s a place for intellectuals to be snooty. By writing op-eds. Hell, this is an op-ed. Most people are not attracted to substack. Most people are on social media. Also, the individual subscription model is mostly untenable, since the majority of Americans and Canadians don’t have the kind of cash it takes to subscribe to every single writer that they like. Social media is where most people are. My individual news hits reach fifty thousand people a day, plus the people who want to dig into my writing on substack (usually around 3000 people reading each article.) My videos regularly hit 200,000\. Why aren’t there more people there? There are more and more, but not enough. But we don’t make money on socials. Okay, so what next? We have a serious problem. The more people on substack, the less money there will be to go around. The niche appeal of substack intellectualism cannot appeal to all people, and the endless flood of uninteresting, and AI content on the platform will discourage people from finding what they need. It will be harder and harder to stand out in the mess, in a similar way that people have troubles finding a truly substantive audience on Spotify. AI takes up so much space, and algorithms favour payola schemes and major label music. On Instagram, I get comments all the time from people who say “I follow you but I never see your posts, and I don’t know why.” Substack emails bypass the algorithm, but to blow up on substack you still need the algorithm to favour you. What now? What matters now is to look at what’s next– to figure out the next move. In a speech that Blue Jay Walker has been writing (my best friend, and the editor in chief of [“The Paper Rag](https://www.patreon.com/PaperRag?ref=onthetrail.info)”, an indie subscription offline-only magazine), he points to the future. Right now there are tons of “mail clubs”, but that market is becoming saturated. What’s next? Socials are seeing a slow exodus away from them, because people are tired of their phones. People don’t have money, so what is next? In his speech, which I am quoting without permission, Jay says, *“What is the logical conclusion of people’s increased distaste for the social media landscape?* *Physical media.* *In the cycle of culture we have a resurgence of nostalgia for the practical and tangible.* *Things like CDs, paper publications, and the like are being hailed as tools that do the job without also dealing psychic damage to the user. A novel idea indeed.”* Yes, these people are moving to substack, but we also lose credibility without media companies and without ethics frameworks. I am one of the few to write an ethics framework while being a journalist on social media. Hell, there’s not a lot of indie media who write ethics frameworks in general. I don’t know what the “next” thing is, but the clock is ticking on these individual subscription platforms. The clock is ticking on social media. I was one of the earlier journalists making original news on socials, and I’ll probably be quick to leave it as well, if my timeline works out to be correct (I’m not gonna tell you more than that.) Hopefully the new people on substack are as rigorous as they were under the Washington Post. But also, hopefully these same excellent journalists can all find an audience, and aren’t just creating a system of circlejerking. Because yeah, they might be getting a ton of “intellectuals” and journalists to subscribe to their substack, but are they reaching real people? Because Fox News is. The Rover is. Pivot is. I know for sure that I am. As the world changes, and people respond, it will lead to an oversaturation in these markets. But we need to start thinking about what’s next, instead of thinking about right now. Never thinking two steps ahead is what got us here in the first place. So will we be innovative, or will we just accept irrelevance when it comes to normal people working normal jobs? What is next? I guess we’ll find out. --- **My partner has told me that this article enraged her to an exceptional degree because it was written as a snooty intellectual. It’s really hard to tell when people are being satirical in writing. So, this is me *explicitly* telling you that I wrote this to be as insufferably snooty and intellectual as possible, while simultaneously trying to make a point. I’m trying to lampshade the Substack style. It’s like, that Paul Wells (whom I like a lot, actually) style that says nothing while seeming like it said a lot. My goal was to make you laugh. Anyways. Have a nice day.** ### Bypassing nostalgia: was Stephen Harper’s record good, or bad? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/bypassing-nostalgia-was-stephen-harpers/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:16.000Z Good morning. I managed to find the time today to write a piece after all. Thank you everyone for your patience as I try to balance my responsibilities in University, Substack, and Freelancing. You are all genuinely the best, and your support has transformed my life for the better. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ## Mostly Liberal Recently there has been a wave of nostalgia sweeping the media, something that happens ten years after every leader is crushed in the polls. In 2011, Harper was watching a strong left flank develop beside him under the late Jack Layton’s leadership, but it was not to be so. Justin Trudeau, a federal Liberal, was able to move to the left of Mulcair. In 2015, Trudeau won. The Liberals have ruled over Canada for a vast majority of its existence. The centrist ideology that was established by John A. Macdonald upon confederation was cemented in our political culture, and Wilfrid Laurier created the template for most future Liberal leaders. **Every time you speak, make it sound like you’re a left winger and a right winger at the same time.** With the exception of the long tenure of John A. Macdonald, the conservatives have ruled for small portions of Canada’s history. The cycle of Canada has tended to be, and seems to continue being, long tenures of Liberal governments, followed by a short period of a Conservative government. It has been 129 years since Wilfrid Laurier took office. Since then, Canada has been ruled by the Liberals for 89 years, and by the conservatives for 40\. The Liberals are the most successful party in western democratic history. Liberals often lead for a decade and a half. Conservatives are lucky if they get a second term. But any historian worth their salt knows that some of the best leadership Canada has had were conservative leaders. ## The Conservatives who came before Harper Robert Borden, a conservative, gave us women’s suffrage (except in Quebec), he gave us income tax, he restructured the Parliament to prioritize the house of commons (elected) over the senate (unelected). He established statistics Canada, and a national research council. He also interned Ukrainians, was a racist, and enforced conscription (except in Quebec), but this is, sadly, common for leaders of western, majority white nations of the time. Despite being a good leader, and leading the country through World War I, he was a white imperialist, and for that he might never be remembered in the echelon of the best leaders. But, contextually, he should be well regarded for some of his policy achievements. R.B Bennett led Canada for one term, and although he ended his term with a slew of excellent policies, the first four years of his rule were marked by a terrible management of the great depression. Still, Bennet created the CRTC, and created the welfare state by introducing minimum wage, progressive income tax, unemployment insurance, a framework for health insurance, and laid the groundwork for Mackenzie King and others to do much more. Sadly for him, the creation of these programs was at the tail end of his time in power, and he’d done such a terrible job leading Canada through the great depression for the first four years of his leadership that he promptly lost— too little too late, Canadians said— and all of the work he did to create a welfare state was promptly continued by Mackenzie King, and Bennett is forgotten to all but the most pedantic of historians. Meanwhile Diefenbaker, a conservative, is truly one of our greatest leaders. He introduced the Canadian Bill of rights, enshrining human rights into Canadian law. He gave First Nations people the right to vote *without* having to give up their rights as a status Indian, or lose their treaty rights. His government eliminated racial discrimination in immigration policy, attempting to remove bias against non-white immigrants. He fought against South African apartheid, His government increased old age pensions, enhanced benefits for veterans, provided aid for disabled individuals, and implemented a winter works program to address seasonal unemployment– an expansion of the developing welfare state. He also appointed the first woman and first indigenous person to the senate. His weak point? The economy was pretty bad at the time. That’s why he lost to Lester B. Pearson– who would become one of, if not our greatest federal Prime Minister. Mulroney, who became the next federal conservative leader 19 after the defeat of Diefenbaker, worked hard to dismantle the welfare state and shift the power of political control and financial control to privatized nations. He quit office before the end of his second mandate, having been complicit in a bribery scandal where he took $225,000 in cash during the “Airbus affair.” Kim Campbell and Arthur Meighen were also prime ministers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/1ea3229e-8139-4262-a44b-9d73883e1b38_5122x3415-jpeg.jpg) ## Ending another Liberal period The Liberals took power back from Mulroney in 1993, and ruled until 2006— finally being defeated by Stephen Harper. It has been twenty years since the inauguration of Harper, and so his painted portrait was hung in Parliament. A gala took place this week to celebrate his leadership, and a wave of nostalgia has run through the media and the nation. In 2026, it’s easy to look back at Harper and compare him to someone like Poilievre, or Trump. Poilievre, who is often criticized for looking insecure and immature– name calling, nicknames, one liners, catch phrases and slogans– and Trump, who… well, go read our piece “[American Fascism](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/american-fascism?ref=onthetrail.info)” for some historical journalism about Trump’s leadership. Yeah, Harper looks great compared to some leaders, but it’s easy to look great compared to Donald Trump. Online there’s been a big resurgence of people thinking George W. Bush is great as well, which is shocking. Bush was one of the worst leaders in American history. He conducted the two most expensive wars in history while lowering taxes, and his government single handedly caused a global financial crisis second only to the great depressions– which caused World War II. That’s exceptionally bad. So, we have to ask the question: In a Canadian context, was Harper a good leader? Only one thing can inform us of this– his record. Here is Harper’s record, the bad, and the bad. And some good. But there’s a lot more bad than good. Hell, if you want to read an article on the Tyee from ten years ago, [check this one out.](https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/08/10/Harper-Abuses-of-Power-Final/?ref=onthetrail.info) They basically say what I say, but it’s way more fresh in their minds. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ## The good Harper had a good team for the 2008 financial crisis. If there is definitely one good thing we can say about Harper, it’s that [Canada walked through the great recession nearly unscathed](https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2010/11/international-monetary-fund-confirms-canada-economic-management.html?ref=onthetrail.info). Still, even that has a lot of bad mixed in with the good. It’s also a rewriting of history to say that he helped Canada by choice. He was so prepared to dismantle the state and public jobs during that time that it triggered a parliamentary crisis and threatened to topple the Conservative government. It nearly created a Liberal-NDP coalition government, and Harper prorogued parliament for partisan political reasons. Afterwards, Harper instituted the [EAP](https://academic.oup.com/book/44933/chapter/384863497?login=true&ref=onthetrail.info), [a stimulus package](https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2011/03/great-recession-canada-perception-reality/?ref=onthetrail.info) which temporarily suspended Harper’s ultra conservative austerity to create a pseudo-keynesian stimulus which saved Canada from a disastrous outcome. The response was internationally praised, and ironically, was more centrist than Harper preferred. The other good is the [regulatory strength of our boring](https://www.nber.org/digest/dec11/why-canada-didnt-have-banking-crisis-2008?page=1&perPage=50&ref=onthetrail.info), oligopoly of banking institutions that were heavily regulated. Harper saved the banks by [supporting them with the central bank](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/the-big-banks-big-secret/?ref=onthetrail.info). It worked well for Canada in a time of global crisis, since the banks didn’t collapse under global financial strain. You’ll notice that whenever they wheel out Harper to talk about anything, the only thing that anyone is willing to point to is their success during the Great Recession. [When Harper endorsed Poilievre during the 2025 federal election](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/livestory/canada-election-ex-pm-stephen-harper-endorses-conservative-leader-pierre-poilievre-9.6715290?ref=onthetrail.info)? Harper managed the financial crisis, that’s why he mattered. [At his portrait speech this week](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7072942?ref=onthetrail.info)? Harper managed the financial crisis. At the portrait unveiling, a member of Harper’s cabinet was asked about his memory of Harper’s leadership. His response? “I just think of competent stewardship of the economy, (during the) global economic crisis, leaving a balanced budget,” he said. The great legacy of Harper was his success during the Great Recession. **And let’s be clear–** That’s an incredible success. But there’s irony in this. His greatest success was when he fundamentally betrayed his own values. He made an enormous deficit in response. He had an expansionary state, inspiring leaders like Obama on how to save their economy. But it’s funny, he didn’t want to implement the Economic Action Plan in 2008\. He wanted to cut public spending. [The only reason he implemented it was because of pressure from the opposition, because he had a minority government.](https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2010/12/surviving-the-coalition-the-parliamentary-crisis-of-2008/?ref=onthetrail.info) **The greatest success of Stephen Harper’s Conservative government was when he acted like a Liberal.** And we should applaud him for it. A good leader does what is necessary to help their country. In that moment, public expansion and huge spending saved potentially millions of people from losing their jobs (it also functioned as a massive corporate welfare state, but welcome to our system.) Because he was so good at taking care of Canadian jobs during that time, he won a majority in 2011\. The moment he won a majority, he cut government spending and implemented a regime of democratic backsliding, anti-scientific policy, austerity, and caused Canada’s international reputation to tank. ## Democratic backsliding **Contempt of Parliament** Harper became the first leader in the[ ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-report-finds-government-in-contempt-1.1091382?ref=onthetrail.info)[*history of the commonwealth*](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-report-finds-government-in-contempt-1.1091382?ref=onthetrail.info) to be [found in contempt of Parliament.](https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/committee-finds-harper-government-in-contempt/article%5Fd20130f7-dd48-5411-b597-b1566231a07a.html?ref=onthetrail.info) He refused to release un-[redacted](https://legalclarity.org/what-are-redactions-and-why-are-they-used-in-law/?ref=onthetrail.info) documents to Parliament that transparently showed how much the tax cuts cost him. He was found to be in contempt of Parliament, which has [final say on any spending](https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/our-procedure/financialProcedures/c%5Fg%5Ffinancialprocedures-e.html?ref=onthetrail.info). The [Parliament had a vote of no confidence](https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2011/03/25/134861401/canadas-leader-harper-loses-historic-no-confidence-vote?ref=onthetrail.info). The proceeding election led to Harper’s only majority government– he was still riding on a high from his management of the crisis, and an extremely [pedantic debate around redacted documents and parliamentary spending ](https://dangardner.ca/article/the-small-matter-of-contempt?ref=onthetrail.info)was shown to be a bit too abstract for the Canadian public. They saw a good manager, and they hired him for the next four years. By 2013, Harper would be collapsing in the polls, and a new, fresh faced young man named Justin Trudeau would take over the Liberal party. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/9cb57f14-56ef-4041-b9be-0df99d9fa187_950x936.png) Harper instantly started collapsing, but Mulcair was not the answer. **Senate expenses scandal** [He was also, like many other Canadian leaders, involved in a scandal with backdoor payments.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/senate-expense-scandal-the-mike-duffy-stephen-harper-credibility-war-1.2159732?ref=onthetrail.info) Three conservative senators, Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau, claimed ineligible expenses from Parliament. It was found out, and they owed the government money. Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright, wrote a $90,000 dollar cheque to Mike Duffy to cover his repayments. During an independent investigation, it turns out that it was Harper himself that gave the go ahead. Court evidence exposed that Nigel Wright wrote an email that said [“We are good to go from the PM,”](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/wright-lived-to-regret-covering-duffys-expenses/?ref=onthetrail.info) which implied approval from Harper to proceed with the backdoor payments. There was no evidence that Harper himself helped in the payments. Nonetheless, it shattered confidence in Harper’s government, which had presented itself as the moral, Christian aligned government. **Voter Suppression** In 2011, when Harper won his majority, there is a good chance he won some ridings undemocratically through [voter suppression](https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-harper-government-wants-to-bring-american-style-voter-id-laws-to-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info). In non-conservative ridings, [an automated “robocall” would call people and direct them to locations of fake polling stations. ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/9-facts-about-pierre-poutine-and-the-robocalls-case-1.1143560?ref=onthetrail.info)An investigation afterwards found out that there were fake registered staffers who had registered the burner phone numbers from where the call came. [At the same time, the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary was found guilty of exceeding election spending limits, and filed false records. He was sentenced to jail.](https://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/nws-nvs/2015/25%5F06%5F15.html?ref=onthetrail.info) Then, as a “response” to these scandals, the government claimed it would reduce fraud. The way they did it was through the, now infamous, **Fair Elections Act**, headed by Pierre Poilievre. [The ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/fair-elections-act-id-rules-block-voting-groups-argue-in-court-challenge-1.3136431?ref=onthetrail.info)[**Fair Elections Act**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/fair-elections-act-id-rules-block-voting-groups-argue-in-court-challenge-1.3136431?ref=onthetrail.info)[ removed the vouching system](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/fair-elections-act-id-rules-block-voting-groups-argue-in-court-challenge-1.3136431?ref=onthetrail.info)– a system that enables people without identifications to vote. Essentially, if someone goes with someone and vouches for them, the individual without an ID can vote. This is a celebrated system that has resulted in no documented cases of fraud, and [enables disabled people, poor people, homeless people, and others to vote.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/end-to-vouching-would-impact-100000-voters-elections-canada-chief/?ref=onthetrail.info) It also restricted Elections Canada’s power to investigate problems. Furthermore, it removed voter information cards, which are mailed directly to every registered voter, from being proof of eligibility. The timing of the law seemed particular as well, as it was passed in 2014, one year before an election. [It was widely panned as a law for being a thinly veiled attack on democratic rights that exclusively benefited the Conservative Party. It backfired, and may have caused their defeat.](https://www.policymagazine.ca/pdf/17/PolicyMagazineJanuaryFebruary-2016-Carson.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) ## Science bad This might have been the most infamous thing that Harper did– beyond austerity, beyond democratic backsliding. [Stephen Harper muzzled scientists for his entire mandate.](https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/09/15/Canada-Muzzled-Scientists/?ref=onthetrail.info) He implemented “communications protocols” [that banned federally funded](https://www.vice.com/en/article/canadian-scientists-say-the-government-is-muzzling-them-and-they-want-it-to-stop/?ref=onthetrail.info) scientists from speaking publicly about their research unless it was pre-approved by government staff. [It became quite clear that it was an anti-climate change agenda](https://elc.ab.ca/Content%5FFiles/Files/Bill38AnalysisArticlefinal.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info). Specifically, many of these federal scientists were working on [research that studied climate change](https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/05/10/Bill-C38/?ref=onthetrail.info), that studied the effects of fisheries, and the effect of climate change on polar regions. [People spoke up](https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/second-opinion-scientists-muzzled-1.4588913?ref=onthetrail.info). [It was clear to many that Harper was running an Orwellian control of information](https://thenarwhal.ca/harper-s-timeline-canada-climate-change-2006-2014/?ref=onthetrail.info), and that he was preventing tax payer funded research from reaching the public. [In July 2012, a march took place. ](https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-SI-Report.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info)Thousands of scientists, activists, and supporters marched on Parliament Hill. They carried a coffin with them, a statement to say that research institutions were dead. Harper closed the department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries. Harper said it was for cost saving. Instead, [Harper destroyed large swathes of information, ](https://www.nationalobserver.com/special-reports/harpers-war-data?ref=onthetrail.info)shredding papers, or throwing it into dumpsters. [Then Harper withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol,](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/may-accuses-harper-of-breaking-law-over-kyoto-1.999069?ref=onthetrail.info) a 1992 UN agreement on climate change. Canada was a signatory under the Mulroney government, and Harper was the first signatory to withdraw from the agreement. The government had good arguments– [the protocol didn’t include the United States or China,](https://energy.sustainability-directory.com/learn/why-did-the-united-states-not-ratify-the-kyoto-protocol/?ref=onthetrail.info) thus rendering it completely obsolete. Nonetheless, the backlash from the global community was severe– Canada was now considered a joke around environmentalism. Ironic, considering the international reputation we had from the time of Mulroney onwards. ## International reputational decline Harper didn’t like being a middle power. He wanted to be a major power. He was very inspired by the states, and has recently called himself the [“most pro-American prime minister in Canadian history.”](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-reduce-dependence-americans-9.7074933?ref=onthetrail.info) This is fairly indisputable. Thinking of Canada as an emerging power (we weren’t, and still are not,) he decided that Canada’s support for Israel was significant. It wasn’t. Harper became a staunch supporter of Israel, more than almost anyone except for the United States. He said he would support Israel [“through fire and water”](https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/News/PressReleases/Pages/Pr11102%5Fpg.aspx?ref=onthetrail.info), framing this as a moral imperative, claiming Canada as a zionist nation. Canada opposed any resolution critical of Israel, and Canada became unable to fulfill its traditional role as a global peacekeeper and mediator. So badly did Harper damage Canada’s international reputation in his quest to align himself with the United States, that for the first time in [United Nations history, Canada failed to gain a seat on the UN rotating security council.](https://www.ceasefire.ca/canadas-security-council-election-loss-is-an-urgent-wake-up-call/?ref=onthetrail.info) It seemed to be a repudiation of Harper’s policies on climate change and Israel. [Harper claimed it was a moral victory.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-i-ve-got-bruises-for-pro-israel-stance-1.871716?ref=onthetrail.info) He said that his government was “principled” and the UN was dominated by dictators and anti-democratic regimes. That stance may have carried more weight if Germany and Portugal weren’t the ones who replaced Canada on the security council– two democratic, progressive countries. ## Social justice? Harper also implemented mandatory minimum sentences for various drug and gun crimes. [These mostly didn’t pass because they were found to be unconstitutional.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-mandatory-minimum-sentences-criminal-code-1.6637154?ref=onthetrail.info) Harper decried the legal system as overreaching. [Conservative governments](https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/12/09/Danielle-Smith-Dangerous-Attack-Courts/?ref=onthetrail.info) [across Canada](https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/politics-government/doug-fords-judges-rant-sparks-fears-judicial-independence-10596509?ref=onthetrail.info) are still doing this. Harper started off strong with Indigenous relations. [In 2008, Harper became the first leader of Canada to apologize for the residential school system. ](https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100015644/1571589171655?ref=onthetrail.info)It was widely praised, and stands as one of Harper’s finest moments. Four years later, Harper implemented Bill C-45, which removed many rights of the Indian Act that protects Indigenous rights to adequate consultation. [This triggered the now famous ](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/idle-no-more-reconciliation-1.6663310?ref=onthetrail.info)[**Idle No More**](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/idle-no-more-reconciliation-1.6663310?ref=onthetrail.info)[ movement,](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/idle-no-more-reconciliation-1.6663310?ref=onthetrail.info) which was a massive movement across Canada that asserted Indigenous sovereignty and environmental stewardship. Harper’s obsession with resource extraction was to hurt his relationship with Indigenous peoples. Harper then sidelined veterans in Canada. [He closed nine Veteran Affairs offices under the banner of “cost cutting”,](https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/harper-dismisses-concerns-from-veterans-over-closures-of-veterans-affairs-offices-vets-can-still-get-everything-they-want-he-says?ref=onthetrail.info) limiting access of veterans to valuable services that were needed at the time. He also replaced veteran payments of lifetime pensions with lump sum payments, once again as a “cost cutting measure.” ## Nostalgia lies The Stephen Harper nostalgia makes a lot of sense. I grew up with Jean Chretien, and Stephen Harper as the prime ministers of my childhood (I barely remember Paul Martin). When I hear Harper’s voice, it makes me remember a simpler time– living at my mom’s house, Corner Gas episodes, Barack Obama south of the border– and so there’s some strange comfort in hearing his voice. And the speech he made during his portrait unveiling was good. It was pro-democratic, although it had some subtleties that were particularly Harperesque. He said he hopes that there are many more prime ministers from “both parties,” discounting the potential for other parties to win. It’s likely that other parties win, and I would personally estimate that it will happen sooner, rather than later. The left has a place in the mainstream. The far right has a place in the mainstream. Our 2025 two party system is a temporary holdover due to Trump, and because there aren’t strong leaders in the NDP, the Greens, or other smaller parties. It’s easy to look back and remember a different, easier time. It’s also important not to glory in days of the past. Harper had the most anti-democratic leadership in Canadian history, bar none. His rule contributed to the death of the middle class in ways that we’ll be talking about for decades. The housing crisis didn’t start under Justin Trudeau, it started under Stephen Harper, and continued under Trudeau. Our nostalgia will lead us to elect people who will do worse, because of a call back to a glorious, better past. But as I explained in my “American Fascism” article, the premise of fascism as an ideology is to return to a better time. Poilievre is flirting with it [in his obsession with the “broken promise” of Canada.](https://globalnews.ca/news/11646399/poilievre-conservative-convention-speech-transcript/?ref=onthetrail.info) That’s how it begins. There is no going back. Tomorrow is coming, whether we like it or not. One day our country will not exist. One day every person reading this will not be alive. Nostalgia is a reasonable feeling, one that I’m very prone to. Still, it’s bait– it’s a feeling that will trap you thinking that something was better, when it was not. Today, things are tough. Back then, things were tough. The answer is not to go back, but to go forward, to find something new, and to build a real future that benefits our neighbours, and fights for justice. Every leader gets associated with an era. Time softens all things, and makes everything seem better– emotions fade, and bad feelings are often left behind. Based exclusively on the data, Harper fundamentally shifted Canada. It was a revolution, and it is through his more subtle version of Neo-Conservatism that we have Pierre Poilievre’s more upfront version. Let’s, as students of history, not fall prey to nostalgia, and be honest. Let’s, as students of history, move forward, and not repeat the destructive, cyclical patterns that we are so prone to. ### Who's to blame for the rise of the far right? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/whos-to-blame-for-the-rise-of-the/ Last updated: 2026-02-02T13:29:52.000Z Who's to blame for the rise of the far right? 0:00 /200 1× Another beautiful week begins. Luckily we got a break from being invaded this week, and instead we can talk about what really matters: Who’s to blame for all of this nonsense? All of us are a little sick of the chaos, and the sharp turn to the write globally. Well, a weak media without hard fact finding and an interest in pushing against power can lead to these places. Gab, an expert in media analysis weighs in with her expert opinions. Isaac listens and asks questions, and throws in some useless opinions of their own. #### S**ubscribe now for $5 a month on substack!** #### **https://onthetrailmtl.ca** [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Here are all the top headlines from last week: Donald Trump is threatening Canada with 100% tariffs if we “make a trade deal with China.” Canada responded by saying we have no “free trade deal” that we’re making with them. Trump then went on to say that it would be too bad if China took us over, seeing as we’re economically reliant on them. Trump failed to see the irony. Food bank Canada CEO presses Ottawa for action amid record high levels of food bank use. More than two million people across Canada are using the food bank per month. The Canadian Federal government responded by announcing an adjustment to the GST returns for the next five years, a program that will provide 12 million people with 100 dollars more per year, and a family of four with 300 more per year. Most people’s grocery budgets are in excess of 200-300 per person, per month. ICE ads in the United States are openly using far right, neo nazi slogans in their recruitment ads, reports the CBC. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Venezuela’s new president Delcy Rodriguez said that she has had enough of Donald Trump’s orders, bringing the total time of US control of Venezuala to be a little under a month. The US has stationed a large, war ready army next to Iran. Things may escalate quickly, as threats from both Trump and Iran become more dangerous by the day. Trump was elected on a platform of being the “peace president” but instead he has bombed ten countries, the most of any other US leader. He now wants to increase US military budgets to 1.5 trillion. Over three million Epstein files were released. It seems that Epstein was allowed to enter Canada after his first pedophelia conviction. After a statement by the Alberta Premier that she wanted to have more power to instruct judges how to perform their duties, a judge clapped back saying that the independence of the judiciary ensures democracy. More than a thousand people were fired by GM cuts at their Oshawa plant. Montreal city workers disrupted the budget meeting in the hotel de ville. They have a 24 hour strike planned for wednesday, which is likely to escalate. A shooting occurred in Mistissini, a northern Quebec cree community. There were 2 victims shot dead in their vehicle. Garda world, who signed a contract for 138 million dollars with ICE to help them maintain and create detention centres, has more than 3 billion dollars in contracts with the federal government. As of right now, only one MP has spoken about this, Heather McPherson, who has called for contracts to be ended, and ICE to be expelled from Canada. The most recent numbers we found, the article is on On the Trail, is that 1300 ice agents operate freely in Canada. It is likely to have gone up. Ice agents are not allowed to arrest people in Canada, but work closely with law enforcement. Jim Pattison, one of Canada’s richest billionaires looked like he was going to sell a warehouse to ICE for several million dollars. Massive pressure from the public and the media made him decide not to. Pierre Poilievre got 87% approval at the conservative conference this weekend. Paul St Pierre Plamondon quote: «n’y a rien de pire pour un peuple, non pas d’être esclave, mais d’être esclave en ayant un peu l’impression d’être libre»/”There’s nothing worse for a people, not to be a slave, but to be a slave and think you’re free.” ### Substack Exclusive: January in Reflection URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/substack-exclusive-january-in-reflection/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:17.000Z I try, every month, to put out a reflection. This month has been one of my favourites for this substack. Often, when you support someone like me, it’s hard to remember the work you’ve seen or what we’ve put out. This month has been productive, with some of the best work I’ve ever done. It’s also good to look back and remember some of the things that have happened this month, since things have been moving at a breakneck pace since the beginning of the year. [Canada’s CEOs are making 248 times more than the average worker, a new record.](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/canadas-ceos-are-making-248-times?ref=onthetrail.info) This little piece was my first “big report” of the year. Breaking down the numbers based on inflation and pumping out a bunch of math, we dove into how people’s wages have overall seen a mild decrease, and we discovered that 80 per cent of Canadians own less than 50 per cent of all wealth in the country. And 40 per cent of Canadians own only 3 per cent of wealth. It was a great way to start off the year, and it kicked off my approach for this year– an approach that prioritizes one weekly report over many smaller reports. [François Legault leaves Quebec worse off than when he started](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/francois-legault-leaves-quebec-worse?ref=onthetrail.info) I refuse to let us live in a nostalgic bubble of better times– I hope that ten years from now when we look back and talk about how much better he was as a leader than whomever we have in 2035, we can look at this piece and remember that the CAQ accomplished little, if anything positive in Quebec. [Better to Be in Jail than on the streets](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/better-to-be-in-jail-than-on-the?ref=onthetrail.info) My little documentary was well liked, but not very viewed. I’m extremely proud of it. [Ethics Commissioner’s office fails to produce nearly half of MP disclosures after 9 months, no end in sight](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/ethics-commissioners-office-fails?ref=onthetrail.info) I have two more reports coming out on this in the next few weeks. In this report is the best quote I’ve ever been able to put into an article that I’ve ever been given: #### **“The current federal Ethics Commissioner is a lapdog, who has shown again and again that he doesn’t care about the public’s right to know the financial interests of Cabinet ministers and MPs, and that he is fine with facilitating and hiding federal politicians’ conflicts of interest from the public,” Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch said.** #### [American Fascism](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/american-fascism?ref=onthetrail.info) I’ve received a number of emails and texts telling me that this is the best piece I’ve ever written. I’m not insulted, since this was me testing the waters for a book I’m fifty pages into writing. Hopefully finished and published by the end of this year. If you know a publisher, reach out. [Exclusive: These Federal MPs are spending money on companies that work with ICE](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/exclusive-these-federal-mps-are-spending?ref=onthetrail.info) My report this Wednesday was a breakdown of public money being spent on contracts with companies now associating with ICE. Only one MP, Heather McPherson, has responded to it so far. It seems that most Canadian elected politicians don’t want to speak one way or another about the situation, probably out of fear of Trump. Also, the public pressure on Pattison seems to have worked and he announced that he would not be selling his warehouse to ICE. Huzzah! Sometimes everyone working to do things functions. Between journalists talking about this, politicians talking about this,and public pressure, this is an example of real change that can occur. This month has been my favourite month so far that I’ve done on my Substack. This year is all about doing journalism on my platform. It is highly likely I’ll still do it with others, but I am prioritizing this; because this is what I want to succeed. It’s a mix of gonzo and data journalism, but I think we’re doing some genuinely cool work. This month I learned how bad the commenters are on youtube. What a wild toxic place! But I don’t respond to toxic stuff, I just delete creepy weirdos and block bad faith stuff– I don’t care what your politics are, but I’m not courting online drama or weird obsessive online behaviour. I know others do that, but I’m not interested in inflammatory stuff. I just want the work to be good, and for me to feel that I’ve done what’s good, and that I’m staying humble. I have all my reports for the next month basically ready so far, just compiling the formatting and double checking numbers. If you’re part of the subscriber chat, you can keep up with what I’m doing in real time, and I’m thinking of starting a little book club on the paid subscriber chat. Otherwise, we’re off to the races, and I’ll have loads more good reporting coming at you this month! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### EXCLUSIVE: More than $3 billion dollars in ongoing federal contracts with Garda World URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/exclusive-more-than-3-billion-dollars/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:17.000Z Garda World, a subsidiary of which was awarded a [$138 million dollar contract ](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-canadian-gardaworld-immigration-emergency-detention-services-ice/?ref=onthetrail.info)with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2025, has several billion dollars in ongoing contracts with the government, many of which were created *after* the contract with ICE began discussion. Garda World is helping to create and maintain detention centres for ICE, [which are inhumane](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2025-07-23/ice-human-rights-watch-report-detention-centers-florida?ref=onthetrail.info), aren’t [following legal due process](https://factually.co/fact-checks/justice/ice-due-process-violations-27d918?ref=onthetrail.info), and [are detaining children whom they’ve taken from their families](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/23/trump-administration-immigrant-kids-detention?ref=onthetrail.info). Since January 1st, 7 people have died in ICE detention’s brutal conditions, and 3 American citizens have been shot to death by ICE officers. Aedan & I have broken down the total contracts being awarded to Garda World through the federal government, and have broken it into several simple graphs. There have been $120 million in contracts that were awarded to them after discussions began with ICE, seeming to indicate that the Liberal government has decided to turn a blind eye to their actions. Greg Noakes helped us build out the data on airport security. All of these numbers were taken from official sources on government published websites, and are in CAD. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The above data is only contracts that have been awarded after discussions began between Garda and ICE. Below is a chart that shows contracts that began *before* discussions were being had, but are reaching their conclusions after the Garda World started working with ICE. Help this post succeed. The largest 2 partners of Garda World are airport security, and the RCMP. Airports operate under a Government owned, contractor operated (GOCO) model. $2.657 billion dollars in airport security contracts are currently underway in the [eastern and central regions of the country, ](https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/canadian-air-transport-security-authority-announces-new-airport-screening-services-contracts?ref=onthetrail.info)and the contracts are not available on the database. [Meanwhile, the other contracts are findable there.](https://search.open.canada.ca/contracts/?sort=contract%5Fdate+desc&search%5Ftext=garda&page=1&ref=onthetrail.info) The database is poorly made, with Garda World having several different names, or being misspelled several times, thus potentially confusing people who look up the contracts that were awarded to them. There are many occasions in the **official** database where it is spelt “Garda Wolrd.” We have not endeavoured to change the spelling in our searchable table here. We spoke with Heather McPherson’s office. As of today, she is the only Federal MP to have spoken up about the government’s ongoing contracts with Garda World, calling for there to be an end to the government working with a company that is helping in committing state sponsored violence based on racial profiling, as well as an end to contracts with ICE in general. “I write to you to request the Government of Canada take urgent steps to stop all Canadian government and private contracts with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by denying export permits for military goods, cancelling federal subsidies to companies contracting with ICE, and exploring all available legal mechanisms including sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act to prohibit such contracts,” she said to Mark Carney’s office in a [letter published](https://heathermcpherson.ndp.ca/news/letter-pm-carney-end-contracts-ice?ref=onthetrail.info) online. Canada maintains a robust network of ICE offices in the country in five different cities– Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. As of the most recent numbers I could find, there are **1300** ICE officers in Canada. On top of that there are, as of this 2017 publication, 2,000 U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Agents, 4,700 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers, 310 Agriculture Specialists, 260 CBP Air and Marine (AMO) personnel, 1,300 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents, and more than 8,000 United States Coast Guard (USCG) stationed in Canada [(News release, DHS)](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/11/14/written-testimony-plcy-cbp-and-ice-house-homeland-security-subcommittee-border-and?ref=onthetrail.info) These offices operate as investigative hubs to stop “threats” before they reach the U.S. ICE agents who operate in Canada do not possess authority to arrest people. They operate as liaisons and partners with the RCMP, the Border Services Agency (CBSA) and provincial police. They consider Canada to be a border beyond their own and have a partnership with canada called the “Beyond the Border Action Plan” saying that “our physical border with Canada is not the first or last line of defense, but one of many,” ([DHS release](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/11/14/written-testimony-plcy-cbp-and-ice-house-homeland-security-subcommittee-border-and?ref=onthetrail.info)). This approach is the same regardless of who’s in office at any given time, Democrat or Republican. We have reached out to Mark Carney’s office, and have not yet received a response. We will update when we do. Below is the email we have sent them. I’m working on a piece that will be out this evening about government contracts with Garda World. — Garda World, a subsidiary of which was awarded a[ $138 million dollar contract](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-canadian-gardaworld-immigration-emergency-detention-services-ice/?ref=onthetrail.info) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2025, has several billion dollars in ongoing contracts with the government, many of which were created *after* the contract with ICE was announced. As of right now, ongoing contracts between the federal government and Garda amount to a total of $3,345,217,603, with $120 million of new contracts being signed after Garda began discussions with ICE. - Considering the current situation south of the border, does the government have plans to move away from these contracts, end them, or stop working with them in the future? - Does the Liberal government have any condemnation of Canadian companies working with ICE? - Is anyone within the Liberal government willing to denounce ICE and Garda world working with them? - Is it worrisome that Garda works so closely with the RCMP and airport security, and could this lead to influences from ICE coming over the border? - Is the government doing anything to get ICE out of the country? As of the last count we have 1300 ICE agents allowed to operate in our borders. I would appreciate an answer to these questions, Isaac Peltz ### *updated twice: These Federal MPs are spending money on companies that work with ICE URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/exclusive-these-federal-mps-are-spending/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:17.000Z \*Update 1: One MP, Heather McPherson, has replied. The reply is below. \*Update 2: Jim Pattison, due to mass pressure from the media and from the public has decided not to sell his warehouse to ice. Keep this in mind if you read this article, as the situation has radically changed. #### Federal MPs, some of whom are no longer in office, paid $298,173 to Jim Pattison’s corporations for various reasons during fiscal 2024 and 2025, as well as tens of thousands more to both Hootsuite and Garda World– both of which work with ICE. Many of these expenses occurred during 2025 when the ICE operation had already become much more violent and extreme. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has shot and killed 2 individuals in Minnesota, shot and killed another man, Keith Porter, in LA and seen 6 die in custody since the beginning of 2026\. It is interested in purchasing a building from Jim Pattison. Pattison and the Jim Pattison Group (JPG), his business conglomerate, have not responded to questions about ICE purchasing his facility. **Here are the MPs who spent money on JPG, and the totals they spent.** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Aedan has also broken down their expenditures to JPG by individual purchase. The table is fully searchable.** We have reached out to **all** of these MPs for comment. None have replied. If they reply, we will update with their comments below. Hootsuite, a social media management application, has a contract with ICE as well. The CEO has defended this contract and intends to continue working with them regardless of ICE’s actions. Six MPs worked with Hootsuite in 2024-2025\. One of them is no longer in Parliament. We have reached out to all these MPs for comment. None have replied. Finally, Garda World has standing contracts with ICE, with a $138 million dollar contract to expand detention capacity for the American agency. Six MPs have hired out to them. Only three are still in office. We have reached out to all of them for comment. None have replied. ICE has been aggressively deporting people since the Bush administration, [and hundreds have died in their custody](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fdeaths%5Fin%5FICE%5Fdetention?ref=onthetrail.info). In 2025, [32 people died in ICE custody](https://people.com/deaths-ice-custody-last-year-as-fatal-shootings-spur-outrage-11890261?ref=onthetrail.info), and recently the killing of both Renée Good and Alex Pretti have led to international backlash, and a falling out from within the Republican party. [The Rover has reported extensively on the Canadian companies associated with them.](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DT%5FSR3yDq91/?ref=onthetrail.info) Why so many companies that are working with ICE have ties with elected officials is as of yet unclear, although many MPs may not have realized what ICE was doing, or the work that the company was doing. When an MP replies to our questions, we will post it. --- **48 hours** after reaching out, only one MP has replied, Heather McPherson, who replied to a reader’s email. She said, “When the Sergeant at Arms office installed the security system in the constituency office, it was not with GardaWorld. But GardaWorld ended up buying the security provider. We were unaware of this. Heather was shocked to learn that GardaWorld had taken over the contract and has requested the Sergeant at Arms office to cancel the contract with GardaWorld and to change our security systems to another provider as soon as possible.” She also sent a letter to the Prime Minister demanding all contracts with Garda World be cancelled. ### American Fascism URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/american-fascism/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:18.000Z This weekend there was another execution in Minneapolis by the state against a white American citizen. Reactions have been (justifiably) emotional, with no use of the [*Longue Durée*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longue%5Fdur%C3%A9e?ref=onthetrail.info) historical lens— the premise that history is not a series of events, it is a long, slow development that needs full context to understand. It is important, in these uncertain times, to approach our view of politics and society with this historical lens. Despite being horrified because of these past two weeks in Minneapolis, I also think it’s my job as a journalist to be calm, and give a comprehensive historical lens to global events, recontextualizing them for Canada. Today *On the Trail* we ask two simple questions: is the United States fascist? And how does this affect us as Canadians? ## The anatomy of authoritarianism and fascism The USA is defined as a [“competitive authoritarian system”,](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2025/09/19/brian-klaas-is-the-united-states-still-a-democracy-competitive-authoritarian-system/?ref=onthetrail.info) where two parties are in competition to win the government, despite remarkable similarity. **But authoritarian does not mean fascist.** Vietnam and China are authoritarian, but they are not fascist. People have a tendency to overuse the term fascist. Trump’s first term had fascist elements, and Trump demonstrated that he himself might have ascribed to the ideology, but he was restrained by people within his administration, but people incessantly called him fascist. This minimized the term when the 2024 election came around. It left people with a kernel of an idea: “last time wasn’t that bad, and at least I could afford groceries.” People did not take the idea of fascism seriously because the term was thrown around too easily. So, let us define fascism. I called some friends of mine, political scientists, and they helped me break down the definition of this overused term. Fascism is an **authoritarian political movement** that seeks to return its nation to a **prior, glorious state**. It achieves this by **seizing control of civilian life and systematically** [**identifying, expelling, or eliminating certain racial or social groups**](https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/trump-continues-to-target-somalians-and-minnesota-in-speech-to-world-economic-forum-256321093926?ref=onthetrail.info) who are cast as “[enemies within” often referred to as “vermin”. ](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-compares-political-opponents-vermin-root-alarming-historians/story?id=104847748&ref=onthetrail.info)These people groups are usually identified as [undermining the nation’s well-being.](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trump-unbowed-backlash-minneapolis-shooting-235953513.html?ref=onthetrail.info) This ideology is defined by **an** [**obsession with national decline**](https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-to-west-point-grads-america-is-hotter-now-than-we-ve-ever-seen-it/ar-AA1FpEK0?ref=onthetrail.info) **and** [**victimhood**](https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/persecution-against-u-s-christians-on-the-rise/?ref=onthetrail.info), where the movement justifies the [**aestheticization of violence**](https://www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk-post-2nd-amendment-viral-alex-pretti-shooting-11415817?ref=onthetrail.info) **and the** [**suspension of human rights**](https://apnews.com/article/trump-un-human-rights-palestinian-refugees-israel-05e1d57bbb41df38771d1ab69adb21a3?ref=onthetrail.info) as necessary tools to purge “decadent” modern influences and restore a mythologized “organic unity” to the people. The movement often [**takes place around a central figure,**](https://theloop.ecpr.eu/explaining-the-trump-loyalty-cult-phenomenon/?ref=onthetrail.info) **and** [**demonizes the media and characterizes anything that does not support its beliefs as misinformation.**](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-moves-against-media-outlets-mirror-authoritarian-approaches-to-silencing-dissent?ref=onthetrail.info)It also must be done in opposition to another political movement, socialism, regardless of whether the “opposing” force is socialist. Just so you know, I tailored this definition around political scientists’ recommendations, not around MAGA and Trump. It just so happens that the MAGA movement perfectly fits in the definition. The Democrats (other than three or four of them) are not socialists. However, to exist as a construct, [fascism must be in opposition to the “danger of socialism”.](https://www.marxists.org/archive/korsch/1940/fascist-counterrrevolution.htm?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=The%20fascist%20counterrevolution%20rather%20tried,succeeded%20to%20a%20great%20extent.) The existence of fascist projects is a [reactionary counter-revolution to the potential of social revolution](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/fascism-1?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=Despite%20the%20reference%20to%20socialism,defined%20by%20its%20supposed%20race%29.), despite a concerted effort by modern fascists to convince people that Nazis were socialists because of their name. We see this “counter revolution” in Europe in the 20th century, but we also see it in 2016\. In order to prevent a social democrat, Bernie Sanders, from taking office, the rise of Donald Trump occurred, as a dual effort between the Democratic party and the Republican party. Fascism is, at its core, an “anti-socialist” counter revolution. Read Antonio Gramsci’s letters from jail, and you’ll understand the inner workings of this struggle. Socialists lost against fascism in the 20th century, and thus the rise of the Spanish fascist powers, the Nazis, and the PNF. So, with an appropriate definition established, we can properly analyse history. It is also *fundamental* to properly assessing things within a *Longue Durée* historical lens that we do not compare movements– MAGA is not the same as the Nazis. These are *two* *distinct* fascist movements that need to be assessed in their context, otherwise the response will not be the correct one. ## Assessing the American fascist social movement Renée Good was unarmed, and unthreatening. The video of her murder, which I don’t recommend you watch, indicates that she was executed because the ICE officer felt emasculated. It was a perfect example of the type of people who like Trump, and the type who join ICE. 17 days later, about 1 mile (1.6km) from where Good was killed, another white American citizen was executed. Alex Pretti had a gun, and was licensed to carry. Prior to his execution, he was pistol whipped in the face and disarmed. There does not seem to be any indication that he was threatening the officers. While on the ground, pepper sprayed, disarmed, and unable to fight back or move, at least ten shots were fired at him by two different officers. In the video, you can hear people screaming and yelling as the officers fire repeatedly, murdering the completely disarmed man. The world is in an uproar, and I myself feel similarly. However, this happens to black American men constantly. [Here is a link to a wikipedia article listing the ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Funarmed%5FAfrican%5FAmericans%5Fkilled%5Fby%5Flaw%5Fenforcement%5Fofficers%5Fin%5Fthe%5FUnited%5FStates?ref=onthetrail.info)[*known*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Funarmed%5FAfrican%5FAmericans%5Fkilled%5Fby%5Flaw%5Fenforcement%5Fofficers%5Fin%5Fthe%5FUnited%5FStates?ref=onthetrail.info)[ unarmed African-Americans who have been murdered by law enforcement officers.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Funarmed%5FAfrican%5FAmericans%5Fkilled%5Fby%5Flaw%5Fenforcement%5Fofficers%5Fin%5Fthe%5FUnited%5FStates?ref=onthetrail.info) The list is not comprehensive. It can only list the people who have been killed if it was reported on, either by the state or by journalists. People didn’t react to the sheer violence of ICE and the state endorsed murder of US citizens until it was two white people who were killed. During the early aughts when ICE was created, it was widely supported by Americans, with shows such as *24* glorifying the idea. I loved that show growing up, by the way. *24* and *House M.D.* every Tuesday & Wednesday over at my step father’s house! The United States has always functioned like this. [The Nazi policies on exterminating the Jews during the Holocaust were based on Jim Crow laws](https://www.history.com/articles/how-the-nazis-were-inspired-by-jim-crow?ref=onthetrail.info)– a regime of laws that reinforced a new form of pseudo slavery after the American Civil War. Yes, African Americans were “freed from slavery”, but immediately after the reunification of the States, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, these laws failed to fundamentally change the trajectory of the country. Although it was enshrined in their constitution under the [fifteenth amendment](https://www.history.com/articles/how-the-nazis-were-inspired-by-jim-crow?ref=onthetrail.info), black people still had to fight for another 100 years to earn their voting power back in the southern states. The leaders of full emancipation– [Dr. King,](https://www.britannica.com/event/assassination-of-Martin-Luther-King-Jr?ref=onthetrail.info) [Fred Hampton](https://www.history.com/articles/black-panther-fred-hampton-killing?ref=onthetrail.info), [Malcolm X](https://www.history.com/articles/malcolm-x-assassination?ref=onthetrail.info)– were then executed– assassinated– by the state. The United States has long been an authoritarian nation. Previously, its authoritarianism was focused on one subset of the population. Now, it has expanded its view. This is in part because of rising left wing sentiment in the USA due to the failure of centrist policies under Obama and Clinton. MAGA is a continuation of the direction of the USA, but it is not the same thing as what came before. The execution of Alex Pretti was quickly compared to the famous, and harrowing photo, **the Last Jew in Vinnitsa.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/24b54275-c768-41da-9557-33a1b951d934_1320x1580.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/26ef7c9f-50fe-48ef-82a1-a7e4310ce81e_1079x804.png) You’ll notice one big difference between the photos– **the piles of bodies underneath the jewish man**. This does not minimize the horror of Alex Pretti being assassinated, but it highlights the importance of not exaggerating where they are in their society. In the **Last Jew in Vinnitsa**, they were in the middle of the Nazi regime– 1941– and the extermination of 6 million jews was **well underway**. Alex Pretti was executed during the early days of a new fascist regime, *a fascist regime that hasn’t completely taken root.* **The MAGA brand of fascism can still be overcome through mass social mobilization and resistance. World War II had begun 2 years before at the time of the** Last Jew in Vinnitsa, **and there were already at least 2 million jews murdered by that point in the war.** Pretti is a sign of what the future looks like. The **Last Jew in Vinnitsa** was what had already occurred, and would continue to occur. ## Police state One of the clearest indications that this is the early stage of a fascist movement in the United States is the ongoing militarization of the police. In order for a fascist regime to take root, it must have total domination through its police force. On February 22, 1933, Hermann Göring, acting as Prussian Minister of the Interior, issued a decree deputizing 50,000 members of the SA (*Sturmabteilung*), SS (*Schutzstaffel*), and *Stahlhelm* as *Hilfspolizei* (auxiliary police). They were authorized to patrol streets, arrest political opponents, and use lethal force. The *Hilfspolizei* were instrumental in establishing the first “wild concentration camps” (*wilde Lager*). These were ad-hoc detention centers in cellars, warehouses, and abandoned buildings where political opponents were tortured and beaten without any judicial oversight. This extra-legal violence was “boiling water”—terrifyingly visible yet officially denied or minimized by the state. Crucially, their actions were shielded from prosecution. ([Holocaust Museum](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/german-police-in-the-nazi-state?ref=onthetrail.info), [Enemies of the People](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/enemies-of-the-people/national-and-regional-foundations-19331945/B8D6197B4E8B18275B5F0B060C524724?ref=onthetrail.info),[ Improving Police](https://improvingpolice.blog/2025/05/05/if-you-comply-and-do-not-resist-whats-to-become-of-us/?ref=onthetrail.info)) This should sound familiar to you. JD Vance claimed that ICE has [“absolute immunity”](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/politics/ice-immunity-jd-vance-minneapolis?ref=onthetrail.info) from prosecution, the [Minnesota police are unable](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-civil-rights-division-will-not-investigate-minneapolis-ice-shooting-sources-say/?ref=onthetrail.info) to investigate their own jurisdiction, immigrants, brown people, and enemies of the state are being rounded up in [makeshift ICE detention](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ice-detention-new-york-federal-plaza-b2793837.html?ref=onthetrail.info), [including children](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/livestory/ice-arrest-five-year-old-boy-minneapolis-live-updates-9.7056427?ref=onthetrail.info). Despite this being illegal under the US constitution, the judiciary is highly politicized, and has failed to stop the creation of makeshift concentration camps in the USA, and has failed to stop the administration from [sending people to concentration camps in El Salvador.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-is-sending-people-to-the-camps/ar-AA1D3TKu?ref=onthetrail.info) Importantly, ICE is now being used to target political opposition as well as racialized people. A key difference is that in Nazi Germany, the SS starting to persecute political enemies did not trigger mass protests– there are two reasons. First, by the time Hitler began persecuting his enemies, he had already enshrined his ability to do so in German law. Second, German culture differs greatly from that of American culture– the country is incredibly disciplined and respects authority. Culture is always a part of historical shifts in governance. America is a country that people can easily call “ungovernable.” It is far too disparate and varied to enforce a new political system without a major uprising. We already see the reaction in Minnesota to ICE killing two people, and we will see more if they continue their actions as they have been doing. Germany is a country that will fall in line. America is a country where they will rebel, and it may turn violent. Here’s the TL;DR: *the progression of US fascism is less likely to produce a neo-nazi regime than it is to produce a modern civil war.* ## Pre-civil war conditions The first “fascist” (not authoritarian) movement in the United States is that of the Confederacy and the Civil War. The following information was sourced from [Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle%5FCry%5Fof%5FFreedom:%5FThe%5FCivil%5FWar%5FEra?ref=onthetrail.info)(a great book, that I highly recommend.) The Civil War came out of a tense United States that had been boiling over for more than a decade. Tensions between the North and the South had become so unbearable that upon the election of Abraham Lincoln, many states left the Union. The country was divided in two, the south believing that they needed to return to an earlier state of glory, the country intended by the founding fathers– they had to enforce their right to slavery, as was always intended by the constitution. The North wanted to incrementally be rid of slavery. Civil war broke out as the first shots were fired by Confederates at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In an[ amazing piece by Lydia Polgreen for the New York Times](https://archive.ph/DfeFU?ref=onthetrail.info), she describes what seemed like a civil war in Minneapolis. Polgreen has covered civil wars around the globe. She knows what she’s saying. In fact the number of journalists seeing the writing on the wall is remarkable. [David Smith](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/25/minneapolis-shooting-ice-trump-analysis?ref=onthetrail.info), [Joe Wilkins,](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/simulation-found-civil-war-could-be-triggered-by-exactly-what-ice-is-doing-right-now/ar-AA1UJk65?ref=onthetrail.info) [Claire Finkelstein](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/21/ice-minnesota-trump?ref=onthetrail.info)– the list goes on. What does that mean for the USA? It’s extremely difficult to imagine. Warfare is not remotely similar to what it was in the 1860s, and Americans are not the same people they were. Being the citizens of history’s richest and most powerful empire has changed them. Or maybe it hasn’t, we might soon find out. While many ingredients for a significant domestic conflict are present—including jurisdictional battles, military standby, and civilian deaths—the current state remains a **constitutional and civil crisis** and there is not the organizational capacity for a civil war to break out overnight. The next weeks to months will be critical to determine what happens. A civil war is usually between two organized militaries inside of a nation. There is no organized military on the part of the civil population, and the idea that the American military would begin attacking Americans on behalf of Donald Trump seems far-fetched to me. Certain ingredients are there, but a more likely outcome would be a mass protest movement, and potential collapse of the American government. Violence could lead to assassination attempts against political officials ([such as the successful assassination of Melissa Hortman, and attempted assassination of John Hoffman two Minnesotan democrats](https://www.albertleatribune.com/news/after-being-shot-sen-hoffman-opens-up-about-healing-process-a-path-ahead-with-clarity-aa69c971?ref=onthetrail.info)). The likelihood of more attempts against Trump’s life, or against Vance’s life grows by the day as the political temperature in the states continues heating up. What will be the outcome? We don’t know yet, and it’s hard to say definitively what might happen. Eurasia Group called what is happening in the USA a “political revolution” but from the top down instead of the bottom up. They are convinced that Trump’s ambitions will, in the end, fail. I agree with that assessment. However, this does not make the interim any more comfortable. Whether Trump fails or succeeds in his takeover of American institutions, the country will be permanently changed, and it will lead to the next president having vastly expanded executive power, with fewer checks and balances. Regardless of Trump’s individual success, the country has been destabilized in the short term. It will always be four years away from a new tyrant hoping to lord their unbelievable power over their subjects. Americans could resist this movement if they organized, and activated. They have the capacity, but do most Americans have the will? It doesn’t seem likely to me. ## Canada I don’t write anything unless I’m thinking about Canada. As the American political system continues in its trend towards permanent destabilization, Canada has to react. We saw Carney’s speech in Davos last week– an amazing speech that announced the end of American dominance over Canada, and admitted openly that we never believed in the international order, we just played along because we benefitted from it. It has immediately resulted in a polling boost for Carney, as we can see in [Liaison Strategy’s poll this week](https://www.liaison.ca/polls/federal-tracker-liberals-widen-lead-to-8-42-to-34?ref=onthetrail.info), as well as several others last week. Carney is proposing a global move away from reliance on the States, and is positioning Canada as a strong democracy as autocracies rise around the world– the USA might backslide, but *we’re still open for business*. [I made an historical & political analysis of the speech last week, if you haven’t seen it.](https://youtu.be/HCxde-44U4o?si=Wf63Fa58yZeXIi85&ref=onthetrail.info) Canada is unlikely to have a democratic collapse, although authoritarian tendencies are within the current iteration of the Liberal government– one only needs to look at Bill C-5 and Bill C-2 to see authoritarian impulses invading Canadian governance. Then, within the budget implementation bill they hid a clause to allow cabinet ministers to excuse corporations from Canadian Law for 6 years at a time (other than the criminal code.) The opposition Conservatives, Bloc and NDP have successfully been pushing back against some of it– with the Conservatives removing [some of the worst aspects of Bill C-5](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/20/news/opposition-parties-curtail-special-powers-carneys-bill-c-5?ref=onthetrail.info), and the [Bloc found the clause in the implementation bill](https://www.fairvote.ca/08/12/2025/budget-implementation-act-minister-power/?ref=onthetrail.info). Ironically, the Conservatives have expressed an interest in implementing laws with major overreach themselves. During the election Pierre Poilievre[ implied that he would use the ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-notwithstanding-clause-1.7188964?ref=onthetrail.info)[*Notwithstanding Law* ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-notwithstanding-clause-1.7188964?ref=onthetrail.info)to ignore the Supreme Court ruling against mandatory minimums in sentences. Despite them calling out the Carney Liberals for implementing authoritarian measures, they don’t seem to have the self reflective capacity to notice that their leader wants the same things. Luckily, at least for the next few weeks, we have a minority Parliament. Unless there are more defections. Still, even if the Liberals do commit some authoritarian measures to the books, aspects of authoritarianism exist in every democratic country. So far, no one has figured out how to remove that entirely, [although with a proportional system we could significantly improve our country’s governance](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/what-does-the-country-look-like-under?utm%5Fsource=publication-search), and decrease the likelihood of authoritarianism in Canada. Canada is a country built on the premise of an “anti-American” union,[ a continent sized nation founded for the sole purpose of not being annexed by American ](https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no-longer-be-ignored?ref=onthetrail.info)expansionism. There are multiple things that a country like Canada could do to improve our chances of accomplishing this goal. The most important thing we need to do is make it possible for Canadians to live. Our founding myth, “Peace, order, and good government”, is only fulfilled if housing prices and food are affordable. A population under financial stress trends towards extremism. Canada is not about to have a communist revolution, so what can Canada do within its cultural context to establish its democracy, and maintain our sovereignty? On the morning of January 26th, Carney[ announced a minor policy change to help Canadians afford groceries.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/federal-government-unveils-boost-to-gst-credit-as-parliament-resumes/?ref=onthetrail.info) The money will help Canadians. He needs to go much further. There are obvious, simple solutions that could rapidly help with minimal downsides. I have pointed this out many times, but here I go again. Price caps on major grocery items– eggs, bread, flour, milk, etc– these are tools that already exist in many countries. France uses them to great effect, they have [**more than 5000 items with price caps already**](https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/31/business-food/france-inflation-food-price-caps/?ref=onthetrail.info), and the government is not afraid to use these caps to benefit their citizens. These price caps are being implemented by Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government, by the way, not by some leftist populist movement. The only people who would lose out are the CEOs of major grocery chains, who are extraordinarily rich already. Other immediate measures that could be taken– instead of spending years at a time and billions of dollars simply building new homes (which we should also be doing), purchase properties and immediately convert them into affordable socialized housing, with the government as the landlord. It is a permanent fixed revenue where the government functions as a landlord, and the money will eventually be made back while assuring that poorer families can survive. If the government doesn’t want to do it themselves, which they often don’t, work with well established social housing companies, and provide them the capital. Make them an arm of the state to rapidly improve people’s lives. Our governments aren’t opposed to social programs, they just minimize their importance. The most important one, our healthcare, is suffering. In Alberta, it’s near collapse. Time for the feds to step in. Update the Canada Health act, ban private healthcare in the country. Ban private public partnerships in our healthcare. Then invest massive sums of money in our system, and fix the damn thing. It’s not socialist, Lester B. Pearson, a Liberal prime minister, was the one who built the system. The backlash from the medical community was immense. They did it anyway. Finally, this might get me in trouble, get the Canadian armed forces ready to secure the American-Canadian border. Not from asylum seekers, [like Carney seems wont to do](https://globalnews.ca/news/11210422/canada-border-security-bill-carney-us-trump-fentanyl/?ref=onthetrail.info), but from American aggression. Genuinely. I’m not saying we need to line up tanks on our border. I’m saying that we should be preparing for American collapse, even if it doesn’t happen. Carney increased the defense budget. Russia isn’t about to invade us. Trump seems interested in Canada, and the more desperate he gets, the more we should consider this as a possibility. We have the longest unsecured border in the world. **The time might come that we might want to secure it.** This is now an eight page report. It’s way too long. I have more to say, but we’ll stop here. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of historical journalism, it won’t be the last. ### Another Execution in Minnesota + Carney Changes the World + Quebec politics are heating up URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/another-execution-in-minnesota-carney/ Last updated: 2026-01-26T13:03:59.000Z Another Execution in Minnesota + Carney Changes the World + Quebec politics are heating up 0:00 /200 1× Gab forgot to wear her blazer. [If you want to support our work, please support us with a one time donation on Ko-Fi, or support our work on Substack!](https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) On the docket for this week: Another execution has occurred in Minnesota. ICE has ramped up their violence against citizens, particularly in that state. The man who was killed, Alex Pretti, was a 37 year old ICU nurse. This comes two weeks after the murder of Renée Good, a mother and unarmed individual. Carney transformed the world this week. By publicly proclaiming that Canada is gonna be alright. Then he turns around and shoots himself in the foot by telling people in Quebec that the British takeover of Quebec, and this is a direct quote, “totally rad, bro”. Finally, the CAQ has their first contenders, and out the gate Fréchette looks to be the favourite, and a surprisingly good choice. PSPP and the PQ are full sending the idea of a referendum, which is not popular right now in the polls. This might backfire. #### TOP HEADLINES Dozens dead after train collision in Spain The Al Jundi Brothers, two major landlords and luxury developers in Montreal, moved here after building their empire on weapons sales in Qatar. Putin invited to join Donald Trump’s board of peace, along with several other dictators. Europeans reject their invitations, and Canada is disinvited due to our recent more aggressive stance against them. Canada creates a model on how to confront an American invasion in Canada. TAL announces rent increase of 3.6 per cent Murders in Canadian cities dropped CTV tells people that the best way to save money is to simply .. Lower their quality of life Highest spending candidates win 70% of their ridings in Canada Federal officials draft legislation to ban social media for children The SPVM shoots over it’s budget by 60 million dollars All this and more on this week’s show! ### Ethics Commissioner’s office fails to produce nearly half of MP disclosures after 9 months, no end in sight. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/ethics-commissioners-office-fails/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:18.000Z (I did not do a video for this piece, simply because I ran out of time. I’m super sorry! I’ll probably include all of this with my next video, and have some sort of double video.) ### **The Public Registry for ethics disclosures is missing 150 disclosures almost nine months after the April election.** Of the MPs whose disclosures have been posted, there has been little change in the number of MPs who are landlords. Still, with the information of almost half our MPs missing, it’s impossible to say what the final numbers will look like. As explained to me by the ethic’s commissioner’s office, the process of releasing MP conflict of interest disclosures allows for an unlimited gap of time with no oversight, as well as no powers of enforcement if a Member does not fulfill their disclosure obligations. In the spirit of transparency (unlike the Parliament), I have made my[ recent correspondence with the commissioner’s office available here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WMFPnX%5FI37iAByKe8SGKC61zqHKF7aP0vPGrLOIfHj4/edit?usp=sharing&ref=onthetrail.info), the purpose of which is to allow people to see the full context of the quotes *if they want to—* it won’t change the story, and I feel I have quoted them in context. I have removed names and phone numbers from the emails. It also provides a resource to fully comprehend the conflict of interest disclosures without the usual opaque wall of legal language. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In the federal Parliament, ethics disclosures are required to be submitted by the MP within sixty days of their name being printed in the Canada Gazette after being elected. After they submit their initial compliance, the office looks over it and creates a summary of their disclosure. “The initial compliance process includes two separate 60-day periods, but the second period does **not** begin immediately after the first one ends,” a spokesperson for the Office of the Ethics Commissioner said. “**There is an unspecified amount of time between** the first and second 60-day periods.” The MP then looks through their information and their advisor will tell them how to best comply with Canadian law. The advisor prepares a summary, and sends it to the MP. The MP might put their assets in a trust, or they could sell their assets to comply with the conflict of interest laws. The latter is less common. Most MPs who are not in cabinet, or who are not in positions of authority simply disclose their assets, which continue to accrue value while they are paid handsomely for their work, and making invaluable connections in the business and financial world. Despite it taking 9 months, the spokesperson noted “that the time it is taking for all MPs to complete the initial compliance process following a general election is not outside of the norm.” In many provinces across Canada, this is far longer than the norm– specifically Ontario and Alberta, who have the most robust systems to prevent conflicts of interest and disclose public servants’ assets. Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein (pictured on the left above) offered us no comment to our questions on ethics and democracy in Canada. To the questions concerning Canadian democracy & transparency, as well as global democratic backsliding, the spokesperson said that “It is not the role of the Commissioner’s Office to offer comment on such matters.” #### “The current federal Ethics Commissioner is a **lapdog,** who has shown again and again that he doesn’t care about the public’s right to know the financial interests of Cabinet ministers and MPs, and that he is fine with facilitating and hiding federal politicians’ conflicts of interest from the public,” Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch said. Aedan and I have been tracking the people who have been elected across the country, and whether they are landlords or not.[ Every single province is already available on the website, which is being updated and maintained by Aedan constantly.](https://ismympalandlord.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) This database will continue to be updated for every province as elections happen, and as information comes out. **There should never be a years-long delay on the site, and we will actively update it as MPs come and go, or as by-elections are held. Any informational errors will be corrected as soon as they are brought to our attention.** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### **Searchable Database** There is no consequence to missing the two 60 day time limits. We reached out to the commissioner’s office, and asked them if they were imposing penalties on the MPs who missed the date. Here are the names of every single MP whose summaries are not on the public registry. I have made the database searchable so you can look up your MP’s name. Aedan Burnett, my colleague, and data analyst, explained what is going on with this info. ### **Simple Solutions: Aedan’s Expertise** When data is of poor quality and difficult to access, it tends to be ignored and forgotten. The problems with Canada’s ethics and transparency data in its current state are numerous. It is accessible only through ancient looking web pages that are not easy to locate. The presentation is poor. The timelines for releasing the data are lengthy, and somewhat arbitrary. The rollout of the data in the public registry is arcane and not consistently adhered to. There is **no notification** of any kind when information is released– it simply appears. It is buried in the depths of a byzantine web portal, where it is removed without fanfare when an election is called, and no archives are accessible. Equally frustrating is that many of these problems have simple solutions. The government could use RSS feeds, or more simply an email list to notify people when the information is made available. They could create APIs to access this information in bulk, or release it in a spreadsheet friendly format **like they already do for expense data.** For timelines and delays they could indicate fixed release dates, or create a dashboard that visualizes the current status of documents for each member of parliament. They could add visible timestamps to indicate when information was released to reduce the burden for archiving. More broadly they could integrate this information with existing, effective government pages such as [Ourcommons](https://ourcommons.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) to make it more accessible to the average Canadian. Currently it requires significant understanding and technical ability to find, gather, process and archive this information. The fact that a motivated individual is doing this for free on their behalf **is not sustainable or acceptable in a functioning democracy.** ### **No enforcement** “The (conflict of interest) Code does not provide for any penalties… The Commissioner may only recommend appropriate sanctions when he finds in an inquiry report that a Member of the House of Commons has contravened the Code. It is up to the House of Commons to impose any sanctions,” the spokesperson said. In English, what this means is that the commissioner can recommend that the house enforce the code of ethics. The only people who can hold the house of commons accountable therefore, are the people in the house of commons. **Ethics in Canada are a closed loop.** There is no interest in the house of commons to impose fines, or consequences– and the recommendation of the ethics commissioner to do so is fairly rare. Duff Conacher’s company, Democracy Watch, had a date in front of the Supreme Court last week to challenge decision making around the *We-Charity* scandal from the early pandemic. In brief, the scandal had to do with Trudeau family involvement with the charity, and then the Trudeau government tried to hire out to the charity for work for a contract worth $900 million. **The Ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, said that there was an “apparent conflict of interest” but that it did not break the law.** Conacher and Democracy watch were unsatisfied with the outcome of the report, filing a lawsuit in 2021 to challenge the commissioner’s findings. However, in the court of appeals, the judge ruled that there was no mechanism to overrule a commissioner’s findings– this is due to a *partial privative clause*. “This is a very common type of clause that parliament puts into laws that govern administrative tribunals and agencies and boards and commissions that make legal decisions,” Conacher said. More simply put– the government can partially shield itself from having court challenges. Conacher was surprised to find out that the supreme court had never ruled on whether this was illegal under the constitution. They had ruled that the government can’t *completely* shield themselves, but had never ruled on *partial* shieldings from court challenges. Unless the supreme court decides that the government isn’t allowed to use *partial privative clauses,* the only way to overturn decisions like the We-Charity dismissal is to have the house of commons overturn the decision through committee. Committees are composed based on party makeup in the house of commons, and make decisions based on a democratic vote. If a party has a majority in the house of commons, they have a majority on committee. If they have 46% of the seats, they get that many members in committee. Only parties with official party status are obligated to get seats on committees, so the Green party and NDP in the 2025 Federal makeup are not guaranteed a seat on committees. Committees are where large portions of Canadian laws are made. “It’s a kangaroo court, if you’ve heard that term before. By definition, because politicians make decisions based on partisan political bias, not based on the facts of the law. And politicians, as a result, should never be judging other politicians. And that’s why the Ethics Commissioner position was created,” Conacher said. The Ethics commissioner is supposed to enforce the law around conflicts of interests, but can be compromised because of partisan interests making decisions around appointments. The commissioner is chosen by whoever is the prime minister at the time for an appointment of 7 years. Mario Dion, the commissioner who found that Trudeau did not break the law, was appointed on the recommendation of Trudeau. Dion resigned, and commissioner Finckensteinwas appointed by Trudeau as well. Conacher explained that the commissioner is then incentivised to make favourable decisions on behalf of the government whenever their seven year term is coming to an end. “(Dion) ruled on Trudeau. The dangerous thing systemically is if they’re nearing their end of their seven-year term, and they have a case before them that involves the sitting prime minister, they have an incentive to let them off in order to **get an appearance of bias.** They have this psychological state of mind– presuming they want to be reappointed,” Conacher explained. **Different in every province** The ethics system is not functioning as it’s supposed to, but it functions well in certain provinces. Aedan crafted a report card to rank how the systems function in each province, based on our research for the disclosures published on his website. This is unscientific and simply for good fun. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/a4f6558d-3f7b-4f6b-b642-15d33349d4f7_1600x900.png) Aedan gave the feds a B, but personally I would give them a C, or a C-. Their punctuality is lacking. Their strongest asset is how high quality it is. The information there is much higher quality than the info in most provinces. Notably, Alberta and Ontario are quite exceptional at providing readable, timely information. This surprised me in compiling our data, but the data available in those provinces is extremely well put together. The enforcement of the laws is clearly sub par, considering the political situations in those two provinces, and the amount of corruption which is openly touted in both Ontario and Alberta, but *the* *information they provide (*and that is what this article is about) is quite good. The worst of the bunch are out east. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Labrador have terrible disclosures. The Nova Scotian information is handwritten and scanned, often completely unreadable. New Brunswick has similar problems. Meanwhile, NL is even worse– [to the point where I was hired to write an entire article about this for the Independent](https://theindependent.ca/news/only-province-in-the-dark-inside-n-l-s-broken-ethics-system/?ref=onthetrail.info), and the editor and chief, Justin Brake, then did a [follow up exposing the level of dysfunction in the commissioner’s office.](https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/no-excuse-n-l-commissioner-for-legislative-standards-neglected-to-file-annual-reports-since-2022-appointment/?ref=onthetrail.info) To conclude this report– we will see how this court case goes with Democracy Watch and the supreme court. It will be many months before we know, but we will report on it when the decision is finalized. Next week we will return with a report on the MPs who have released their disclosures. We have already finalized all the graphs and numbers, but this piece was simply far too large to do in one report. ### Mark Carney Wakes up the world with epic speech - 45 minute analysis & Transcript URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mark-carney-wakes-up-the-world-with/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:19.000Z Here is a forty five minute video breaking down every detail of the speech and giving historical context for everything, analysing every word, and presented so you can read along. It was amazing to watch Carney give a speech that will likely be remembered for generations and studied throughout history. However, the speech was delivered in a way that has been widely described as "magisterial" and ground shaking, globally impressing nations across earth. But how legitimate is that? What does that mean? Let's rip apart every aspect of the speech. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Here is the full speech transcript: *It’s a pleasure — and a duty — to be with you at this turning point for Canada and for the world.* *Today, I’ll talk about the rupture in the world order, the end of a nice story and the beginning of a brutal reality where geopolitics among the great powers is not subject to any constraints.* *But I also submit to you that other countries, particularly middle powers like Canada, are not powerless. They have the capacity to build a new order that embodies our values, like respect for human rights, sustainable development, solidarity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.* *The power of the less powerful begins with honesty.* It seems that every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great power rivalry. That the rules-based order is fading. That the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must. This aphorism of Thucydides is presented as inevitable — as the natural logic of international relations reasserting itself. And faced with this logic, there is a strong tendency for countries to go along to get along. To accommodate. To avoid trouble. To hope that compliance will buy safety. It won’t. So, what are our options? In 1978, the Czech dissident Václav Havel, later president, wrote an essay called The Power of the Powerless. And in it, he asked a simple question: How did the communist system sustain itself? And his answer began with a greengrocer. Every morning, this shopkeeper places a sign in his window: “Workers of the world, unite!” He doesn’t believe it. No one does. But he places the sign anyway to avoid trouble, to signal compliance, to get along. And because every shopkeeper on every street does the same, the system persists. Not through violence alone, but through the participation of ordinary people in rituals they privately know to be false. Havel called this “living within a lie.” The system’s power comes not from its truth but from everyone’s willingness to perform as if it were true. And its fragility comes from the same source: when even one person stops performing — when the greengrocer removes his sign — the illusion begins to crack. Friends, it is time for companies and countries to take their signs down. For decades, countries like Canada prospered under what we called the rules-based international order. We joined its institutions, we praised its principles, we benefited from its predictability. And because of that we could pursue values-based foreign policies under its protection. We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false. That the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient. That trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew that international law applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim. This fiction was useful. And American hegemony, in particular, helped provide public goods: open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes. So, we placed the sign in the window. We participated in the rituals. And we largely avoided calling out the gaps between rhetoric and reality. This bargain no longer works. Let me be direct: We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition. Over the past two decades, a series of crises in finance, health, energy and geopolitics have laid bare the risks of extreme global integration. But more recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons. Tariffs as leverage. Financial infrastructure as coercion. Supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. You cannot “live within the lie” of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination. The multilateral institutions on which middle powers have relied — the WTO, the UN, the COP — the very architecture of collective problem solving, are under threat. And as a result, many countries are drawing the same conclusions — that they must develop greater strategic autonomy: in energy, food, critical minerals, in finance and supply chains. And this impulse is understandable. A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options. When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself. But let’s be clear-eyed about where this leads. A world of fortresses will be poorer, more fragile and less sustainable. And there’s another truth: if great powers abandon even the pretense of rules and values for the unhindered pursuit of their power and interests, the gains from “transactionalism” will become harder to replicate. Hegemons cannot continually monetize their relationships. Allies will diversify to hedge against uncertainty. They’ll buy insurance, increase options in order to rebuild sovereignty — sovereignty that was once grounded in rules, but will be increasingly anchored in the ability to withstand pressure. This room knows, this is classic risk management — risk management comes at a price. But that cost of strategic autonomy — of sovereignty — can also be shared. Collective investments in resilience are cheaper than everyone building their own fortresses. Shared standards reduce fragmentation. Complementarities are positive sum. And the question for middle powers, like Canada, is not whether to adapt to the new reality — we must. The question is whether we adapt by simply building higher walls or whether we can do something more ambitious. Canada was amongst the first to hear the wake-up call, leading us to fundamentally shift our strategic posture. Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumptions — that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security — that assumption is no longer valid. And our new approach rests on what Alexander Stubb has termed “values-based realism” — or, to put another way, we aim to be principled and pragmatic. Principled in our commitment to fundamental values: sovereignty and territorial integrity, the prohibition of the use of force except when consistent with the UN Charter and respect for human rights. And pragmatic in recognizing that progress is often incremental, that interests diverge, that not every partner will share our values. So we’re engaging broadly, strategically, with open eyes. We actively take on the world as it is, not wait around for a world we wish to be. We are calibrating our relationships so their depth reflects our values. And we’re prioritizing broad engagement to maximize our influence, given the fluidity of the world order, the risks that this poses, and the stakes for what comes next. And we are no longer relying on just the strength of our values, but also on the value of our strength. We are building that strength at home. Since my government took office, we have cut taxes on incomes, on capital gains and business investment. We have removed all federal barriers to interprovincial trade. We are fast-tracking a trillion dollars of investment in energy, AI, critical minerals, new trade corridors and beyond. We are doubling our defence spending by the end of this decade and we’re doing so in ways that build our domestic industries. And we are rapidly diversifying abroad. We’ve agreed a comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU, including joining SAFE, the European defence procurement arrangements. We have signed 12 other trade and security deals on four continents in six months. In the past few days, we have concluded new strategic partnerships with China and Qatar. We’re negotiating free trade pacts with India, ASEAN, Thailand, Philippines and Mercosur. We’re doing something else. To help solve global problems, we are pursuing variable geometry — in other words, different coalitions for different issues based on common values and interests. So on Ukraine, we’re a core member of the coalition of the willing and one of the largest per-capita contributors to its defence and security. On Arctic sovereignty, we stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland’s future. Our commitment to Article 5 is unwavering. So we’re working with our NATO allies — including the Nordic-Baltic Eight — to further secure the alliance’s northern and western flanks, including through Canada’s unprecedented investments in over-the-horizon radar, in submarines, in aircraft and boots on the ground. Canada strongly opposes tariffs over Greenland and calls for focused talks to achieve our shared objectives of security and prosperity in the Arctic. On plurilateral trade, we’re championing efforts to build a bridge between the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union, which would create a new trading block of 1.5 billion people. On critical minerals we’re forming buyer’s clubs anchored in the G7 so the world can diversify away from concentrated supply. And on AI we’re co-operating with like-minded democracies to ensure we won’t ultimately be forced to choose between hegemons and hyperscalers. This is not naive multilateralism. Nor is it relying on their institutions. It’s building coalitions that work, issue by issue, with partners who share enough common ground to act together. In some cases, this will be the vast majority of nations. What it’s doing is creating a dense web of connections across trade, investment, culture on which we can draw for future challenges and opportunities. Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu. But I’d also say that great powers can afford, for now, to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity and the leverage to dictate terms. Middle powers do not. But when we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what’s offered. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating. This is not sovereignty. It’s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination. In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: compete with each other for favour or to combine to create a third path with impact. We shouldn’t allow the rise of hard power to blind us to the fact that the power of legitimacy, integrity and rules will remain strong — if we choose to wield them together. Which brings me back to Havel. What would it mean for middle powers to “live the truth”? First it means naming reality. Stop invoking “rules-based international order” as though it still functions as advertised. Call it what it is: a system of intensifying great power rivalry where the most powerful pursue their interests using economic integration as a weapon of coercion. It means acting consistently, applying the same standards to allies and rivals. When middle powers criticize economic intimidation from one direction but stay silent when it comes from another, we are keeping the sign in the window. It means building what we claim to believe in. Rather than waiting for the old order to be restored, it means creating institutions and agreements that function as described. And it means reducing the leverage that enables coercion. Building a strong domestic economy should always be every government’s immediate priority. And diversification internationally is not just economic prudence — it is the material foundation for honest foreign policy. Because countries earn the right to principled stands by reducing their vulnerability to retaliation. So Canada has what the world wants. We are an energy superpower. We hold vast reserves of critical minerals. We have the most educated population in the world. Our pension funds are amongst the world’s largest and most sophisticated investors. In other words, we have capital, talent, we also have a government with the immense fiscal capacity to act decisively. And we have the values to which many others aspire. Canada is a pluralistic society that works. Our public square is loud, diverse and free. Canadians remain committed to sustainability. We are a stable and reliable partner in a world that is anything but. A partner that builds and values relationships for the long term. And we have something else. We have a recognition of what’s happening and a determination to act accordingly. We understand that this rupture calls for more than adaptation. It calls for honesty about the world as it is. We are taking the sign out of the window. We know the old order is not coming back. We shouldn’t mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy. But we believe that from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger, more just. This is the task of the middle powers. The countries that have the most to lose from a world of fortresses and the most to gain from genuine co-operation. The powerful have their power. But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home and to act together. That is Canada’s path. We choose it openly and confidently. And it is a path wide open to any country willing to take it with us. ### 2026 arrive dans le chaos URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/2026-arrive-dans-le-chaos/ Last updated: 2026-01-20T14:34:45.000Z 2026 arrive dans le chaos 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Abonnez-vous à notre infolettre sur [pivot.quebec](https://pivot.quebec/?ref=onthetrail.info) , à cette chaîne et à notre balado, où que vous soyez! Notre podcast français est de retour pour une nouvelle année explosive, et quelles dernières semaines intenses ! Aujourd’hui, nous analysons la démission surprise de François Legault, les bouleversements géopolitiques majeurs au Moyen-Orient et les risques politiques mondiaux qui se profilent pour 2026 ! Cette année promet d’être encore une année riche en actualités. ### Will the USA invade Canada? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/will-the-usa-invade-canada/ Last updated: 2026-01-19T11:03:09.000Z Will the USA invade Canada? 0:00 /200 1× Can’t pay? No prob, help us spread the word! If you enjoy these long form videos, podcasts, and investigations, feel free to subscribe to on the trail for free, or for $5 a month! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Isaac and Gabrielle have an amazingly sobering conversation this week. Hard to walk away not feeling a bit tense, but still, discussions like this need to start. After giving the top headlines of the week, from Francois Legault stepping down all the way through China and Canada reaching a brand new deal on EV, the two discuss the possibility of the United States invading Canada. This horrifying reality seems more likely by the day as Trump threatens to invade allies in Europe and considering the new "Donroe Doctrine." Will it happen? Probably not. But we live in a world that forces us to reflect on it. ### Better to be in jail than on the streets URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/better-to-be-in-jail-than-on-the/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:19.000Z As always, in my commitment to trying to innovate, this video can either be watched in full, or read with portions of video stitched in. [The full bibliography can be found here.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YxwnAUiIDz6C-pg53rdMWUIqv8-3i-0zt2fjL3Oby0I/edit?usp=sharing&ref=onthetrail.info) [As usual, I want to thank the Rover for partnering with me on this. Their friendship and working relationship is wonderful.](https://therover.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) ## I have made this article with two choices— you can watch the documentary in full, or you can read my narration and watch sections below. It was minus 28 degrees Celsius outside the morning of December 6th. An early frigid cold that none of us could have predicted showed up on our doorsteps, one that none of us saw coming. It had been this cold for a few days straight, and would continue until early January. It got worse during the winter holidays. #### I had a ton of work to do. Instead of doing any of it, I called David Chapman, who runs Resilience Montreal. Resilience is a homeless resource in the city. It feeds 1200 meals a day, has space for beds, a small heating tent, social workers, and gives people clothes and support year round. Running the centre costs $2 million a year. I called David and asked him to do an interview. When I got there, the first thing he showed me was the most recent memorial they held for those who have died in the past 18 months. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ## 32 Dead 32 dead in the past 18 months, he said. Bodies found on the street, not a news announcement to inform us that this happened. I text David every once in a while to find out about those who’ve died, about the conditions on the streets. These people, disproportionately indigenous, are swept under the rug. Their families are unknown, and the country has forgotten about them. In November, Soraya Martinez Ferrada had been elected as the mayor of Montreal with a majority at the Hotel de ville. Her party, Ensemble Montreal, promised to help the homeless. The mayor said “each tent is a reminder that “we have failed as a society.” (CTV) Strong words from someone who used to be part of the federal Liberal government, the party who has built our society from the ground up. Within a month, and the rapid descent of the temperature at an earlier date than usual, the new [mayor opened up 500 warming shelter spots for the homeless](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/montreal-to-open-500-new-spaces-in-warming-shelters-by-christmas-mayor-announces/?ref=onthetrail.info), not places for them to stay, but indoor spaces where they could catch their breath for a minute and sit on a chair or mat. She was quick to admit that it was not enough to solve the problem. The mayor has approached this challenge with incredible ambition. She promised to end homeless encampments within four years— by the time she’s up for reelection. The way she’s phrased it worries me, since many politicians will get rid of homeless encampments, but not solve homelessness. Still, the mayor seems determined to help, and for my part, I hope she succeeds in truly helping those in need. Still, I’m doubtful. Although I had come to make a three minute video about homelessness in Montreal, and the challenges of running a homeless resource, David had other plans. He told me we were gonna visit with some of the people at Resilience, and then we were gonna pack up, and visit the homeless encampments around town. We did exactly that, jumped into his minivan, and hit the trail. Can’t afford a subscription? No problem, that’s why it’s free! Share it! ### On a mission One of the worst parts for those experiencing homelessness in Canada is, as you well know, the temperature during the winter. There is rarely a reprieve to such brutal weather, which can last four to six months. People around the city struggle with cohabitation, living beside their homeless neighbours. Thus they want encampments dismantled. Cities will pose the “end of encampments” as an effort to help the unhoused, but the true motivations are up to debate. As much as we have to find deep empathy for the unhoused, there are good concerns to consider while we’re at it. Sometimes the unhoused can bring with them some problematic habits. What do we do when the unhoused set up a bike chop shop? What do we do when there is violence, or unrest? There are some fair criticisms, but are these really criticisms of the unhoused? Or are they criticisms of our lack of resources, resources that the government fails to provide? So the two of us arrived at our first encampment. It was horrible outside. These individuals are doing their best to survive in these dangerous situations, with no place to go to seek help, and no resources available. David had taken me on a mission. Our goal was to provide these people with different ways to keep warm. So we showed up with our supplies, an open hand, and were here to provide what we could. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Rather be in prison After meeting with Derek, chatting for a while, checking out his setup, and making sure he and his roommates were okay, David explained how the city could set up better systems for the unhoused while simultaneously saving money. But they refuse to do it because it lends credibility to the encampments– it’s an acknowledgement that they aren’t doing enough to help these people. It’s an acknowledgement that these people have a right to stay there, and that they deserve more dignity. If the government provides heating, sanitation, and better supplies, they could be pushed further. If they set up a generator, and provide electric lines and a toilet, they would have to acknowledge that they’re failing in some way, and that these people have a right to live here. They can’t do that, because that would change their approach. You see, although the charter gives these people the right to build encampments and live in these encampments, the reason for that is because they don’t have another option. So, David explained how the city will temporarily provide another option, thus technically fulfilling their charter obligations, and then tear down encampments in response. If there’s another option, even if it’s not a very good alternative, the government has given themselves the right to tear down the eyesore that is an encampment. Instead, people would rather go to prison than stay on the street. At least in prison, you’re fed and warm. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Homelessness across Canada Stats Canada says “Encampments, which are outdoor locations with a group of tents, makeshift shelters or other long-term outdoor settlement, where two or more individuals are staying.” An encampment can be large or small. In 2024 and 2025, former mayor Valerie Plante’s administration dismantled many homeless encampments, against every advice. Finally, an injunction was granted against the province, stopping her from tearing down the encampment on Notre Dame. Although this one story takes place in Montreal, national statistics paint the picture of a country in decline. Indigenous people are overrepresented in the unhoused population, but because of global unrest and violence across the planet, asylum seekers and refugees have now become a major group who are on the street, homeless. Just a couple years ago this wasn’t the case. The number one cause of homelessness is not disability, drug addiction, or anything else of the like, the number one cause of homelessness is housing unaffordability. Thus, those who are arriving in the country, immigrants, temporary workers, refugees, asylum seekers, they often wind up unhoused because of the impossible price of rent. Nonetheless, despite the number of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the system, 85% of the unhoused population are Canadian citizens. It might be high time to declare this a humanitarian emergency in the country, because as it stands, people are dying on the streets in droves, and the speed at which homelessness rates are rising should alarm all of us. The homeless population has risen by 79% from 2022-2024\. At least 458 people experiencing homelessness died in British Columbia in 2023\. This is an increase of 23% in the province. In Edmonton, unhoused people grew by 47%, totalling 4,011 people up from 2,728 people in January. In 2024, nearly 60,000 people across Canada are experiencing homelessness every single night. Over six years, from 2018 to 2024, that number doubled. This is based on a study across 74 cities. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/2978ef1e-8875-428e-b2a8-d1696b142cd9_977x508.png) Graph taken *directly* from stats Canada. This is a screenshot. [In fact, all of the information is available in the bibliography, and all of the stats available in this section were taken from work done by other people!](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YxwnAUiIDz6C-pg53rdMWUIqv8-3i-0zt2fjL3Oby0I/edit?usp=sharing&ref=onthetrail.info) The shelters in the city are unable to absorb this. Although there has been a cash flow into homeless resources, it isn’t enough. There are only half as many beds as there are people on the streets. A disproportionate number of people using these shelters are indigenous. 32.5 per cent of all shelter users are indigenous, despite only being 5 per cent of our national population. Can’t afford to subscribe? Share it! ### A burning ball of paper We went around the second encampment, over in NDG by the hospital. We talked to some people, one guy told us he hadn’t slept in five days– which could have very well been true, though I was doubtful. Nonetheless, he paced back and forth with a cigarette in his mouth, as though he was trying to get his steps in for the day. We approached dozens more tents. One man invited us into his tent. Inside, he had made a pile of toilet paper, cardboard, and whatever else he could find that was flammable. He lit it on fire, and left it on his table. A ball of flames was there, open, chaotic, filling the closed, canvas construct with smoke and ash. He told me he was cold, and desperation painted his face. Dave and I went off to go find some stuff that would help him stay warm. We rode over to Canadian Tire to see if we could grab something easy, safe, and accessible. This would cost some money. Something that I didn’t understand was how Resilience managed to survive. $2 million a year to run a homeless resource is an unbelievable number. It’s not abnormal, however. David explained the impossibility of fundraising. It took tons of coercion, and a lot of lobbying. The resource is on the border of Westmount and Montreal— and Westmount is not inclined to help them. Montreal, on the other hand, is a more reliable partner. Nonetheless, they fell short of funding it outright. So David spends tireless energy raising money, applying for grants, putting out feelers everywhere. His team has his back, and as much as they struggle to make it every year, they manage to make ends meet. And soon enough, they’ll move into a brand new space that has been specially designed for them. You see, homelessness costs cities huge sums of money. The country spends $7.05 billion a year on the problem. Housing these same people would cost the country much less, except it would interrupt the culture and idea of the “deserving poor.” The idea that some poor deserve help, and that’s why our programs are targeted. Universal programs, accessible by all, are far too giving. Some people, people who don’t *need* these programs, they shouldn’t have access to it. If you quit your job, you don’t deserve EI. Only if you were let go through no fault of your own. Dental care, but only if you make less than a certain amount. If health care were made in 2026, it would have conditions attached. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### An oasis in sight When we arrived back at the encampment, the city was there with a garbage truck, and was pulling apart different places in the encampment. I walked up to them and spoke to a man with a beautiful regional Quebec accent. He was depressed. I asked them what they were doing, and he told me that he hates doing this, and that they only come to tear stuff down at the behest of the city. He also told me they targeted the spots that were clearly abandoned, or which were clearly garbage. To their credit, they didn’t take down any tents, and removed a lot of waste. This time. Of course, for the cost of sending these men and trucks every day or two, they could have likely paid for the disposal facilities and sanitation that would make this place much safer, with less risk of people burning their tents down out of desperation to heat it. The final stop we made was for David to show me the building that the resource would be moving to soon. Inside, the construction was almost done. Inside, the multi floor building was exceptionally well thought out to make cohabitation as easy as possible, and everything is done in partnership with the city. Social workers, non emergency staff, meals and sleeping areas, a garbage disposal in the basement, and outdoor smoking area that doesn’t bother the neighbours.. It was the most well thought out resource I’d ever seen in my life. Designed around many indigenous practices of welcoming and homesteading that emphasize Resilience’s commitment to the indigenous community. The facility is likely to change the city. Who knows, with enough press, maybe it could change the country. ### Failed society Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the mayor of Montreal, spoke truly when she said that how the homeless are treated reflects that we have failed as a society. How she will continue responding remains to be seen. But she has taken good first steps with harm reduction. Her ambitions are high, and maybe impossible considering she’s only the mayor of a city without enough resources. In fact, resource allocation is a problem for every part of the country. Social systems are being crushed and defunded. Not only that, but addiction and a lack of safe supply is killing people. The high prevalence of addiction within the homeless population is a challenge that has yet to be overcome. 61% of people interviewed by Stats Can are users. Their supply is tainted, putting every addict at risk of a sudden, horrible death. The introduction of fentanyl, carfentanil, and benzodiazepines into the street supply has killed 53,308 people, from teenagers to adults across Canada. Benzodiazepine contamination is particularly dangerous as it renders naloxone (the standard opioid reversal agent) ineffective, complicating overdose response in shelters and encampments. The government needs to provide a safe supply. There will always be poor people in a capitalist society. There will always be people who get drugs and have addictions. The most important thing is to provide a way out, and there is no way out of addiction if you’re dead. Toronto’s facing the worst of homelessness in Canada. The 2024 Street Needs Assessment estimated 15,400 homeless individuals, double the 2021 figure. The city has attempted to expand shelter capacity by 60% since 2021, creating new beds faster than any other Canadian city, yet the system remains at capacity every night. Vancouver’s 2024 count showed a 9% regional increase to 5,232 individuals. Notably, the crisis is suburbanizing: Delta saw a 115% increase and White Rock a 53% increase. The region is battling the dual crises of unsheltered living (up 30%) and drug toxicity. The response has been uncoordinated with the municipalities refusing to share resources. It has gotten much more decentralized and violent after Vancouver broke up the tent city on Hastings, fueling the movement of the unhoused into the suburban areas. Edmonton has adopted a more aggressive enforcement posture. In 2024, the city dismantled nearly **3,819 encampments**, double the number from the previous year. Halifax was one of the few Canadian cities to officially experiment with “designated encampments” as a harm reduction measure. However, in late 2025, Halifax Council voted unanimously to close all remaining designated encampments within two years. And now, because people are being pushed away from centralized locations, they are going to small cities. Places where people never saw the unhoused have suddenly become hotbeds of it, with the challenges mounting every day. We need more shelters. But a court case in Waterloo defined certain needs of shelters as well. A shelter is not constitutional if: - It separates couples. - It cannot accommodate pets. - It imposes sobriety requirements (barrier to those with addiction). - It restricts personal belongings significantly. This ruling essentially invalidates “enforcement-only” bylaws in jurisdictions with shelter deficits, forcing municipalities to tolerate encampments until they can offer low-barrier housing options. But as David explained, many cities are inclined to create housing, tear down encampments, and then let the program end. Therefore we must address the true root problem. The biggest failing is clearly that housing is so brutally expensive. And until we correct the housing crisis, we will not be able to end homelessness in Canada. Until life is affordable, and people have mental health services, this will never end. Until the day we solve the housing crisis, people like David Chapman, and Resilience Montreal are going to fight for this, and other cities. ### Francois Legault leaves Quebec worse off than when he started URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/francois-legault-leaves-quebec-worse/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:20.000Z ### Watch the video version! “Teachers are the most important people after parents,” Legault said as he quit as Premier of Quebec. Many teachers may be affronted that the architect of the most [significant regression in educational infrastructure](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/francois-legault-resignation-identity-politics-9.7045693?ref=onthetrail.info) since the Quiet Revolution would dare say this. At the end of 2022 and into 2023, Legault attempted to suppress teacher unions, whose members were being drowned by the cost of inflation. [They needed their wages to keep up with the cost of living, and Legault offered them 9 per cent wage increases. They won 17 per cent.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/fae-quebec-teachers-union-end-strike-1.7070847?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The CAQ proceeded to cut $570 million from their education budget two years later, in what seemed like a decision based on a long term grudge. The backlash was so severe that they only decreased the budget by $30 million. This is how the CAQ governed. They would often announce something extreme or severe, and then be overwhelmed by the backlash, and backtrack. Sometimes they didn’t, such as their reforms to Hydro Quebec (which opened the door to privatization.) Their boldest actions were usually under a “baîllon” (a gag order) or the notwithstanding clause. Every time they tried to make dramatic movements without these types of tricks, it backfired on them. Legault’s legacy during the pandemic had many Quebecers calling him the father of Quebec, seeing him as a caring, gentle leader in a time of crisis, and this is true. During the pandemic, despite [horrible death rates, particularly for the elderly](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/sainte-dorothee-inquest-agicide-1.6075770?ref=onthetrail.info), Legault was a strong leader. He was calm, exactly the image of how someone should act during an emergency. To many Quebecers, despite the CAQ winning due to widespread dissatisfaction with the Liberals and PQ, he had proven what he was made of. It’s striking to watch the difference between Legault during the pandemic, and at the end of his mandate. [In one press conference, Legault said to a reporter that Quebecers shouldn’t worry about food being on their table next week– they should only worry about getting the Coronavirus. ](https://youtu.be/uvb7HRclW88?si=bidk2iEe4eUka1Pf&t=205&ref=onthetrail.info)It was the type of leadership that would inspire most people– and it convinced people that their leader was one of the good ones. At one point Legault had the highest approval of any leader in the country. It won them a second mandate with more than ⅔ of the seats, and unchecked power. As the story goes, unchecked power leads to unchecked abuses, and like *every* majorparty in Canada, without exception, the CAQ moved right, and didn’t stop. By the end of their reign, they can be classified as a right wing nationalist government– a political stance[ that should cause everyone who knows anything about the second world war to have a chill down their spine.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political%5Fviews%5Fof%5FAdolf%5FHitler?ref=onthetrail.info) **As it stands, Quebec may be living through** [**the second Grande Noirceur**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiU4BT3w71E&t=540s&ref=onthetrail.info) **because of the politics of Premier Legault.** Instead of leaving with a legacy of moderate conservative leadership and responsible leadership, they are walking away as Quebecois cannot afford food, homelessness is skyrocketing, housing prices are untenable, the province is polarized, minorities are under attack, the deficit is enormous, health care is collapsing, road infrastructure is abysmal, and the list goes on. Quebec is left in a far worse place than it’s been since the 1960s, Quebecers are suffering, dying, unable to pay rent, angry, and polarized. Time will be the judge, but historians may call the second mandate of the CAQ as one of the darkest periods in modern Quebec history. *Of course, it can always get worse.* Nonetheless, here is Francois Legault’s legacy by the numbers. ## Housing Bill 31 was the most significant blow against tenant’s rights since… you guessed it, the quiet revolution. Quebec has the most renters of all provinces by population, [with nearly forty per cent of the province renting their apartments.](https://tenantrights.ca/homeownership-vs-renting-by-province?ref=onthetrail.info) This is due to a historic labouring class, and economic inequality since confederation. Throughout most of Canada’s history, until the past twenty years or so, the “French Canadian Race” was one of the poorest groups in Canada and had an exceptionally large labouring class. This lead to the highest percentage of Unions in the country, as well as a higher population of renters. This also meant that to be elected in Quebec as a Premier, renters had to be prioritized. Prior to bill 31, Quebecois could transfer their leases to new renters, and couldn’t be told no except on “serious” grounds. Now, under bill 31, Landlords can say no to lease transfers for any reason. There are a couple caveats. First, if the reason for saying no is not well justified (such as a credit report, or the new tenant doesn’t have a job, etc) then the lease is annulled between the tenant and landlord, and may vacate the premises and is not obligated to pay rent anymore. However, the Landlord can now raise rent as much as they want, since there is no oversight. Second, it allowed “serious reasons” to be more defendable by the landlord, and this “serious reason” meant that the tenant was still obliged to fulfill the lease. These two small tweaks moved almost all of the power into the landlord’s hands. [Rent has risen sharply in major metropolitan areas since 2020.](https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection%5F2025/schl-cmhc/NH12-327-2024-2-eng.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/09631c5d-8d03-45e0-8f90-6017deafa7de_1446x746.png) Chart from Stats Canada The poor management of the CAQ of the housing crisis has led to the largest increases in asking rent in modern Quebec history, and people are struggling to make ends meet. They put a moratorium on renovictions, but this has not actually stopped it from happening. Landlords can use loopholes to throw people out, despite the moratorium. Since the CAQ was elected in 2018, housing prices across the province have increased by 63 per cent. In Montreal it’s increased by 120 per cent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/242c8a97-e6ee-4385-9b1c-ee83ac37d560_1300x424.png) *[All information was sourced on the CMHC](https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en?ref=onthetrail.info#TableMapChart/24/2/Quebec) and reflect the average paid price for a 4 ½ unit* The TAL, Quebec’s administrators for housing disputes in Quebec, prioritizes landlords and is weighted in favour of landlords. For more information on the crisis, I highly recommend listening to mine and Gabrielle’s housing podcast & articles, available in both French ([articles](https://pivot.quebec/2025/07/02/se-loger-autrement-des-solutions-durables-a-la-crise-du-logement/?ref=onthetrail.info), [podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/0apVjdvlZcorumFOWh1ST6?ref=onthetrail.info)) and English ([articles](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/housing-differently-sustainable-solutions?ref=onthetrail.info), [podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/4juW5pTiCeYInxMrIkkybx?ref=onthetrail.info)). ## Economy and Deficit As I’ve stated in other articles, deficits are not as important as the political class wants people to believe, but it is a sign of how people are governing. Specifically, and somehow not talked about, the CAQ transferred wealth upwards to the wealthiest while defunding our systems. They did this by implementing one of the largest tax cuts in Quebec’s history, while implementing austerity measures for public services. In an article from [Pontiac Journal](https://pontiacjournal.com/legaults-tax-cuts-to-benefit-the-wealthy-say-researchers/?ref=onthetrail.info) quoting IRIS, an economic research group, “people earning up to $100,000 annually will receive a tax break of just over $800 per year, whereas those earning $50,000 will only save $328\. Essentially, this means that no gain will be made by taxpayers with incomes in the lowest tax bracket, which represents 35% of the Quebec population. Guillaume Hébert, an IRIS researcher and co-author of the study, expressed his concern stating that “these tax cuts will benefit the people who do not need them.” [(Pontiac Journal, Tashi Farmilo)](https://pontiacjournal.com/legaults-tax-cuts-to-benefit-the-wealthy-say-researchers/?ref=onthetrail.info) These tax cuts not only benefitted those who are making more, [it also cut $9.2 billion dollars from the Quebec treasury](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/1965098/quebec-slashes-income-taxes-in-new-budget-and-promises-more-public-spending?ref=onthetrail.info) while Quebec is short thousands of teachers and our health care system is barely surviving. Legault promised balanced budgets and lower costs for Quebecers, but the government failed in this regard. Every year the deficit exploded, and instead of raising taxes and making the wealthy pay their fair share, they irresponsibly used the Quebec Generations fund to pay for extra costs. In 2025-2026 the budget reached [$13.6 billion](https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/12/22/five-things-to-know-about-quebec-premier-francois-legaults-tough-year-in-2025/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Quebecers then saw revenue stagnate as inflation set the economy on fire](https://www.rbc.com/en/economics/canadian-analysis/provincial-and-fiscal-outlooks/provincial-budgets-and-economic-statements/quebec-budget-2025-record-deficit-and-a-long-and-conditional-path-to-balance/?ref=onthetrail.info). Quebec, in 2025, had their credit rating downgraded. A worsened credit rate cyclically increases the cost of borrowing for the government. Thus, the deficit and costs to the Quebec treasury are inflated even more. The CAQ ran on a platform of economic stewardship and growth, something that they claimed were ignored by the Liberals and PQ for far too long. Instead of being efficient and enriching Quebecers, the population is in a worsening crisis with no end in sight. The legacy of the CAQ will not be that they walked away with a wealthier Quebec, but they left Quebec’s finances in tatters– failing to fulfill their *raison d’être*. ## Scandals. Endless Scandals. The CAQ had wall to wall scandals during their second mandate. **Northvolt** [Quebec purchased $420 million dollar stakes in Northvolt in order to build the EV battery manufacturing plant in Quebec.](https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/38182-northvolt-gets-billions-from-canada-to-build-quebec-ev-battery-plant?ref=onthetrail.info) They cited Quebec’s clean power grid as a way to cut emissions in half for EV battery manufacturing versus the United States. The project hardly got underway before the scandals and controversies started. While saying it would be the dawn of Canada’s green energy supremacy, [the Quebec government didn’t mandate an independent environmental evaluation by BAPE](https://montrealgazette.com/news/where-did-quebecs-northvolt-gamble-go-wrong?ref=onthetrail.info). This seemed to be the result of minister Fitzgibbon meeting with the Northvolt co-founder. The CAQ denied the allegations. Protests followed because the location for the site was on Quebec’s wetlands. Rudimentary bombs were created and placed underneath construction vehicles, but were found before they were ignited. Things went quickly afterwards. Fitzgibbon stepped down, Northvolt seemed on the brink of collapse, and all of a sudden declared bankruptcy. They had $6 billion in debt, and $5.4 million dollars in cash left. They abandoned the site, abandoned the work, and Quebec lost $270 million in investments total, but recovered the $200 million value land site. **SAAQCliq** Transforming the nation’s automobile society was a necessary step to take, but the CAQ was not up to the task. The digital transformation was budgeted to cost $500 million. It cost $1.1 billion and didn’t work. The platform, buggy, unusable, went more than two times over cost. The **Gallant commission** was created to investigate. [When the platform launched, the government knew it wasn’t ready.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/saaqclic-over-budget-1.7463880?ref=onthetrail.info) The auditor general called it “a total failure”. **The Gallant commission** found corruption and mismanagement across the board, with a report coming out on [January 15th saying Geneviève Guilbeault and her team gave testimony that was unreliable during their interviews.](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/01/15/commission-gallant--les-membres-du-cabinet-de-genevieve-guilbault-ont-recu-un-preavis-de-mauvaise-conduite-la-ministre-serait-egalement-visee?ref=onthetrail.info) **The Third Link** After running a successful campaign on the third link during the 2022 election, the CAQ abandoned the idea outright. It became what is known as a “zombie project” because it simply would not stay in its grave. [By late 2025, the government had spent $46 million ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/third-link-quebec-funding-1.7586874?ref=onthetrail.info)on engineer studies, with geotechnical drilling underway, but no final cost estimate or construction timeline had been confirmed. It alienated voters on both the South Shore (who wanted a car link) and in the city (who opposed urban sprawl), contributing directly to the CAQ’s polling collapse in the region. [Soon after, they lost a byelection in the area.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/byelection-jean-talon-riding-polls-1.6979857?ref=onthetrail.info) ## Desperate identitarian ploys **Target the Muslim women** [I have written & published quite a bit about ](https://presence-info.ca/article/vivre/spiritualite/lappartenance-a-lepreuve-de-la-laicite/?ref=onthetrail.info)[muslim women in Quebec being targeted for no damn reason.](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/repressive-secularism-la-laicite?ref=onthetrail.info) The CAQ reached a new consensus on Laïcité in the province as they banned religious symbols in public sector work, and prayer in the streets. Both these things were clearly targeted against muslim women. Nonetheless, despite the fact that this demonstrates a lack of understanding of what the term ‘secularism’ means, [Quebecers largely approve of these measures.](https://www.noovo.info/chronique/quelle-est-lopinion-des-quebecois-sur-la-laicite.html?ref=onthetrail.info) **Get rid of anglos & immigrants** The CAQ makes René Levesque look soft on anglophones. [The charter on the use of languages in the province has made it harder than ever to access services in English](https://www.quebec.ca/en/government/policies-orientations/french-language/modernization-charter-french-language?ref=onthetrail.info#c214034), with every government website hilariously having a little link at the top that says “if you’re not a historical anglophone, stop reading in english and switch to french plz”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/56903873-c8bc-4c00-90b9-01584f93617d_1600x73.png) [They increased out of -province tuition to English universities](https://www.cicnews.com/2023/10/tuition-hikes-and-other-changes-coming-for-international-students-in-quebec-1040488.html?ref=onthetrail.info), nearly doubling the cost– then backing down and [only increasing it by 33 per cent](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/despite-court-ruling-quebec-plans-to-maintain-33-tuition-hike-for-out-of-province-students/ar-AA1GrVw6?ref=onthetrail.info), despite a judge telling them they couldn’t even do that. [This resulted in an immediate drop in enrolment for both McGill and Concordia](https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/08/29/international-student-enrolment-quebec-report/?ref=onthetrail.info)**.** **Concordia:** Reported a 37% drop in applications from outside Canada and a massive deficit. **McGill:** Reported a 22% decline in applications and initiated a hiring freeze. Ironically, French universities also suffered collateral damage, with international enrollment at the Université de Sherbrooke dropping by 58%. They removed the [Quebec Experience Program without a grandfather clause,](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2025-11-18/fin-au-programme-de-l-experience-quebecoise/pas-de-clause-grand-pere-dit-legault.php?ref=onthetrail.info) leaving immigrants on working visas without jobs and in dire straits. Legault has also done his best effort to demonize immigrants as a diversion from his government’s failings, saying that the housing crisis is [“100% the fault of temporary immigrants”](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/chroniques/2024-06-11/legault-logements-et-immigration-temporaire/100-irresponsable.php?ref=onthetrail.info). He has worked to make Quebecers believe that all of our social services failing are the fault of immigrants, [something which Paul St Pierre Plamondon has picked up and is weaponizing.](https://therover.ca/opinion-the-parti-quebecois-has-become-a-party-of-cyberbullies-under-pspp/?ref=onthetrail.info) ## Corner a dog in a dead-end street and it will turn and bite I don’t mean to be that guy, but Sun-Tzu said “Don’t press a desperate foe too hard.” Legault is a perfect example of a man with nothing to lose escalating because there was nothing left to lose. The last gasps of the CAQ government resulted in the darkest moments of their government. In the fall of 2025, Legault and his team redoubled their efforts to bring back the haunting legacy of Duplessis. The faux Quebec constitution, introduced with no consultation, and no amendment clause, wouldn’t be applicable in the province because it *is subject to the Canadian constitution*. It endangered women’s right to abortion, and it removed fundamental freedoms. It bars anyone from taking the government to court over laws enacted “in the national interest”. [I highly encourage watching my interview with Fred Berard on ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiU4BT3w71E&t=540s&ref=onthetrail.info)it. Women’s rights groups had been contacted by Simon Jolin-Barrette as he was preparing the document, and they asked him not to include anything on abortion. He ignored them. This opens the door to abortion rights being removed by future, anti-abortion governments. Legault “declared war” on the unions of the province. [It went poorly.](https://therover.ca/the-province-at-war-with-unions/?ref=onthetrail.info) I cover unions extensively. Legault has consistently lost to unions across his whole mandate. Still, he’s done a lot of damage. [Legault attempted to reform how doctors are remunerated.](https://therover.ca/bill-2-threatening-care-for-quebec-lgbtq-homeless-and-vulnerable-populations/?ref=onthetrail.info) The backlash was severe, and Legault lost the fight in spectacular ways, with many analysts on Radio Canada and TVA saying he “bent the knee.” ## Bowing out Legault leaves Quebec more divided and in significantly worse shape than when he started ruling. There doesn’t seem to be a leader on the horizon who would prioritize the well being of Quebecers. The next election has been thrown into disarray with the resignation of Pablo Rodriguez and Francois Legault. The results are not guaranteed, since PSPP has a deft ability to shoot himself in the foot because of how emotional he is. This year in Quebec politics is certain to be interesting. We are yet to see whether the young leaders of every party are willing to confront the backsliding that Quebec has faced in the past decade. With the province returning to a Duplessis-like state, who will lead Quebec after this year’s election? Will they be willing to make hard decisions to restore trust in Quebec’s world famous institutions? Or will they demonize immigrants, and defund the state? Only time will tell. ### Renee Good Murdered in Cold Blood, Maduro Kidnapped by Trump Regime URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/renee-good-murdered-in-cold-blood/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:20.000Z Renee Good Murdered in Cold Blood, Maduro Kidnapped by Trump Regime 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/89abc9ac-cda8-42ed-b5d4-29cf3b83652d_1920x1080.png) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) If you like this work, please check out our work on https://onthetrailmtl.ca ! This week’s headlines, all in one place. Analysis on the kidnapping of Maduro, the murder of Renee Good, Iran in the midst of a revolution, or at least protests, Chrystia Freeland, and Heated Rivalry. One note, during the podcast we did not specify the number of deaths in Iran. That number right now, from verified sources is AT LEAST 544. Second note: the Quebec Liberals have officially launched their race! A second person joined. As we start this new era of the show, we will be developing the format to greater serve your needs and bring you news in a timely, analytical manner! This week we mention everything that’s happened in the past week, and then we analyse the above headlines. Your one stop shop to be free of your phone and the algorithm! ### Canada's CEOs are making 248 times more than the average worker, a new record. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canadas-ceos-are-making-248-times/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:20.000Z I have started structuring my reports on two levels. Section 1 is all of the information you need to know, so if you don’t want to read the full five page report, **the info I believe will affect most of you is in section 1**. The other sections are hyper detailed and dense, but I am trying to format this in a way that everyone can digest easily, regardless of life scenario, or reading levels! I would love to hear feedback. I am now making these reports into video and audio as well, so that every report can be absorbed in the way that each individual will best absorb it. --- #### [Full Bibliography](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uj56u0egwMb8r7eUAVdNQDW8JmeWz-fIcTj4vrriPDY/edit?usp=sharing&ref=onthetrail.info) — I fact check everything, but I’m still completely alone. Errors occur. If you see a discrepancy that doesn’t match with the data, please feel free to email me! Canada’s 100 highest paid CEOs are making 248 times more than the average worker. This is up from 2022’s record of 246. [In a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives](https://policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MEDIA-RELEASE-living-the-high-life.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info), David Macdonald explains that 2025 marks another year of smashing CEO salary records. CEO pay is up by 49 per cent versus workers, whose pay has increased by 15 per cent since 2020. In that same period, beef has gone up 39 per cent, chicken 27 per cent, bacon 29 per cent, cheese 21 per cent, eggs 36 per cent, and pasta 47 per cent. Narrowing the focus the past year, the results are still rather stark. **Just a note— I don’t eat meat.** This has nothing to do with this report. Just thought you should know. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) With the price of food going up 4.7 per cent in 2025, the pace of inflation on grocery prices increased much more than the pace of wages. Worker wages increased by an average of 3.6 per cent this year, versus an average increase of 4.7 per cent on groceries overall. This data does not factor in the increase of rent prices across Canada. Although average *asking* rents have been slightly decreasing in Ontario and BC, the average *paid* rent has increased by 5.25 per cent. This is because rent controlled buildings are quickly catching up to the mean. If we do some basic number crunching, the final results are that workers have had a **wage decrease.** Workers have less money than they did one year ago— even if they got a raise. --- ##### (Here’s the math) ###### The combined inflation rate is **4.975%** ((4.7%+5.25%)/2). ###### Real Wage Growth=((1+Nominal Wage Growth)/(1+Combined Inflation))−1 ###### ((1+0.036)/(1+0.04975))−1 ###### 1.036/1.04975−1=−0.0131\*100 = -1.31 --- **This results in a minimum real wage decrease of 1.31 per cent for renters.** Average housing prices fell in Ontario and British Columbia as well, but in the other 8 provinces, housing prices are still rising. The result is that most Canadians have seen their wages go down, including the top 1 per cent (see section 2.1). One note, this doesn’t account for utility bills increasing. Although utility prices have risen across Canada, it’s different in each province. That means that 1.31 per cent is a baseline, and most people have experienced a greater decrease in spending power than this number. Other factors are incalculable as well— medical bills, appliances breaking, emergency trips to see a family member, etc… Those costs are all more expensive as well. Thus, the wage decrease of the average Canadian is **at least** 1.31 per cent, and could be inflated vastly beyond that, depending on your circumstances. Other factors may also play a hand here. For example, I may have felt the impacts of inflation differently than you because I don’t eat meat; but housing prices are rising in Montreal faster than much of the country, which means various different calculations. Meanwhile, someone who regularly eats beef— Albertan/Quebec families, or rural families across the country— will have felt the impact of inflation in *specific* ways more than me. But, for those who have a family house which they bought in the 2010s or when housing was cheaper may not feel the impacts of inflation as acutely as renters, or people who’ve bought their houses in the past 5-10 years. Inflation since the Covid pandemic has gone up 20.12 per cent. Few people have seen their wages rise by that much. --- The ultra rich, however, don’t feel any impact from inflation. For the top 100 paid CEOs, they’re making an average wage of $7,812 an hour, or $130 a minute. Most of that is in bonuses. Removing bonuses, their minimum wage would be $7.2 million. That is to say, in order to be on the list of top 100 CEOs, you need to make $7.2 million in salary alone. Bonuses are generally based on profits made by their companies. Corporate profits have exceeded $600 billion in 2025. In 2020, profit margins decreased and companies were, in some cases, losing money. Although one would think that this would, therefore, mean that CEOs would not have gotten their bonuses during the pandemic, this is not true. Many of these CEOs simply excluded quarters where they lost money from their reports, and thus received bonuses anyways, or they received government bailouts, thus negating the losses their company suffered that they should have been responsible for. David MacDonald, in his report, points out that some companies both did not report on the quarters where they lost money, *and* received bailouts, thus inflating their numbers even more. Don’t have the finances to support? No worries! That’s why it’s free! Help out by sharing this post with people. ### 2\. Wealth distribution #### 2.1 The Rich get slightly poorer (by sacrificing their money to the ultra rich) The top earners (the top 0.1 per cent) have gotten richer, and the high earners (top 1 per cent) have become slightly poorer. Practically, this doesn’t mean much, but high income earners have become mildly less wealthy according to *Stats Canada*. The cut off to be included in the top 1 per cent of society is now $293,800\. In order to be in the top 0.1 per cent have to **earn** $930,100 per year. This does not mean your net worth is above $930 thousand, your income must exceed that. The top 0.1 per cent, *on average,* earn above $3,487,600 a year. **Therefore the *minimum wage* of the CEOs listed in David Macdonald’s report puts them two times above the base line for 0.1 per cent earners.** Sadly, for the high earners, they’re poorer than they used to be. The average wage of the top 1 per cent has gone down slightly to $606,000 in 2023, a decrease of 0.6 per cent (around 4000 less than before). The top 0.1 per cent have seen an increase in their average income by around $16,000 a year, four times more than the decrease seen for high earners. In fact, every **tax bracket** has seen their wage decrease adjusted for inflation since the pandemic. The average total wage had decreased 0.3 per cent in 2023\. Wages are in a recession, even if the country technically isn’t (yet). This is a phenomenon that shows just how bad wealth concentration has become. When even the most wealthy in the country are having their wealth being transferred upward, this society is on a fairly visible decline. It is not dissimilar to what occurred before the great depression. The class difference between earners who make $30,000 and $600,000 a year versus $600,000 and $7,743,100 is notable. $600,000 would, under current conditions, be closer in class to a labourer than they would to the truly wealthy. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) #### 2.2 Wealth Divisions It would be plausible for someone making minimum wage to believe that they may one day make $500,000 a year, if they’re, say, studying to become a doctor or a lawyer. Meanwhile, the gap between the high earners and the top earners is so severe that it’s nearly impossible to imagine a scenario where someone could ever achieve luxurious wealth to such a degree, even if someone is among the high earner class. The multiplication of wages is exponential, and unachievable for most. This is because the top earners make most of their wealth from investments, dividends, and “other income.” Between the months of 2016-2023, **income from salaries** for the top earners fell from 67.3 per cent to 50.8 per cent. Even though many of them likely have *higher salaries* than they did in 2016, their wealth is multiplying so quickly through their investments that they make more from passive income than active income. People in the high earner category (top 1 per cent) make most of their income from salaries (doctors, lawyers, CEOs of medium or small companies). **Note: If you’re on email, press on the chart to open it in your browser for a better experience.** 20 per cent of people own 69.2 per cent of Canada’s net wealth. This does not reflect practical reality, since much of that wealth is in housing, therefore it is not liquid. It isn’t really fair to conclude that the “top 20%” are even wealthy. *On paper,* many people are wealthy because they own a house. *In reality*, many of these people don’t have real wealth, since all house prices are inflated, and therefore perceived value of an individual family is massively inflated. Meanwhile, more than 50 per cent of Canada’s net wealth is in the hands of the top 10 per cent, which would more likely be people with multiple homes and some level of liquidity. There are, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, approximately 169,400 families in the top 1 percent, holding **24 per cent of Canada’s net wealth.** The top 10 per cent hold 54 per cent of the wealth of the country. The bottom **40 per cent** own around 3.3 per cent of net wealth. To be in the middle 40 per cent, a family must have a net value of at least $300,000\. Net value is total value of salary+property. Because of inflated housing prices, millions of people are in the “top 20%” or the “middle 40%”, but do not have disposable income despite *on paper* having a modicum of wealth. ### 3\. Taxes (it’s time for the real fun!) #### 3.1 No Simple Solution Despite the fact that one quarter of all Canadian wealth is in the hands of 160,000 families, the effective tax rates for these people remain identical to those who are making a basic doctor’s salary. The tax rate, on paper, is high for those who are earning millions of dollars. The problem is that the “on paper” understanding of tax rates is more or less useless when considering the problem. During the 2025 election, the NDP proposed a wealth tax, which is one of the most important solutions that the government needs to take in order to increase government revenue, and pay for major program expansion/repairs. Government deficit isn’t really a concern, although the business and political class wants to convince you that it is. Most debt is owed to ourselves, and Canadian total wealth vastly outstrips the total debt of the country. The proposed NDP wealth tax, based on the platform, would have generated $94.5 billion. **It did not go far enough.** During the election, they projected that their costed platform would add $48 billion to the deficit. The wealth tax could have gone further, but every party is fearful that the wealthy will leave the country in response. They won’t. The wealthy often have massive investments in the country, to a degree where it would cost much more to leave than it would to simply pay the tax. They have liquid cash flow personally, but the real money isn’t possessed by any individual, it’s almost entirely in corporations or stocks. Moving offices, businesses, doing paperwork, hiring new employees, etc… it means that the wealthy are *individually* highly liquid (they can travel and live wherever) but they can’t actually simply pick up their wealth and leave. And if they did, the government can easily nationalize their business. But I digress. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) #### 3.2 A story of taxation policy (I swear it’s more interesting than you think) Prior to leaving office, Justin Trudeau was introducing some fairly progressive tax measures that would have helped a lot in paying for programs– the 3% digital sales tax, to make big tech pay a bit more, as well as an increase to the capital gains tax. These measures would have brought in huge sums of money to pay for the (pretty good, although majorly flawed) dental care plan. Not only that, but the carbon tax was a way to force big resource companies to pay for their fair share. Of course, the first week of Carney governing the country, these were cancelled, stopping huge swathes of cash that were supposed to start funding the state. I have built a little timeline of Trudeau’s downfall in my head. After Covid, Canada was ‘broke’. Justin Trudeau wanted to continue increasing the Canadian neoliberal welfare state, and thus needed to look for more revenue. In 2022 he began pushing for a higher tax rate on the wealthiest Canadians. As Justin Trudeau was influenced by his partnership with the NDP, and drifted somewhat to the left around taxation, the media machine started eating him alive. Poilievre ascended to power in the CPC, with the backing of the entire business establishment (the business establishment owns most mainstream media, by the way.) Jagmeet Singh, the NDP, and the entire left wing of the Canadian government were suddenly turned into the enemy of the working man. Not that Justin Trudeau was ever the ally of the working class. In walked Carney, a conservative, who ascended to be the leader of the nation with a flurry of excited, happy press. “The new leader was here to fight for Canada.” “Elbows up!” His elbows were up. On behalf of the corporate class. The corporate world, always having Canada’s best interest in mind (this is a joke), was behind Carney 100 per cent. The timeline of leftist tax policies leading to the ousting of both Trudeau and Singh, as well as the destruction of 2015 era progressive identitarian politics is not hard to see. The solution was slowly starting to show its face, far too late— revenue was likely to increase through some new, progressive taxes… but the top earners were not happy. Lobbying was down, businesses wanted more power, and they saw two good options in Carney and Poilievre. Carney gladly campaigned on helping the average Canadian and fighting for Canadian sovereignty, while not cutting jobs or creating an austerity government. Within a few weeks he threw away every promise he made, and started slashing government jobs, and ending the (relative) progressive movement in the Liberal party. It was a glorious bait and switch— the banker, shockingly, cared for money first and foremost. Daddy banker wanted to do more of what Canada has already done for the past forty years. Increase wealth concentration for corporate interest. #### 3.3 The Carney tax era Under Trudeau’s tax hikes, based on my calculations, for someone who makes $5 million a year, the taxable portion (before deductions) would have risen from $2.5 million to roughly $3.16 million. Carney was fast, and immediately cancelled these new tax policies. He did it while simultaneously changing the extremely unpopular consumer carbon tax rate to $0\. By combining these two moves into one, Trudeau’s raised taxes were gone. Carney didn’t look like he was favouring the ultra wealthy, because no “tax cut” occurred. The consumer carbon tax had become too politically toxic, and the capital gains taxes were never raised. No tax cuts occurred because the new taxes were simply never created. The most obvious tax cut that Carney made, but one that people won’t think much of, is Carney removing the taxation of luxury aircraft and vessels. This one is more of a bald faced pro-rich law. Their excuse for removing this tax was that the tax was “inefficient, costly to administer, and challenging for Canadian industries at a time of ongoing global economic uncertainty.” They’re trying to pitch this as a way to help Canadian industries, which is quite a reach. “The tax has been in effect since 2022, and applied to the sales, leases, importations and certain improvements to aircraft worth more than $100,000 and vessels worth more than $250,000, according to the federal government.” (CTV) There are only a couple groups who would be importing and selling this type of aircraft and vessels– the top earners and transportation giants. Air Canada is probably importing million dollar aircraft, as well as the rich— who have private jets and yachts. Carney, who spent the first leg of his campaigns claiming that he was not a politician, shows how skilled a politician he is once again. Tell everyone that his actions are about the cost of administration; are about efficiency– but in truth it’s about lowering taxes for an extremely specific group. Carney is the latest, and perhaps the greatest, at doing the old Liberal adage: “campaign to the left and govern to the right.” ### 4\. Reconstructing tax systems #### 4.1 Taxing Differently Even had Trudeau stayed and these new taxes gone through, these new taxation policies misunderstood the problem— although if they would have generated significant revenue. If Canada doesn’t start taxing the top 1 percent of wealth significantly, **not just more,** but **differently**, we will never be able to maintain the relatively stable country that’s been around for the past one hundred and fifty years. When looking at history and crunching the numbers, there are simple solutions that present themselves. The biggest problem with current tax rates, which Carney and Poilievre are inclined to cut, is that it’s easy to avoid taxes. Corporations have significantly lower taxes than individuals, so without even needing to find tax havens, the top earners can simply keep most of their income stored away in corporations, in stocks, in bonds, etc. The greatest tax haven is a corporation! In both Ontario and Quebec, small business income is taxed at 12.2 per cent. Meanwhile, personal tax rates can climb up to 53 per cent. 98 per cent of all businesses in Canada are considered small businesses. Small businesses are those with up to 99 employees. Medium sized businesses can have up to 500\. All with extravagantly low tax rates. Most wealthy business owners will keep any extra money in their business, and reinvest it to multiply their money faster. Since the tax rate is so low on businesses, it means that the government services in desperate need of financing are unfunded. Meanwhile, as millionaires and billionaires are making hand over fist in passive income, a single mother of three has to pay taxes on her $70,000 income. #### 4.2 Regressive taxation This didn’t used to be the case. Prior to the 1980s, Canada had a much more robust taxation system. The regressive policies of the 1984-1993 conservative government were in line with Regan/Thatcher era politics. Prior to Mulroney’s government, GST didn’t exist. We had what was known as the **Manufacturers Sales Tax**, a hidden tax that consumers never saw. It was simply the cost of doing business in Canada, and kept wealth disparity fairly low, funding many of our services. Then, in 1990, Mulroney introduced the GST. The GST was the tax system that corporations wanted, and Mulroney was a corporation’s best friend. The MST was paid by businesses. The GST, the little 15 per cent on your bill at a restaurant, or in a store, places the whole burden on the consumer. The Liberals and NDP fought it tooth and nail, and it likely lost the Conservatives their popularity– even more than Mulroney’s bribery scandal (a story for another day.) When Jean Chrétien took power in 1993, he immediately removed the GST and put and end to Mulroney’s regressive policies just like the Liberals had said they would do since 1984. No, I’m kidding. The GST is still around, and it’s the federal whipping boy. Any time a leader needs to pretend they care about individuals, they say they’re going to lower the GST. Because every leader knows that the GST is a regressive tax that hurts individuals, and it’s an easy way to look like a populist. Carney is another cheerleader for regressive tax policies, and this does not seem poised to change. Our structures for taxing individuals in this country are a result of 250 years of American global dominance. Rugged individualism is the dominant force in our society, and Canada is becoming ever more splintered through the attractive rhetoric of the self made man. The right wing wants more individualism, but Canada was not founded on the principle of the individual like the United States. Our systems were built to be boring, stable, and to work for the people. Whether they have or haven’t is a historical discussion, and not within the scope of this report. Our founding myth is that of “Peace, Order, and good governance.” This belief, which has driven much of Canadian history, will be hard to maintain unless there is change. When the burden of sustaining the state, of sustaining social systems is placed on individuals while the rich can ignore society’s ills, society will tend towards a worsening state. Societal structures need to be completely redone, so as to place the burden on corporations and top earners, who will persist as the richest regardless of how much they are taxed. We will be back on this subject in a few weeks, looking at the math behind the domination of corporations in Canada’s tax system and politics. --- ### [BIBLIOGRAPHY](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uj56u0egwMb8r7eUAVdNQDW8JmeWz-fIcTj4vrriPDY/edit?usp=sharing&ref=onthetrail.info) ### Is Nate Erskine Smith the next leader of the Ontario Liberals? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/is-nate-erskine-smith-the-next-leader/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:21.000Z Is Nate Erskine Smith the next leader of the Ontario Liberals? 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/a72b84bb-d46c-4fcc-a08b-6f588a36b841_1920x1080.png) Support us with $5 a month! https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz Nate Erskine Smith and i hopped on the phone to have a talk about his future, about the new Centrist-direction of Carney and the Liberals, and all the problems that we’re facing in our society. Nate is a long term Liberal member, and has pushed for progressive reforms for a long time. He’s one of the most beloved members of the Liberal caucus by more progressive voters, and is one of the few that speaks out against his party. That being said, he still votes more than 95 per cent of the time with the Liberals. Why? Well, we dive into that, and the complicated mindset the Liberals have to have, and the challenge that a progressive member of this big tent must keep in order to survive. ### Here's what to expect from On the Trail (Isaac Peltz) in 2026 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/heres-what-to-expect-from-on-the/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:21.000Z 2025 is over. It was the most eventful year in Canadian politics of my life. 2026 looks to be similar, with our first major event being a latin american coup instigated by Donald Trump. They have been saying quite openly that they will allow the new president, Delcy Eloina Rodríguez Gómez, to continue running the country if she does everything the Trump administration wants. Canada is walking a delicate balance into the future, with Carney and Anita Anand releasing statements that are simultaneously congratulating Trump and condemning Trump for his actions. Canada, at first glance, seems safe. But if Carney remilitarizing the nation is any indication, the Liberal government does not think that we are safe from United States imperialism. Elbows up was code for re-arming our country. That in mind, this year is going to be chaotic in Canada (politically.) Floor crossers, Poilievre, Carney, Quebec elections, BC and Alberta being chaotic, Montreal municipal politics are going to be spicy… If you want to support me, now is the time. This year will be huge in Canadian politics, and I will be right there, scrutinizing government overreach and creating articles to help you understand our government and what we need to be fighting against. Folks, fund me for the rest of the year– help me stay in the fight! I live almost entirely off of your subscriptions. Without your help, none of this happens. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In my view, this is also the year where AI will become indistinguishable from reality. This has me highly concerned, but it means we, as a society, need to redouble our efforts in finding truth and become more reliant on people we see, and whom we trust. I hope you’ll support me so I can be exactly that. In my ethics disclosure I outline the exact way that I use AI, if you want to read it. I will be adhering pretty strictly to my ethics disclosure, so I encourage everyone to read it if you want to understand my approach to journalism, view on the world, and approach to things such as corrections and AI. In the spirit of AI becoming the dominant force of our lives in the next year, I want to be up front with you all in hopes that we can continue building trust. It’s important to build this trust, and it’s important for everyone to find people they trust, because it’s gonna be rocky for a while. I’ve gotten to the point where I feel suspect of everything online. I am detaching myself from the internet and my phone. In the spirit of domination by AI, and a very intense political year, I want to outline what my approach will be this year, so you know exactly what to expect. **What will your $5/month produce? I have it boiled down to a very predictable math, and I expect to do exactly what I am presenting to you right now. You can expect exactly what I’m presenting here.** --- **Socials** As always, I’m going to be making social media posts. My social media strategy is divided into *stories* and *posts*. Something I started doing sometime last year was posting the top headlines in my stories every morning with a little update around midday if anything else happened. It’s only headlines, and I usually throw in a little commentary into it. The commentary is mostly to make you laugh, and is rarely serious. I also try to add a bit of context, or give a bit more background. It doesn’t replace reading the news and scrutinizing it yourself, but when we’re all so busy and so stressed, these stories can be a useful resource. Now, on instagram, you can share *my* stories in *your* stories! So, please take advantage of this resource and help inform others! I hope it will serve you well. With posts, I think by the end of last year I had developed my format. I feel bad for you all, you’ve had to deal with me learning on the fly all year! I’ve grown and learned a lot this year, and will continue to do so. I’ve been really enjoying taking my best written posts and condensing them into ten slides. I’ve also been making more videos in my studio, when I have the ability! It’s much better, and allows me to produce higher quality stuff, and show sources on the screen. I hope you’ve been liking this format, because it’s much better in my opinion, and more informative. Expect, with some give or take, 2 videos and 1 carousel/written post a week, or the inverse, 2 written and 1 carousel. Depends on the week. Also, this is not set in stone. If I wind up publishing as a freelancer you can expect extra stuff– sometimes I publish four articles in one week with various media across Canada, and I wouldn’t expect that to change. I love working with established media. Finally, if you haven’t already, subscribe to my slowly growing youtube. I will be doing longer form stuff on there when it’s possible. My social media strategy is fairly well developed at this point, and I’m feeling quite confident in it. --- **Substack** Substack is often my best work. Social media might be what I’m known for, but one time Christopher Curtis, king of the Rover, said to me “Yeah, you’re alright at videos, but you’re at your best in written form.” I’m inclined to agree. With substack, I’m adapting my approach a bit this year. Every time I release big, long reports they do really well and have much more value in the long term. Thus, I have developed an efficient strategy that I believe will appeal to most people. I will be releasing the Gab & Isaac show every Monday, which I have retooled to be a bit more organized and resourceful. It will cover the news from last week, the biggest of the biggest news, with commentary, opinion and analysis from Gabrielle and I. Every other week, along with the G&I show, expect the French version of the show along with the ever brilliant philosopher, Ludvic. Le Plancher des vaches is in partnership with Pivot. I’ll let you know if there’s interruptions to the podcasts ever, sometimes Gab is travelling or I’m busy, or both of us are busy. But we’ve been fairly consistent. I’ll also be continuing to do interviews with people in power across Canada, although don’t expect a built in weekly schedule for that. I am also producing longer form video investigations, but similarly, don’t expect a set schedule on that one! It’s gonna be as I find time. Video documentaries take way longer than writing, despite being (in my opinion) less detailed. Thus, I’ll focus my efforts on big weekly writing projects. After these two podcasts, and the interviews, you can expect a weekly Saturday update with the various databases I’m working on. Right now, I am working in partnership with J-Source on the piece about Post Media (it’s been pretty much done for a month and a half, but I wanted to work with J-Source on it,) I have the newest version of the database of MPs as landlords ready to go in partnership with Aedan. Lots more of this coming this year, but it’ll be more quality over quantity from here on out. I also work with other media, often! But these have no rhyme or reason, and are impossible to predict when or how this will happen. Thus, expect articles when they happen. They’ll appear at random, whenever someone wants to work with me. **Just a reminder, that you can go into substack settings and choose which things you get emails for. If you only want the news articles sent to your email, you can turn off podcast emails.** If I were you, I’d put the rss feed of the podcast into your podcast application, and only receive emails of the articles. But hey, that’s just me! If you like getting notified by email when the podcast is out, be my guest. Nonetheless, make sure your email preferences are set as you like! --- **Publication schedule simplified:** **Monday:** Gab & Isaac Show (English news analysis & opinion) **Tuesday (every other week):** Le Plancher des vaches (nouvelles françaises analyse & opinions) **Saturday:** Weekly major publication **Random:** interviews and videos, or publications with other media --- Later this year, I will be announcing a major project as well. I will be announcing it in April. It will be in collaboration with one of the coolest media in Canada, and we are planning the exact itinerary and details of the project, but it’s already got the green light. I will announce it when it is ready, but expect something exciting in mid-late April. For now it shall remain a secret and not be spoken of again until then. If you want to support this work, and push for better information, come along for the journey, five dollars a month is as affordable as it gets! I’m excited for 2026\. It’s going to be momentous. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### My favourite albums from 2025 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/my-favourite-albums-from-2025/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:22.000Z **I’m sure by now you’re tired of your family and having the mid-winter vacation doldrums. Here’s some music to try on! You might hate it. You might love it. Give it a try** Two things I love the most- Music and books. I gave you my books of the year, not all of them came out this year but heck, who cares!? Here’s my favourite music of this year! I discovered **1021** new songs this year, new and old artists, and my insatiable appetite for music will never be quenched. It’s my passion. I didn’t write much music this year (a bit) but I sure did listen. It was great. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/d4447bc1-533c-4ad2-ac10-b1fd4f84fbdc_2212x670.png) the 2020s are my jam. These ones actually did come out this year. I’ve put a little mix of everything in here, since my music tastes are quite diverse. I’ve linked all of them, and it should give a link to most streaming services. In no particular order of favourites: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/cc843fe5-2223-40f0-af61-3b13361491c4_640x640-jpeg.jpg) [**N3B**](https://tidal.com/artist/22990472/u?ref=onthetrail.info)**,** [**Brotoype**](https://tidal.com/album/432592500/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Metal, Electronic)** It’s electronica. No wait, It’s metal. Considering what a disappointment the new singles by Bad Omens have been this year, it’s been refreshing to hear someone else release stupid loud electronic/metal stuff that makes me, a toxic masculine (this is a joke) loser, happy. He keeps posting screenshots of his upcoming album tracklist though, and I’m very excited. The white boy headbanger in me is turnt. If you like metal, or electronic music this is the best. **Best Track: Make Light** (though honestly I love every track on the EP.) [**JID, God Does Like Ugly**](https://tidal.com/track/452463076/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Rap)** If you’re a fan of hip hop, JID is probably someone already on your radar. An amazing rapper, with stories and flow that will blow your mind. This album is nowhere near as good as his masterpiece, [*The Forever Story*](https://tidal.com/album/244862978/u?ref=onthetrail.info)[ ](https://tidal.com/album/244862978/u?ref=onthetrail.info)from 2022, but it’s a really good album. This has been a standout year for hip hop, but this one is the best of the bunch, except maybe for Clipse’s new album (also on this list.) I was a bit disappointed with Billy Woods’ output this year, and I’m not as much of a fan of Tyler’s most recent album, and last year’s Kendrick album was a huge disappointment after the drama and fun of his public beef with Drake, but if you like Hip Hop, this one is special! I saw his show this year, which was shockingly cheap, and it was fantastic. **Best Track: GZ** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/7adc3602-bd3c-44bd-b17d-2be53ca8dc6b_1013x1006.webp) [**Emma Harner, Taking My Side**](https://tidal.com/album/441992179/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Guitar girl)** Emma Harner is a total phenomenon online. She’s gonna become the indie Radiohead. She’s a genius. You’ve probably seen some of her viral reels. Her debut EP is stunning, and what Radiohead would sound like if they were a little redheaded girl from midwest America. We love Emma in this household. Follow her now so that you can hear her debut album next year. If you can walk away from this album without crying, you’re a heartless monster. **Best Track: Do It** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/6d8f7942-b6b0-4318-8a56-7c6a9450613b_2048x1463-jpeg.jpg) [**Enfants Sauvages, Avant la mort**](https://tidal.com/album/437116700/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Punk)** Angry feminist Quebec punk band yells about femicide. ‘Nuff said. Go listen if you like punk. [I interviewed them during Pouzza fest, in case you want to read a cultural article I wrote!](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/punk-is-uniting-divided-generationsle?utm%5Fsource=publication-search) Went to their show in November. Best show I saw this year, bar none. If you live in Montreal and wanna see a bunch of angry women fight cops without shirts on (don’t worry, they wore pasties) while screaming about how terrible everything is, this is the best band you’ve ever heard of. No, really, they’re phenomenal. **Maro,** [**Lifeline**](https://tidal.com/album/404905745/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **/** [**Live Trio Sessions**](https://tidal.com/album/450774903/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Electro Pop / Jazz Pop)** Maro represented Portugal in Eurovision 2022\. She didn’t win, because Ukraine won. We can understand why Ukraine won. Their song wasn’t very good, but it was about solidarity because they’re living through an invasion by Russia. Maro’s album, Lifeline, comes after a very different album that captured my soul, [hortela](https://tidal.com/album/286247735/u?ref=onthetrail.info). Actually, I didn’t like Lifeline when I first listened to it. The production sucks! After hortela, which is one of the finest recordings I’ve heard, with dynamic range and space, I was let down. But the songwriting got into my heart. Her tragic, affecting voice, low and breathy, it seeped its way into my soul, and it was easily the album I listened to the most this year. It’s Electronic pop, and it’s sublime. Then, after having listened to it ten million (no exaggeration!) (Okay, some exaggeration.) times, she released an acoustic version of the album with a fucking jazz band, and Montreal’s own Charlotte Cardin was on the album! What! Anyways, whether you want a perfect acoustic jazz album or you want a stunning electronic heartbreaker, Maro released two of my favourites this year. **Best Track: I DON’T WANNA FEEL THAT WAY** [**Thrice, Horizons/West**](https://tidal.com/album/449669361/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Hardcore, Metal)** This band slaps, but it’s been a long time since they made an album that was, front to back, unbelievably good. The lyricist, Dustin Kensrue, comes from a *very conservative* Christian background, and some of their older tracks show that. But, since 2018, the band reckoned with their beliefs and has done a lyrical transformation that has been a pleasure to witness. Being a public figure who changes while being in the spotlight is not easy. Their openness as a group of people is commendable, but not only that, this is the first time since 2008 they’ve released an album that is **no skip.** It’s post-hardcore and metal music, being some of the angriest, most aggressive tunes you’ll hear this year. Sort of. This band is hard to pin down, because they keep writing new styles into their music. They play with time signatures, scream a lot, but then they’ll throw in a quiet acoustic passage into a song. This band is unlike anything else you’ve ever heard. I don’t think that this album holds up to their 2008 masterpiece, [*Beggars*](https://tidal.com/album/67245084/u?ref=onthetrail.info), but it’s hard to top that one. I saw them live as well, with my brother Ben. It was an amazing night, probably the best day I’ve had this year, and thinking about how special that day was brings me to tears. On a personal note, this is my brother’s favourite band, and they played all of his favourite tracks, **including** the song *Vesper Light* from this album, which is a highly experimental track that has quickly become a fan favourite. When the band played it, they expressed confusion at why it was so popular, and how they weren’t prepared for it to become a live track. Well, I’m glad it is, because it’s a wholly unique track, unlike anything I’ve ever heard. **Best Track: Vesper Light** [**Clipse, Let God Sort Em Out**](https://tidal.com/album/447060804/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Rap)** Clipse is a fun band. They’re an old school *coke rap* group, the combined power of Pusha T and Malice, and this album is widely being acknowledged as the best rap album of the year. I don’t know if it’s my favourite, but it’s either this or God Does Like Ugly. This album deals with these two rappers reckoning with their lives, their families, their past with drugs, and winds up telling a lifelong struggle that can only be expressed by black Americans, and it’s awesome. This album’s song structure is great to see, and anyone who is a fan of old school Kanye West will love it. This is what we all thought would happen after *My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy*. Uh, Kanye has gone a bit off the rails and become a neo-nazi, but here we are with an album fulfilling the promise of 2010\. This is a must listen album for any hip hop fan! **Best Track: Chains & Whips** [**André Manoukian, La Sultane**](https://tidal.com/album/464922201/u?ref=onthetrail.info) **(Jazz)** André Manoukian is a French-Armenian jazz musician who captures a mystical songwriting that you won’t find anywhere else. This album isn’t quite the peak of his previous album, but it’s well recorded, dancy, and fun. I highly recommend listening to this beautiful, dark album. The man is an unbelievable composer, and you’ve probably not heard anything like this in jazz. **Best Track: Sorhag** **That’s it. Those were my favourites this year. There’s some really good music out there. What was your favourite this year? What should I go check out? Let me know!** ### Here's some books! URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/heres-some-books/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:23.000Z **This post is automated! It’s a bit of fun during the holiday, since I assume you’re bored of your family and want something to do. Well, here’s some books!** I love books. You probably know that. As of writing, I’ve finished 34 books this year, and I have many strong opinions on them. I’m one of the types of people who can enjoy any book any time. This year I read one of the worst books I’ve ever read, but I had a great time doing it! It was so bad that I couldn’t stop laughing, and it allowed me to talk to *everyone I know* about it. Now it’s your turn! Here is my year in books! **As a note, these are just the books I liked/hated this year. Only some of them came out this year.** I’ll just spend a second here and plug my favourite book ever written: ![https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407117739l/12084166.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/d14db0ba-3998-4a71-a1e2-9a5ae44c6302_300x444-jpeg-1.jpg) It’s likely I’ll plug this book every year until I’m done making Substack posts, but if you want something to do during this holiday, whether you’re a reader or not, I highly recommend picking this book up. **One Hundred Years of Solitude** is a masterpiece like no other masterpiece, the winner of the Nobel Prize (which doesn’t mean shit) and one person called it “the most important book since Genesis.” What is it about? It’s about a town called Macondo, from its founding to its destruction. It takes course over one hundred years, and tells the family lineage of one of the founding families. The book is endlessly funny, but what it does is retell the story of Colombia and how it was colonized by the Spanish. This book changed my life. I wrote one way before reading it, and read a different way now. Its original language is Spanish, but the translations are perfect, seeing as this is one of the most well regarded, translated books in the world. **Notes on reading it:** There’s a lot of fucked up stuff in this book. Don’t read it and think that the author is approving of what occurs, the author is a deity-like voice that doesn’t seem to give judgements. It was also written in 1967, and certainly some language in it isn’t ideal. Welcome to reading books! Contextual reading, folks, contextual reading. If you want to read this amazing masterpiece, which I recommend you do, [I also recommend watching the Crash Course video on it first,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWNcCs%5F%5FvQg&ref=onthetrail.info) which will help you get your sea legs on this dense, challenging literature. I read this book once a year because it means so much to me. Now, on to my entirely subjective favourite books of the year. I have given links to Indigo, because it’s a big book store- but if you can find it in a local book store, I encourage you to do so. ## **My Favourites of the year** 1. [**Moderato Cantabile, Marguerite Duras**](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/moderato-cantabile/9782707303141.html?ref=onthetrail.info)(French, Nouveau Roman) ![https://products-images.di-static.com/image/marguerite-duras-moderato-cantabile/9782707303141-475x500-1.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/5a5f73a4-6358-41de-b3ea-2238c9cf14eb_305x500-jpeg.jpg) This book melted my little brain. This mid 20th century nouveau roman gripped me. It’s about sex. Or maybe it’s about murder? It’s possibly feminist. It’s definitely feminist, it’s Duras. The problem describing this book and recommending it to you is that nothing of interest or importance explicitly happens in this book. The story, in its eight chapters, tells the same story six times in a row without ever saying what’s happening. The narrator doesn’t even seem to know what’s going on. Sometimes, instead of telling you what happened, the narrator asks what happened. In fact, the language is so vague and distant, that the whole story is told in between the lines. The story revolves around a bourgeois French woman who starts drinking wine and meeting up weekly with a working class man in a cafe. The two of them have conversation. Eventually there’s a party, where the woman gets drunk. Then the book ends. In between the lines much is implied, and the book needs to be experienced first hand to understand the brilliant effect that Duras creates in writing this book. It’s short, less than 150 pages, so even if it’s not your favourite book, I think its worth reading. It helped usher in new waves of feminism in France that worked to change our society today, and helped Canada begin its own feminist revolution after the sixties. I read it in French, and I would recommend sticking to French if you’re fluent, but if you’re a casual French speaker I’d read the translations! The language is complex and structured in a challenging way, and because it’s written in a distant, cold, esoteric manner the book can be hard to follow. I do recommend it though, it’s an old classic, and can be picked up at a library or book store near you, doubtless. 1. [**The Social Safety Net**](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-social-safety-net-canada-in-decline-book-one/9781459753105.html?ref=onthetrail.info) **/** [**Corporate Control**](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/corporate-control-canada-in-decline-book-two/9781459753136.html?ref=onthetrail.info)**, Nora Loreto** (English, non-fiction, politics) ![https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1703260692i/200629019.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/b5e4594d-ba55-4e7d-9e10-4bbf1ac20691_1600x2473-jpeg.jpg) If you don’t know Nora, I’m a bit surprised you follow me. Far more radical than I am, and far smarter as well, Nora is an author, a journalist and an activist with a fiery personality, who has sacrificed a lot of her career in order to stand up for her beliefs. These two books are small but mighty, and are in many libraries across the country. It will educate you on much of what you suspected- Canada is in decline, and although it started in the eighties, we’re feeling these effects today. What’s fantastic about this book, is it will allow you to properly assess the things you’re suffering in this life, and why Canada feels like it’s doing so poorly. It’s because it is! I finished both of these books in about a day each, so if you want to just have a ton of knowledge, and Loreto has a full bibliography of research backing up her stats, these are the books. Although she’s a socialist, anyone could read these books and understand what’s happened, regardless of politics. Our country has been bought and sold to corporations. Enough said. Go read these. I got them at the library, because they’re so readily available. You probably can too. [Also, go subscribe to Loreto’s substack.](https://substack.com/@nolore?utm%5Fsource=global-search) 1. [**The Wars, Timothy Findlay**](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-wars/9780735234628.html?ref=onthetrail.info)(English, Fiction) ![https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406896035i/29898.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/a8fbea7d-fbf7-4e83-bde5-bd480a80f2f8_303x475-jpeg.jpg) This was a game changing book for the Canadian literature scene when it was published. It’s a story about World War I, and was the first widely published and accepted English-Canadian literature to have a gay/bisexual main character (the main character is probably gay, but it can be argued he is bisexual). It retells the story of World War I by “finding documents” and retelling the story “as a journalist.” It is entirely fiction, but it tells an amazing, and harrowing story, of the life of a soldier and his slow descent into madness after suffering horribly during the first world war. It was considered one of the first “postmodern” books in Canada, or at least it’s one of the biggest influences on the genre in Canadian fiction. Be warned, you will be absolutely destroyed by the pain in this book. It feels real because it is real. At first, it’s a war story. By the end, it’s a horror story that will make you feel the pain and the despair of the people on the western front. The French translation is exquisite, by the way. 1. [**The Lifted Veil, George Eliot** ](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-lifted-veil/9781513270401.html?ref=onthetrail.info)(English, Fiction) You could literally read this in one hour. The main character is cursed with the ability to read other people’s minds, which eventually drives him into a spiral of depression and isolation. But at the heart of this superb little novella is a haunting and, in my opinion, pertinent question. Can the main character actually read minds, or is he just driving himself into isolation because he’s assuming things about other people? Read the book. I read it in about 75 minutes. [You can find PDFs of it online, or Epubs on Gutenberg for free.](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2165?ref=onthetrail.info) It’s in the public domain. Such a good read. Really stuck with me. Fun, well written, and it makes you feel good to finish a book in an hour. 1. [**Les Chambres de bois**](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/les-chambres-de-bois/ba99f5fb-ec25-35bb-b9b1-955f0f166e8a.html?ref=onthetrail.info)(French, Fiction) ![https://products-images.di-static.com/image/anne-hebert-les-chambres-de-bois/9782020008990-475x500-1.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/1e5f7b0a-6fdf-4959-9bf4-68d2e43b62ef_351x500-jpeg.jpg) The first feminist book published in Canada. This book is exceptionally hard to read, admittedly. Just like Moderato Cantabile, nothing really happens in this book. It tells a story about a young woman who grows up in the cold, frigid rural area of Quebec, or maybe France. Definitely Paris. Anne, a working class girl who’s mother dies in the first chapter, helps raise her family and then marries a bourgeois man who also happens to work as a musician. Then they live in a house, and eventually the book ends. This superb book is written like an impressionist painting. It paints vague, obscure pictures that are never fully clear. Nothing is ever spelt out. Time jumps happen, but it’s unclear how long its been. Relationships are implied, but never spelt out. I’ve never read anything like it. It also happens to have been so controversial and radical in its ideas that it was banned from Quebec and Canada, and Anne Hébert was only able to get it published in Paris, where the feminist movement was already in full force. Obscure little title only known to Quebecers. I read it in French, but I’m sure there’s good English versions. ## **The Worst Book I’ve Read This Year** **Flesh, David Szalay (English, Fiction)** ![https://i.cbc.ca/1.7440563.1753803440!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/book-cover-flesh-by-david-szalay.jpg?im=Resize%3D780](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/3ba69036-c1ee-41de-9621-5014d1f92c44_780x1170-jpeg.jpg) I cannot remember the last time I read a book as bad as this one. I feel bad, because David Szalay is a Montreal-Born author, and I love Canadian books. Hell, there’s a chance that he sees this. I apologize David, I mean no offense. But also, this book was bad. It won the booker prize. I will never be reading another book that wins the booker. This book is about what it feels like to be an incel, or at the very least a toxic, lonely male. The type of man who often turns into a school shooter. I have empathy for the main character, but if the male experience is this, then it’s no wonder I don’t identify as he/him. The main character, Istavan, is groomed and raped by a pedophile, and then spends the rest of his life masturbating while life happens around him. He becomes rich at one point, because of circumstances, and then immediately loses his entire fortune, once again because of circumstances. The character has the emotional range of a frozen fish stick, and most of his dialogue is “okay.” If you want a good laugh, go read the fable reviews for this devastatingly bad book. The top review on the app says “this book is like trying to talk to your friend’s dud boyfriend who you’re meeting at the bar for the first time. It’s a lot of you asking questions that he then repeats because he can’t hear you, and then he answers monosyllabically... flesh may be important to the booker prize judges, but it is not important to me. They may like this book, but I sure don’t. I can understand the point it’s trying to make about trauma and male loneliness or how hard it is to be a man or whatever tf else it is trying to sell to me but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I don’t hate your boyfriend, but I do think he’s incredibly boring.” Every step of the way, the main character gets sad that a woman doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, so he masturbates. Oh, but wait, now that woman who rejected him changes her mind and has sex with him. Rinse, repeat. This book quite literally does the trope of “her boobs sagged boobily,” when it describes a woman’s body through the years accrued on the saginess of her breasts. It is every single negative stereotype you can think of about men, and male authors all piled into one book. If you want to laugh, and feel like standing in solidarity with my suffering for having read this book, I recommend stealing this dreadful work of fiction and then emailing me about how bad it was. If you’re a booker prize judge, I’m worried about you. If you’re Mr. Szalay, I’m sorry for trashing your book. It’s not good, but you’re a published novelist and I’m not (yet). I would give this book minus one star for hurting me physically and making me actually angry. But also I laughed a lot because I got to read all the terrible reviews of it. There’s silver linings everywhere. ### What has your support produced this year? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-has-your-money-produced-this/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:24.000Z This is the end of year 1 of this journey that Gabrielle and I started. Since the beginning of this year, Gab got a real job, but this little project has exploded. 4200 people are subscribed to this newsletter, and we have done some unbelievable work. I would dare say that some of the work that I’ve published on the Rover and Pivot, as well as this tiny little substack have had national effect. That’s absurd. I broke down the work I did this year so you can feel good about your monthly donation. I went through my own publications this year. I have published 170 things in the past year, not including social media posts, and four pieces I finalized were not published. Of those published, 64 pieces were published in media companies, and 106 on Substack. Where specifically? When combining podcasts, videos and articles, it was 25 in the Rover, 29 in Pivot, 4 in Présence, 3 in the Independent, 2 in J Source, and 1 in Canadian Dimension, with 106 in On the Trail (many of which were podcasts and videos!) Okay, but now lets factor in social media. Suddenly 170 publications increases up to 494 publications this year. And finally, what are my stats on socials (according to these companies.) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) I’m way more popular on Instagram, although there was a period in the middle of the year (April-October) where Tik Tok wouldn’t show my videos to people. Only around 500-800 people would see each video. Now, around 5-10 thousand see every video. I went from considering Tik Tok a dead platform, to thinking once again that it could be viable. **I suspect it had something to do with the Canadian government shutting down their Canadian headquarters, but I don’t know. Other friends of mine in Canada had the same problem.** ### **Just to brag a little, I also did all of this while maintaining a 3.9 GPA in full time university (an A average.) I don’t brag too much, but that’s pretty dope y’all** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) I will be taking a few weeks off now! I’m exhausted between school and work, and haven’t taken a real vacation since 2022\. I have scheduled a couple little fun pieces while I’m off, stuff that isn’t necessarily political, but things that should hopefully make you smile over the holidays. It’s my newsletter, so why wouldn’t I talk about things I love? So, while I’m on break, expect to receive a letter about my favourite books and music of 2025! I’m not a cinephile, so there won’t be anything about books! Sorry folks. I also play video games, but not as much as I read or listen to music. Maybe I’ll do something cute on video games. Here’s some end of year thoughts. 1. People like it when I throw huge big numerical pieces at them. When I talk about topics that are on everyone’s minds, but aren’t covered. My biggest pieces this year (on the substack) are easily the Media ownership and the Spotify articles. After that, it’s the Gaza Genocide UN report summarized. What this indicates to me is that y’all want more of that, so I’m going to give you more of that. Why talk about news when I can make algorithmic models of proportional representation? That’s the stuff that interests me anyways. Nonetheless, I’m someone who loves doing a wide variety of stuff, or I’ll get bored. Actually, I wrote a 15 page research paper on Postmedia and the National Post, but I wound up selling the piece to J-Source, thus postponing it into the new year... So expect to see that in January. Otherwise, it would have come out this year. 2. I don’t know who supports me in this substack for my socials or for my writing. I wish I knew. Regardless, I will continue spattering a bit of both. I have decidedly done a mix of text and video, and lately the text has been doing serious numbers where the videos have been doing *okay* and I’m not sure why. Still, I’ll do both in the new year. 3. I have new databases that I’ll be ready to release in the beginning of the new year. I love databases. I want to do more. Math tells better stories than I do anyways. 4. I have videos I want to release. I keep knowing where I want to go with my video and substack content, but it will take more work than what I do right now, and means I’ll release less frequently. I keep saying to \* *redacted*\* (my partner) that it’s what I want to do, but I keep chickening out because I get worried everyone will unsubscribe if I make less content. I need to bite the bullet and make the things that I want to, which will be higher quality although less frequent. I feel like I probably have your support, but I’m feeling insecure about it, so I’d love to hear your feedback about it. 5. The same problem and principle applies to substack posts. I’d rather spend tons of time on databases and algorithms, modelling and graphs, but I get worried that people will feel they aren’t getting their five dollars worth. If I commit to doing that in the new year, will it be a positive thing, or a negative thing? I would love some feedback. Every time I release those pieces, they’re exceptionally well received, which makes me think that this should be the direction I go in. I hope I won’t lose subscribers, but I earnestly would like to hear feedback from you all. I think what I’m best at as a journalist is communicating big, complex data based projects in a fun way, but what do you think? Let me know, because your feedback is invaluable! 6. The podcasts are doing well. I’m pretty impressed with it. Substack says there’s an average of \~980 downloads per episode after 30 days. Love that. That’s a decent following. Nonetheless, I think we can do better with our format, so in the New Year I plan to retool it a bit to be more focused, and segmented (trust me it’ll be similar but a teeny bit better!) Gab and I love making it. It’s also partly just our excuse to spend Sunday evening hanging out. 7. I’m not too far from my goal of hitting $50,000 a year, but I haven’t gotten there yet! One day we might. If I was smarter, and I charged $10 a month we would easily be at $60,000 a year, but I don’t really want to raise prices. Inflation is killing us all. I like the ease of entry of $5 a month. It’s cheap, and since everything is free, It’s opt in. **All I need to do is gain a thousand more subscribers, and I can start paying Christopher Curtis to freelance for me instead of the other way around.** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) That’s it. Those are my thoughts. I will keep thinking and reflecting how to better serve the people online, my followers, my friends, the community, journalism, etc. I love doing this. I hope to do it for a long time coming. Love you all, so Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! I will be with my family, who are here from France, and enjoying wine, cheese, and conversation over a good game of Catan. I know that not everyone has this type of opportunity in their life, so I am lucky to have family and friends whom I love, and to finally take a bit of time off. God bless, see you soon! ### What does the country look like under proportional representation? Here's the math. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-does-the-country-look-like-under/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:24.000Z ## Please note that these interactive charts work best on the computer. In 2015 Justin Trudeau said he would reform the electoral system. He did not. It is a huge black mark against his time in office, and although he did much good, it could be he is remembered more for this one broken promise than almost anything else. Canada uses a First Past the Post System. It doesn’t work. How would Canada look if we had proportional representation? **The only party who would lose out in the case of proportional representation is the Liberals. I built an algorithm to test what the country would look like under proportional representation.** I have modelled the 2021 and 2025 federal elections, as well as every single province. I have used the Irish system as a model. List-based proportional representation doesn’t work. It is what they use in Israel and the Netherlands. The two best systems available, in my view, are Mixed Member Proportional, which has local and federal representatives, or a **Single Transferable Vote (STV).** I have modelled the algorithm on STV. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) First some clarifications: 1. Proportional representation is not a 1:1 in most countries. Israel and the Netherlands do a 1:1 system, where they offer a list, and based on the amount of votes they get they pull from the list. This is bad. That means that 32 per cent of the vote will not be exactly 32 per cent of seats, it will be a bit more complex. 2. I have modelled this off of the Irish **STV** (Single transferable Vote), and it is not likely the calculations that elections Canada would use. It is useful as an experiment to explain how the system could work. We can’t think that I, one moron making math, would have a better system than engineers and mathematicians. 3. **The other problem** is that if we had a truly proportional representation, especially an STV, we would have more people voting for a diverse selection of parties. This is not accounted for in the model. Less people would vote liberal or conservative or NDP, because they would feel more comfortable voting for, say, a communist party, or the revolution party. I can’t account for this type of hypothetical. These numbers that I present are based on our parties that are available, and the numbers I have access to. It is most likely that this system would drastically change if the electoral system changed, since more parties would be able to run. It is probably that there could be ten or fifteen parties in the house. 4. Ranked ballots are hard to account for. The NDP might gain way more seats than we realize because of **ranked ballots.** The PPC might gain seats. I don’t know. Imperfect model, based only on numbers available. I have weighted different regions based on historical voting patterns (Vancouver and Hamilton/Windsor voting NDP, Quebec voting Bloc, Alberta Voting Conservative) 5. This is a simulation, and would likely work differently in practice. It is a thought experiment, and should not be misunderstood as scientific fact. **I have built an algorithm in order to properly weight the results of an election.**[](https://drive.proton.me/urls/CYX9QCWPD8?ref=onthetrail.info#iNzf4DiDS8XE)**We are actively developing it. In the future, we would like to release the numbers before and after elections in every part of the country.** [If you’re a data analyst or a prof, or a programmer, here’s my algorithm.](https://drive.proton.me/urls/CYX9QCWPD8?ref=onthetrail.info#iNzf4DiDS8XE) It might not be this anymore, I kept tweaking it to find better maths as I recalculated. Sometimes there were 40 seat swings and so I’d adjust it, but I don’t recall if I printed it here. Anyways, it needs more variables in population regions and provinces. It’s not specific enough. [If you’re a freak who’d rather look at a spreadsheet, here you go.](https://drive.proton.me/urls/HNP8JVZFQR?ref=onthetrail.info#LIOcX4Q2MYki) --- The 2021 election is a perfect example of why First Past the Post doesn’t work. In 2021 the Conservatives won the popular vote. A highly efficient vote from the Liberals means that they won 160 seats, 47 per cent of seats available, with 32 per cent of the vote. Under an STV system, they are the opposition, and coalitions would be necessary to form government. The conservatives would still have the largest party, but a coalition could form since the Liberals have 30.7 per cent of the vote, and the NDP walk away with 21 per cent of the vote. How does this change Poilievre’s rise to prominence? How does this transform the electoral future of Canada? Does the far right exist if this is the house in 2021? Maybe not. Let’s look at 2025. Using the exact numbers we saw in this election, the Liberals & Conservatives lose a negligible amount of seats each. The NDP reaches official party status, and the Bloc remains similar. This was a hard election to map, and I had to adjust the algorithm several times to compensate for strategic voting. It is likely that this would have been even more different than you see, since strategic voting may not have been necessary at all. In that spirit, I compensated by removing strategic voting from the algorithm. **Please note that this is using \*historical\* data, as opposed to actual, available data and is not even remotely scientific. It is a thought experiment, and should be understood as such.** There is no scientific way to determine the attitudes of voters in 2025 under an STV system. The Conservatives win in that case, but the NDP walks away with 70 seats under proportional representation. There’s a good chance that the Conservatives and Bloc form a coalition in this government. The experiment is imperfect, since we only have hypothetical numbers to work with, but I used the averages from 2021 to change the map, and updated the numbers to match Carney instead of Trudeau. Regardless, **STV** makes both situations much better for Canadians, better representing the country, although I think the Liberal’s numbers are still too inflated. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Let’s look at Ontario and Quebec next, since their previous elections were undemocratic in their representation, to a degree that should anger anyone who believes in democracy. The Ontario Election is shocking. 43 per cent of the vote became 63 per cent of seats. It’s not a democratic outcome. Doug Ford should have easily won, he has strong support and many Ontarians voted for him and like him. However, under an STV system he walks away with 45 per cent of the vote, a bit above what he earned, but a good representation. Meanwhile, the Liberals crushed the NDP in the election, having 11 per cent more votes than them, yet they came out in third place. Under STV, the NDP somehow still wind up with a higher vote efficiency, which is tough to compensate for in this type of system, but they wind up third with the Liberals as official opposition, properly representing the will of the voters. The only ones who lose out would be the greens, but once again we are coming up against the limits of my algorithm, since I can’t account for the NDP voters who might vote green if they felt they had the choice. The Quebec election in 2022 is the perfect election to prove why FPTP is a broken system that should be done away with. The Coalition Avenir Québec walked away with a mere 41 per cent of the vote, and won **72 per cent of the seats**. An unbelievable majority that mocks the idea of representation. 72 per cent of seats in completely insane by any metric, and considering the CAQ being accused of authoritarian overreach by experts and unions, we see why the FPTP system is so undemocratic. Meanwhile, the other four parties virtually tied, but they came away with tiny percentages of their voting shares, with the Conservative Party of Quebec not getting a single seat, despite being within the margin of error to the other three losing parties. If current numbers are to be trusted, the PQ could wind up with a similar win in 2026\. Today, they have 39 per cent of voter intention. With that percentage of votes, they could wind up with 80 seats. I have run the simulation for every other province as well. Suffice to say that even with a basic algorithm like this, Canadians would be better represented and have a real democratic system if we had STV, and this is using available numbers. If the system was changed, not only would it better represent Canada under our system’s electoral makeup, it would also be likely to radically transform the voting culture in the country, and the electoral maps wouldn’t be remotely similar. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Here is every single other province simulated under my STV algorithm. Sorry Territories, I didn’t simulate your elections because I don’t know anything about you. It doesn’t really work in provinces that only have two parties, but if there are 3 or more, it works fantastically. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ## **Opinions (I gave you the math, you don’t have to read my opinions if you only came for the math. Don’t complain if you don’t like my opinions, you didn’t have to read this part!)** One of the arguments against Proportional representation is that it allows extremist parties in. Well, right now one of our two biggest parties is playing with the idea of being an extremist party, and they could well win a super majority in the future. If Pierre Poilievre leaves, by the way, will they go further right? They very well could. Just saying, it can always get worse. Right now, the Republicans in the USA are a white-supremacist party, and they hold 100 per cent of the power in the whole US government. Arguments against prop representation that revolve around “preventing extremism by creating big tent parties” are null and void. The Liberals and Conservatives won’t implement the system because they hold out hope for majorities, where they can effectively do anything they want. But let’s be clear, I’m completely unconvinced that a ruling NDP or Green government would do any differently, though I’d be happy to be proven wrong. In Austria, the Neo-Nazi party won the most seats in their house, but because they have proportional representation, the other parties formed a coalition between three ideologically opposed parties in order to run the country. Yes, it gives extremist a regular spot in the house, but it means that extremists can’t have majorities, or at least are unlikely to. No one ever thinks about what it means when someone like the CAQ gets power and starts implementing authoritarian measures. It also means socialists can’t get a majority, which is the great fear of the right. **The conservatives, under this system, would have won the past three elections.** Why isn’t the tiny little NDP we have pushing the conservatives to vote for a new electoral system? I’m not sure they could convince them, but there could be reasonable people who might be convinced by the stats. The conservatives stand only to gain under proportional representation, unless they enjoy the Liberals ruling at a 2:1 ratio compared to them. **The only party in Canada who benefits from the FPTP system are the Liberals.** Every party should be pushing for this. Canadians want this. **I hope that some conservatives are reading this— folks, you would have won the past three elections under a prop representation system. Right now you’re the party who lost an election where you had a 20% lead in the polls. This is because of strategic voting. Do you understand how badly the system is failing you and your voters?** Trudeau’s greatest failure is that he failed to change our electoral system. It’s because when push came to shove, he realized he would lose under that system. Many NDP insiders (who I speak with often) wish Singh had made their supply-and-confidence with the liberals hinged on proportional representation. The NDP did not have the political will to throw away their recent successes in order to get what’s best for the country. The dental care plan is great, but it was inevitable. Proportional representation is not. The NDP would have had to be willing to throw the country into an election for proportional representation. It would probably have ruined the deal between them and the Liberals. It would have resulted in the end of the stable government we had. It might have resulted in a conservative government. Are the NDP willing to risk losing in order for what’s best for Canada? The calculation, **in my opinion** would have been better for them. “We want you to be better represented, the conservatives and liberals don’t.” Canadians want people with backbones. Nonetheless, I don’t believe the NDP would do it, even if they were in power. Every time the NDP govern across the country, they turn to austerity measures and they look like the federal Liberals. BC and Manitoba are perfect examples of this. Those provinces are continuing neo-liberal policy-making, and they still haven’t raised taxes on the ultra rich. Tom Mulcair and Jack Layton were the closest leaders to ever forming government as NDP federally— they campaigned less left wing than Justin Trudeau’s Liberals *(I just enraged a lot of NDP readers, sorry crew.)* Mulcair was literally a Quebec Liberal before he was part of the NDP. The differences between the parties are less than one would hope. I’m left wondering: Will the future leader of the NDP have the political will to change the system? Are they willing to stake their future on it? Are they willing to throw away stability for what’s right? Canadians are afraid of any change or instability, but there’s a lot of people who would love to see a party fight and demonstrate a real backbone. Many questions remain that are unanswerable in the case of proportional representation, and a few points need to be stated. First, my system, based on the Irish Single Transfer Vote system isn’t the only one. **There are other effective proportional systems that all work well. Even the worst proportional system, in my opinion, would be better, even a list based system. This would allow people to vote ideologically instead of pragmatically.** Enough of brokerage politics and patronage! Let’s see some ideas in this house! We also must consider the First Nations. They should be reserved 20 per cent of the seats in Canada. They should have a permanent 20% control of the country. Or more! They are the founders and the backbone of the country. A guaranteed Indigenous vote is mandatory for true representation in the country. This would be the most effective way to show true reconciliation, in this journalist’s opinion. Give the indigenous power over our lives. Give em 50% of the seats, it would be a hell of a lot better than Chretien, or Harper, or Carney, or Poilievre. **The political party to implement it would be guaranteeing that they themselves will never have a majority government again.** So I am cynical that this will ever occur. We are long past the days of the great politicians and leaders of the mid 20th century. I suppose the future is unwritten. But I’m skeptical. ### La fin de l'année du chaos URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/la-fin-de-lannee-du-chaos/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:24.000Z La fin de l'année du chaos 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/c9bc179a-7cf3-4548-89a0-a41b81f4ba50_1920x1080.png) N’hésitez pas à consulter pivot.quebec pour découvrir d’autres balados et articles passionnants! Aujourd’hui, on revient sur cette année complètement folle qu’on a tous vécue ! De l’arrivée d’un nouveau Premier ministre aux rebondissements politiques qui ont marqué la scène québécoise. Isaac parle des syndicats au Québec et s’interroge sur l’avenir de la province. Peut-on espérer un avenir meilleur ? On verra bien. Ensuite, Ludvic aborde l’entente entre l’Alberta et Ottawa et ses conséquences. Enfin, Gab analyse les erreurs monumentales du PSPP et se demande s’il a un avenir au sein du parti, malgré sa première place dans les sondages. Pour finir, l’équipe présente son événement et sa personnalité de l’année ! ### Another floor crosser, Rodriguez is toast, Paul St Pierre Plamondon is a bully. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/another-floor-crosser-rodriguez-is/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:25.000Z Another floor crosser, Rodriguez is toast, Paul St Pierre Plamondon is a bully. 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/283115fd-0b88-42d6-83d3-2224f2518271_1920x1080.png) If you want to give $5 a month, subscribe at https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz ! Once again we’re back with another episode of the Gab and Isaac show, our premier show, the most popular, well loved show of all time! This week we’re gonna talk about the Federal Conservatives (Again) and whether Poilievre is done for (We’ve talked about this before.) The floor crosser, Michael Ma, did one of the funniest things of all time and attended the Conservative Christmas party, didn’t pay his ticket, didn’t buy his secret santa a gift, and then went to the Liberal party the next day. Beyond that, the worsening fortunes of Rodriguez as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party are beating down on him and his future, and we are convinced that it’s over. Meanwhile, PSPP ramps up his bullying, and we wonder at the possibility of him being able to win next year. All of this, and more, on the Isaac and Gab Show! ### Union Wars: The CAQ Strikes Back URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/union-wars-the-caq-strikes-back/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:25.000Z ## [This is a co-production with the ever excellent The Rover.](https://therover.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) Give them your money. There will be no “subscribe” buttons because you should give them your cash. When Premier François Legault said he was ready for war with Quebec’s unions, he may not have expected them to be as prepared as they were. During a cabinet shuffle this fall, Legault declared his intention to “modernize the union system.” The backlash was immediate across almost every sector in the province, prompting Labour Minister Jean Boulet to walk back the Premier’s remarks. Boulet’s words and his actions stood in stark contrast. Bill 3 and Law 14 (formerly Bill 89) are a historic regression on union rights since the Quiet Revolution. Unions, human rights groups, and activists responded by protesting in downtown Montreal on Nov. 29, with [more than 50,000 people](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2210625/manifestation-montreal-syndicats-ftq-csn-legault?ref=onthetrail.info) turning out. They aren’t ruling out a general strike and are already taking the government to court over Law 14. This escalating showdown comes on the heels of other laws targeting the rights of workers and individuals in Quebec. Earlier this year, Bill 101 passed, which is “creating a two-tier system to the detriment of women,” [according to the president of the CSQ](https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/10/24/bill-101-adopted/?ref=onthetrail.info), by withholding worker safety regulations from health care and education sectors — predominantly staffed by women. Meanwhile, the now-infamous Bill 2 restructures how doctors are paid, and is already leading to [many family doctors announcing that they will have to end their practices](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/12/02/il-faut-casser-lhemorragie---au-moins-40-cliniques-medicales-menacees-de-fermeture?ref=onthetrail.info), and to[ vulnerable populations losing service.](https://therover.ca/bill-2-threatening-care-for-quebec-lgbtq-homeless-and-vulnerable-populations/?ref=onthetrail.info) On Dec. 11, a tentative deal has been reached between the doctors and the province that will postpone the enactment of bill 2, and change many aspects of the law, including the removal of parts “that infringe on fundamental freedoms”, the FMOQ said. “This is a drift that is becoming increasingly authoritarian,” Caroline Senneville, President of the Centrale des syndicats nationaux (CSN) said. “This is a law that aims to restrict the right to strike… When strikes last too long or are too disruptive — according to the government — the government can unilaterally end the strike, end negotiations, and request arbitration.” Law 14 massively expands the definition of “essential workers” beyond its traditionally accepted meaning. Barry Eidlin, associate professor of sociology at McGill, explained that Law 14 “eviscerates workers’ right to strike.” With the law, the labour minister can declare nearly anything an essential service, expanding the government’s powers to order people back to work in the event of a strike. This spits in the face of what “essential worker” has meant since the 80s. “The labour minister could make a plausible case that the work that these workers do is essential, (and that a strike) is too disruptive, and is causing too much pain to the public,” Eidlin said. He noted that the aspect of the law which is “autocratic” is how it gives no definition of what makes something “too disruptive,” and thus leaves the power entirely in the hands of the labour minister to unilaterally declare a strike illegal — forcing people back to work and into arbitration. “It’s going to fundamentally undermine workers’ constitutionally protected right to strike, which is to say that workers don’t have a meaningful right to strike in Quebec … and that’s going to have a corrosive effect on collective bargaining,” Eidlin said. The law is already being contested in court. “This law is unconstitutional as it (is) an attack on the freedom of association protected by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” a spokesperson for the Fédération autonome de l’enseignment (FAE) said. The governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) took a second angle to attack unions this winter. While limiting the ability to strike, the CAQ also wants to fundamentally restructure unions’ finances so they won’t be as politically active. “This is an effort to regulate the internal affairs of labour unions. And this is something that is much more prevalent in the US than in Canada,” Eidlin said. It divides union dues into two — mandatory fees and optional fees. The former is a portion that’s used for the negotiation and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements. The latter is a portion that would be used for political campaigns or advertising. Canada has historically had a laissez-faire attitude toward union organization, treating them as private clubs and allowing them to run their own affairs. “It’s based on an assumption that workers represented by unions have political opinions that are at odds with the union’s leadership,” Eidlin said. “The general idea of this is to limit unions’ ability to serve as sort of broad social actors beyond the workplace. Historically, at least for the past 60 years since the Quiet Revolution, Quebec labour has really distinguished itself.” The Quebec labour movement has won more social gains than any other province in Canada, and has allowed its welfare state to be more robust than the rest of Canada, despite decades of cuts to social services. [Socialized childcare,](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/24/quebec-universal-childcare-us-learn?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=The%20crown%20jewel%20of%20this,staff%20and%20parent%2Dled%20governance.) the [Parental Insurance Plan](https://www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/en/about-the-plan/general-information/key-moments?ref=onthetrail.info), [anti-scab laws](https://inequalitygaps.org/first-takes/first-takesclass/anti-scab-legislation-is-it-time/?ref=onthetrail.info),[ the Pay Equity Act](https://sansviolencefree.ca/en/the-pay-equity-act-essential-to-achieving-gender-equality/?ref=onthetrail.info) — the list goes on. These laws, alongside the introduction of a Quebec Constitution, [which experts warn threatens abortion rights](https://www.lapresse.ca/dialogue/chroniques/2025-11-30/le-droit-a-l-avortement-menace-par-quebec.php?ref=onthetrail.info) and [shields the government from challenges from Quebec citizens](https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/justice/publications-adm/CQ/25-001f.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A61%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C144%2C578%2Cnull%5D), call to mind Quebec before the Quiet Revolution — la Grande Noirceur. Frédéric Bérard, constitutional lawyer and doctor of law, said that [Quebec may be in a worse place than it was under the rule of Maurice Duplessis](https://youtu.be/yiU4BT3w71E?si=JtNMwnJQoByG1XmA&ref=onthetrail.info). “I don’t think that Duplessis ever tried to stop people from challenging bills,” he said. The unions see these actions as a way to prevent anyone from challenging the government. “It’s evident that (the CAQ) is trying to muzzle counterpowers,” said Éric Gingras, president of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ). He called out Legault for moving further and further to the right in what looks like his final year in politics. “No one is fooled by the fact that the government is creating a distraction to gloss over its poor record,” he said. This is not the first Quebec government in recent memory to try and quash union strength. The province has been trending in that direction since the 90s. “There were anti-union laws under (premier Jean) Charest as well,” Senneville said. In the early 2000s, [Charest passed laws that allowed](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/quebec-protests-snarl-traffic-shipping-day-care-1.410909?ref=onthetrail.info) the health sector to contract out to private companies, with ripple effects still being felt today. Charest also amended the labour code to allow companies to replace union workers by subcontracting, [leading to problems such as STM buses being in disrepair](https://therover.ca/stm-management-reaches-truce-with-some-workers-while-mechanic-strike-looms/?ref=onthetrail.info) and full of cockroaches. This seems poised to be the CAQ’s final year in power. [Based on polling](https://qc125.com/?ref=onthetrail.info), the Parti Québecois is waiting in the wings. Yet this version of the PQ, traditionally a pro-union party, has moved towards the far right, [echoing support for Bill 2](https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/actualites-salle-presse/conferences-points-presse/ConferencePointPresse-101323.html?ref=onthetrail.info), and has been accused by the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (FPSQ) of being far-right populist. “René Lévesque must be rolling in his grave,” they said of Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, [due to his position on reducing the size of the state during the strikes of 2023-2024.](https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024/10/01/reduction-de-la-taille-de-letat--pspp-verse-dans-le-populisme-deplore-le-syndicat-des-fonctionnaires?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=Genevi%C3%A8ve%20Lajoie,'employ%C3%A9s%20de%20l'%C3%89tat.) Unions might be in for a long-term fight with anyone who has a chance to win power. The union is ready to take on any government that acts like this, but is willing to give a new government time to prove itself. “If a new government is elected, perhaps give it a little chance before calling a general strike,” Senneville said. Despite the lack of political will in Quebec’s power structures to strengthen unions, a new fighting spirit seems to be welling up within the unions themselves. “The past couple of years we’ve seen a reassertion of union strength, at least in more strikes,” Eidlin said. “I mean, there’s this broader context of a decline in labour’s power since the 70s, which we’ve seen on a pretty much a global scale, (but) Canada has actually done better than most. It’s one of the few countries in this group where unionization rates have remained in the ballpark of where they were in the early 70s.” “There is a unity in the unions like there’s never been before, and a social unity as well. Social organizations, feminists, environmentalists, they all mobilized,” Senneville said. “Unions participating in civil society — it’s a part of the Quebec system, it’s a part of Quebec society.” ### What do we do when AI starts lying to us? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-do-we-do-when-ai-starts-lying/ Last updated: 2025-12-11T14:32:18.000Z What do we do when AI starts lying to us? 0:00 /200 1× Etienne Brisson hopped on the show to talk about a traumatic and harrowing experience that happened in his family, and what it inspired. What does someone do when an AI convinces their family member that they are real sentient beings, and how do we deal with the fallout? As a response to this scenario, Etienne started a company to educate and fight against real hurts caused by AI, and to push the government to have better restraints and protections around it. His story goes from just being a friend to his relative, all the way to partnering with dozens of major universities and AI companies. Will it workout for Etienne? What is the future of this company? Let’s find out. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Support indie Journalism! https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz ### Le Québec érode la démocratie par le biais de sa fausse constitution URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/le-quebec-erode-la-democratie-par/ Last updated: 2025-12-09T13:35:04.000Z Le Québec érode la démocratie par le biais de sa fausse constitution 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Le gouvernement de la Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) au Québec s’engage dans une descente préoccupante vers l’autoritarisme. J’ai invité un avocat spécialiste du droit constitutionnel et un docteur en droit à discuter avec moi de cette situation. Les utilisations répétées de la clause dérogatoire, les attaques contre la liberté d’expression et la liberté de religion, plus d’une loi bâillon par an, l’élargissement des pouvoirs du Conseil des ministres en matière de prise de décision, la destruction des droits syndicaux (protégés par la Charte canadienne), et, maintenant, une fausse Constitution qui entravera le droit des citoyens de contester les lois que ceux-ci ont adoptées. Frédéric révèle que l’article 5 de cette prétendue constitution sera instantanément annulé par les tribunaux. De plus, dans l’émission On the Trail, nous avons dévoilé qu’elle contient une clause susceptible d’affecter négativement les soins d’avortement à long terme, ce qui va directement à l’encontre des vœux des groupes féministes. On note également d’autres enjeux. La « constitution » est soumise à la constitution canadienne, ce qui rend certaines parties entièrement invalides. Non seulement cela, mais cette constitution ne prévoit aucune possibilité de révision, ce qui la rend encore plus absurde. Les difficultés qu’elle renferme sont alarmantes, et, compte tenu de la cote de popularité historiquement basse de François Legault et de son gouvernement de la CAQ, l’adoption unilatérale de ce projet de loi sans consultation adéquate pourrait bien constituer l’un des échecs les plus retentissants de leur mandat déjà entaché. Pour un gouvernement qui affirmait vouloir améliorer l’efficacité, il n’a rien fait de tel. La chute de ce gouvernement semble inévitable dans un an. Mais, qui attend-il dans les coulisses ? PSPP et le Parti québécois montent dans les sondages et semblent en passe d’obtenir un gouvernement majoritaire écrasant s’il y avait des élections aujourd’hui. Ils flirtent cependant avec l’extrême droite, s’envolant en France et se laissant entièrement convaincre par les théories du complot d’extrême droite du « grand remplacement », ainsi que par des figures extrémistes comme Mathieu Bock-Côté. De l’autre côté de la classe dirigeante québécoise, les libéraux du Québec s’effondrent de l’intérieur, avec un scandale après l’autre, retombant ainsi dans des allégations de corruption, et la ruine totale. Rejoignez-nous aujourd’hui à l’émission On the Trail pour analyser en profondeur le grave danger auquel fait face le Québec. Si vous appréciez notre travail, n’hésitez pas à le découvrir et à nous soutenir par un don mensuel ou ponctuel ! https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz Découvrez le travail de Fréd sur : https://www.instagram.com/frederic.berard.39/ et facebook.com/frederic.berard.39 ### Worse than the Grande noirceur; the Quebec constitution threatens the whole province URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/quebec-chipping-away-at-democracy/ Last updated: 2025-12-08T16:31:34.000Z Worse than the Grande noirceur; the Quebec constitution threatens the whole province 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) As the CAQ government of Quebec continues its dangerous, anti democratic backsliding, I invited constitutional lawyer and doctor of law to discuss this terrible situation with me. Repeated uses of the notwithstanding clause, attacking freedom of expression and freedom of religion, more than one baîllon per year, expansion of cabinet powers over decision making, destruction of union rights (protected in the Canadian charter,) and now a faux constitution that will infringe upon the rights of the people to challenge laws that they are passing. Fréd explains that section five of this faux constitution will be immediately destroyed in court. Not only that, but at On the Trail, we broke the news that the constitution had a clause in it that could damage abortion care long term, directly ignoring the wishes of feminist organizations. There are other issues present. The “constitution” is subject to the Canadian constitution, thus rendering significant portions of it completely invalid. Not only that, but there is no amendment clause, making the constitution seem even more farcical. The amount of problems with it are shocking, and considering the historic unpopularity of François Legault and his CAQ government, to unilaterally pass this bill without proper consultation is poised to be one of the largest disasters in their already-controversial, ineffective tenure. For a government who said they wanted to improve efficiency, they have done anything except that– and the downfall of this government seems inevitable in one year’s time. But who’s waiting in the wings? PSPP and the Parti Quebecois climb in the polls, they seem poised to have a huge majority government if there was an election today. But they’re toying with the extreme right wing, flying to France and becoming wholly convinced of the far right conspiracies of the replacement theory, as well as extremist figures such as Mathieu Bock Coté. On the other side of the modern Quebec ruling class, the Liberals of Quebec are collapsing internally, with scandal after scandal causing them to fall, once again, into corruption accusations and complete ruin. Join us today On the Trail as we break down the deeply dangerous slide that Quebec is facing. If you like this, please check out our work and support us with a monthly donation, or a one time donation! https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz Check out Fréd’s work at https://www.instagram.com/frederic.berard.39/ facebook.com/frederic.berard.39 ### Ethics and Journalism URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/ethics-and-journalism/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T20:27:00.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Updated to reflect our growing hatred of AI and take a hardening stance against it. On the Trail's code of ethics, the first of its kind among independent reporters who do social media reporting, is now in both French and English. English first, French beneath. Le code de déontologie d'On the Trail, une première pour les journalistes indépendants qui couvrent les médias sociaux, est désormais disponible en français et en anglais. La version anglaise en premier, la version française en dessous. ## Basic Structures I explicitly adopt a socialist, or ‘leftist’ editorial line. This does not imply that I am doing lower quality work than companies which are centrist. To the contrary; political bias is in every institution. It is my belief, and the belief of many in the industry, that quality of work is not beholden to taking a “balanced” editorial line. The work I do will attempt to meet the highest standards of journalistic standards. It is also my belief that by being up front with my angle and political biases, people can better assess my work. ## **To act responsibly and to be accountable** I have a strangely notable amount of power. Influence and power mean that there is an ethical responsibility to not abuse this power, or do harm. When a **valid** mistake is made, I will not hesitate to correct it. When there needs to be a follow up to a story, I will do so. I will never plagiarize, and this includes using generative AI to create images or stories. To define what a “valid” mistake is, please note the difference between **information journalism** and **opinion journalism** in the next section. Although I may express an opinion based on what I believe are the facts, that is not a factual statement, but a statement of opinion– whether someone believes I am correct or incorrect is a *difference of opinion* and not *misinformation.* Just because someone *says* I made a mistake, or *accuses* me of making a mistake does not mean that it is a mistake. Nonetheless, I will act in good faith by looking into accusations, weighing them against facts and research as well as the context of the subject at hand, so long as the accusation is delivered in good faith. For example, if someone says I made a mistake when expressing an *opinion* there may be space to change my views, but it is not a *factual error,* **and therefore would not warrant a correction.** On the *Conseil de presse* in Quebec, it delineates opinion and facts clearly, and someone demanding corrections of opinion is not a valid complaint. In regards to accountability and mistakes, there also should be an established timeline for corrections. In this I will follow the *Conseil de presse* and say that any complaints about *factual errors* must occur within a month of an article or video coming out. ## **Explicitly on the side of victims** The role of journalism is to think about victims and tell the story of victims. Media that doesn’t do that has fundamentally forgotten their role in society. A journalist from Radio-Canada, Gil Courtemanche, said in a[ 2001 interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tiVVMr0XM&ref=onthetrail.info), “Objectivity is nonsense. It’s complicity. You have to choose your side. You have to choose the side of the victim.” 25 years ago, these journalists existed in the mainstream. Today, more and more, they are leaving the mainstream. I adopt this approach **explicitly** and **unapologetically.** [subscribe](#/portal/signup) ## Journalistic Standards and Journalistic Genres I practice two distinct genres of journalistic work: **information journalism and opinion journalism**. I often do both simultaneously, *especially* in my videos. Often I will relegate end sections of articles I have written to an opinion after having established fact. **Information journalism** pertains to reporting on facts that relate to issues of public interest. It explains it, puts it in context, and reports on interpretations, comments, and judgements of various perspectives. All information journalism is informed by the values and views of the journalist. It leads to how they treat their subject, and how they choose their quotes. However, it removes the pronouncement of opinion. Most journals do this without ever saying “I”, however this platform is entirely me, and thus sometimes I do not remove myself from the story. **Opinion journalism** proposes interpretations, comments and judgements explicitly. Many modern opinion writers do not use facts to back their opinions. Good opinion writers look at facts, and then express opinions based on factual evidence. Proper opinion journalism is presented by showing facts, and then allowing facts to inform opinions. These facts must be relevant and complete, and contextually applicable. To directly quote *Pivot*, “We use **Quality of Information** and **Factual and Critical Journalism** rather than “objective” and “neutral” journalism.” There is no such thing as ‘objective’ or ‘neutral’ so **instead I propose to follow a model of factual and critical journalism with an emphasis on quality of information instead.** It is my belief that “objectivity” and “neutrality” is a mask for the unconscious, or often conscious biases that inform the writer. Every bias they hold consciously or unconsciously will inform whom they talk to as well as the stories they report on. **I will continuously try to find the truth without ever claiming ‘neutrality’, ‘balance’ or ‘objectivity’.** **It is through rejecting these faux principles that I approach all of my work regardless of it being opinion based or factually based.** ## Journalistic Regulations Reporting should follow these principles: **Veracity:** Using accurate and proven information. **Consistency:** Arguments create a logical whole. **Contextual understanding:** Facts should not be removed from the context. **Fairness:** I won’t quote, criticise, or stand against something in an unjust manner, but with the same fairness that I would hope to be judged. **Critical view:** I examine the truthfulness of things, including and especially official sources of power who claim something to be true. I will sometimes prevent viewpoints that are not “true.” These viewpoints are often being presented to have a clearer understanding of something I am being critical of. In order to understand an opposing viewpoint, sometimes I have to discuss it and look into it. Sharing a viewpoint in an article is not an endorsement of it. These viewpoints often need to be considered in their whole context as well, and allowed to have their space. Considering these viewpoints does not mean they are correct, but instead that I am treating them in good faith, and fairly, as I hope people will treat me. Viewpoints that will be prioritized within my work are those who are socially marginalized, topics that are not oft discussed, and movements that are not getting mainstream coverage. I have been asked to discuss things before that do not need my voice. Still, sometimes there is a widely reported subject that needs a voice on the left to speak about it. I will then try to talk about these subjects. A good example would be the Air Canada strike, the doctors in Quebec, or the mass union protest in Montreal. ## Partisanship and Public Interest **Serving the public interest** is important to me. There is no particular group whom I ally myself with. I reject any partisanship towards any political parties. I will not ally myself with any political party, nor endorse any political party. Any media who endorses a political party shows their lack of critical journalism skills, and demonstrates their abject partisanship. **No journalist or media endorsing a political party has ever done anything for society, except erode the public’s trust in them.** When expressing my opinions, I will say what I think is good or what is bad regardless of the party, and I will not be pressured by politicians to be kinder to them, or less critical, simply because we might be ideologically aligned. I do not serve the interests of specific actors, whether that range from community organizations to unions, however I will likely express when I am on their side seeing as movements of the left often align themselves with certain groups. A good example of this is FRAPRU, who I am not associated with, and will treat them with similar scrutiny that I treat everyone else with. Nonetheless, I am often aligned with them and inclined to agree with them publicly. **I will never endorse or stand with a political party, although I may sometimes agree with a position they take.** I will not allow any financial interests to influence my decision making or beliefs at any point. I was once hired as a consultant for Greenpeace. I demanded in the contract that I be allowed to do my own research and criticize theirs openly, as well as correct them on their wrongs. They paid me for my work. I made videos that were in partnership with them, however I wrote and created these videos of my own will, and in the contract they explicitly acknowledged that I was allowed to say what I want. **I will not do paid work with groups that I am covering as a journalist, or vice versa. I cannot cover people that have paid me. This is a *severe* conflict of interest. This means that I will never be able to report on Greenpeace or Ground News, positively or negatively, as I have done paid work with both.** **I adopt a roll of observation, and not participation in events I cover**. When I am covering protests for example, I do not participate in chants, or in militant actions. I am documenting. **Corrections will be made** when they are brought to my attention, and depending on the error, will immediately require the removal of a video that can be shared or spread misinformation. I will openly acknowledge mistakes, and accept failings on my part in the spirit of authenticity and humility. I will make mistakes. I will acknowledge them and learn from these mistakes. We should nonetheless define **small errors** and **large errors.** **Large errors** are pieces of misinformation that might hurt someone’s reputation, information that has a profound effect on the story I am telling, or what I am reporting on. A large error does not entail having forgotten to mention a statistic, or not telling the entire vast context of a scenario. I am limited to 3 minutes on instagram, sometimes there is not enough time for all of the context. **Small errors** are failures to put in context that might help the story, that might clarify pieces of information. Small errors can be messing up on a percentage by a couple points, or not being as precise as I should be. Did I say “it’s about ten” when I should have said “there are thirteen” ? Major corrections will be quickly sent out via substack emails, and applied to comments and descriptions on socials. The distinction between **large** and **small** errors is challenging, and will require context to understand. The choice of how to address these mistakes will be made depending on the severity of the consequences of making these mistakes. **Protests and acts of vandalism:** I will not participate in the protest, however, I will record and cover the protest. If I see vandalism or actions like that, **I will not be sharing footage with anyone else, including police**. I will never take part in vandalism, and I do not endorse actions like that. I retain the right as a member of the press to witness, document, and do as I will with my work. Despite acknowledging the illegality of acts of vandalism, my work will not help power structures such as the police attack the citizens that they are meant to protect. **Clandestine methods of reporting:** I will not use clandestine recording methods. I will not record a phone call without informing the individual I am recording them. I will not film something without informing them, or at the least being quite obvious that I am filming something (I’m in the middle of the road with my camera). If someone walks into a shot that I’m filming on the street though, and they are not the subject, I will not be asking their permission to use my footage. Public recordings sometimes capture people in it. In sensitive scenarios, I will blur faces. If someone contacts me and has concerns about their faces being in a recording, I will do my best to correct the issue. **Conflicts of interest:** My allegiance is to the public. Also, the indie journalist world is small. Sometimes conflicts of interest happen in regards to friendships and relationships, sometimes a tip is from a friend. I will do my best to avoid conflicts of interest nonetheless. **Interviews and debates:** I try my best to push back. Often interviews are opinion based, or story based, and are not rooted entirely in fact. When there are facts to be addressed, I will try to correct them. That being said, if an interviewee says something, and I fail to catch that it’s untrue, the interviewee is responsible for their statement. I will speak to people whom I profoundly disagree with. I believe it is partly my responsibility to address problematic views, challenge people, and talk to people I don’t agree with. I do not believe that debate can solve problems though, and will not engage in debates with people online in comment forums, DMs, or debates that I believe have no merit for anyone. I will not be goaded into debating someone, and I will not debate when I don’t want to debate. It is not my responsibility to debate every bad opinion. When I first started working in journalism, I was criticised for having spoken to people on the **far right.** I was not in agreement with these people. I was trying to engage in good faith. I am still learning. Now, one year later I have learned a lot. I did not at the time know that you should not engage in debate with fascists, extremists, or the rules of engagement around subjects such as trans identity (although I don’t think I’ve ever publicly discussed with someone who is against trans rights) or abortion rights. Now that I have a better understanding of how this world works, I will not debate fascists, or extremist right wingers who do not believe in democracy or the freedom of expression. I will not debate people *publicly* on certain subjects: Trans rights, women’s rights, abortion, democracy, human rights, and many other subjects. Some subjects are not debatable. Sometimes there is validity in debating the *extent* or *limits* around certain things, but it’s a slippery slope. For example, I’m inclined to believe that it’s better to ignore someone who doesn’t believe in abortion rights than to debate them on the limits of abortion. As a general rule, these debates are useless and don’t benefit anyone, and are usually there to make people feel good about publicly expressing their opinions and getting one up on their opponents. **Sources:** Sometimes I have to talk to people off the record. If people are off the record, they are either the best source in the world, or there are a minimum of five verifiable people who can attest to whatever they’re being interviewed about. I will try as often as possible to have everyone on the record. Sometimes it is impossible. ## Social Media Social media is not perceived as a legitimate source of news by most news companies. Many mainstream journalists follow me, and like my work, but on an institutional scale, most media might disagree with my approach. I hope to change that. All of the previous **ethical** framework applies to my social media work as well. However, there are also certain frameworks I would like to add as an addendum to continue accountability, and acknowledge that there are goals I aspire to achieve. I believe it’s even important to address certain aspects of internet culture that are taboo subjects which are rarely openly acknowledged by people. **Corrections:** Corrections on social media are really challenging to fix. If the entire premise of a video or post is wrong, no problem. Take it down, post an apology and a correction. But what about when a minor detail in the video is not quite right? A mainstream journal would add an asterix at the bottom or top of an article saying that “an earlier version of the article said this”. Two approaches will be taken in the case of a minor error on social media: Issue a correction in the comments and pin it, or/and write the correction in the description. Both of these methods can lead to the details being corrected. **However, it’s better that I simply don’t make mistakes.** **Distinguishing fact from opinion**: I think I can improve here. [About fifty percent of people in America ](https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/4550432-americans-struggle-tell-difference-fact-opinion-study/?ref=onthetrail.info)struggle to tell the difference between fact and opinion. Although we don’t have studies on the subject in Canada, I suspect it’s similar. I will therefore clearly delineate between fact and opinion in videos, and explicitly call attention to facts vs. opinions within the video. **Using names:** I will not generally use names of other individuals in a negative way on social media when addressing something, unless the individual I am addressing is already a public figure, but even then there are exceptions. For example, if I’m discussing a politician who has done something wrong, I will name them. However, if I am addressing an article I think is problematic, or an event I think is wrong, it is unlikely I will name the author, or perpetrator of an event. This is because of people showing, over and over that they are unable to be normal and peaceful, and because of the internet’s tendency to harass others. I will not name names of people I am disagreeing with unless they are public figures– and even then, maybe not. This is participating in cancel culture, which I explicitly reject. **I will deal with sensitive content frankly, and directly.** I discuss genocide frequently. I talk about war, death, and health concerns, and much else. I will continue to do so. It will hurt my videos because the algorithm suppresses things like that. However, I believe minimizing terrible things is dangerous to our capacity as society to fully discuss societal woes. **Cancel culture:** Cancel culture is alive and well in 2025\. I have already had several people attack me online using some wild sentences– one person said that I was participating in “receipt culture” and that it is only westerners who do that. I did not respond to that person. Many others try to start drama with me. I will never engage in superfluous drama online. Instead, if I say or do something harmful, I will try my best to acknowledge it. It is probable that I will say things that are dumb, insensitive, or wrong. I will do my best to not be like that, although **I will not respond to public drama in a sensational way.** If someone posts a video attacking me, I am going to talk to them directly and confrontationally.I am a journalist, I am not an influencer. **Replying to comments:** I will likely reply to comments. I will not however reply with “one liners” or “gotchas”. I have done that in the past. I regret doing that. It is easy to fall prey to that. I will be **professional in my online comments, or playful**, but never mean, regardless of someone else being antagonistic. **I reserve the right to curate my followers and moderate my platforms.** Although most comments on instagram and tik tok have been in good faith, many are not. In particular, I have noticed a lack of good faith during elections. I am under the impression that most of these bad faith comments are bots. Still, I can, and will, block you and delete your comments if I want, it’s my platform. Generally I will not do so unless it is bad faith, or if it is causing useless disruption. When I see a comment thread with thirty comments and it’s just two strangers calling each other names, I’m going to delete it. This is not beneficial to anyone, and makes all of us collectively stupider. ## AI Policy AI sucks. I hope it burns. **I use it for transcripts.** I use a platform called[*notta.ai*](http://notta.ai/?ref=onthetrail.info)The platform has made my life better. It has an AI built in. I ask, “where’s the timecode for this quote.” and it tells me. When taking a quote however, I listen and write it myself. Here is what i do not use it for: **I do not use it to create images.** **I do not use it to write.** **I do not use it to edit.** **I do not use it to correct my mistakes.** **I do not use it for any creative purpose or anything that would be a potential infringement on IP.** ## VERSION FRANÇAISE ## **Ligne Éditoriale et Gestion des Erreurs** J’adopte explicitement une ligne éditoriale socialiste, ou « de gauche », ce qui ne signifie pas que la qualité de mon travail est inférieure à celle des entreprises centristes. Au contraire : le biais politique existe dans chaque institution. Je suis convaincu, et je sais que beaucoup dans l’industrie partagent mon opinion, que la qualité du travail n’est pas liée à l’adoption d’une ligne éditoriale « équilibrée ». Je vais m’efforcer de respecter les normes journalistiques les plus élevées dans mon travail. Je suis convaincu que si je suis honnête au sujet de mes opinions politiques, les gens pourront évaluer plus justement mon travail. Il est crucial d’agir de manière responsable et de rendre des comptes. J’ai un pouvoir étrangement grand. L’influence et le pouvoir impliquent une responsabilité morale de ne pas en abuser ou de causer du tort. En cas d’erreur valide, je n’hésiterai pas à la corriger. Si un suivi est nécessaire dans une histoire, je m’en chargerai. Je m’engage à ne jamais plagier, que ce soit en utilisant l’IA générative pour créer des images ou des histoires. Pour comprendre ce qu’est une erreur « valide », il faut distinguer le journalisme d’information du journalisme d’opinion. Même si je peux exprimer une opinion fondée sur ce que je crois être les faits, cela ne constitue pas une déclaration factuelle, mais une déclaration d’opinion. Que quelqu’un pense que j’ai tort ou raison n’est pas de la désinformation, mais une question d’opinion. Même si quelqu’un affirme que j’ai commis une erreur ou m’accuse de l’avoir commise, cela ne prouve pas que j’ai tort. Toutefois, je m’engage à examiner les allégations avec ouverture d’esprit, en les évaluant à la lumière des faits, des preuves et du contexte du sujet abordé, à condition que les accusations soient formulées de bonne foi. Par exemple, si quelqu'un dit que j'ai fait une erreur en exprimant une opinion, il peut y avoir de la place pour changer mes vues, mais ce n'est pas une erreur factuelle, et donc ne justifierait pas une correction . Au Conseil de presse du Québec, la distinction entre opinion et faits est claire, et quelqu'un demandant des corrections d'opinion n'est pas une plainte valide . En ce qui a trait à la responsabilité et aux erreurs, un calendrier de correction serait également nécessaire. À ce propos, je me conformerai au Conseil de presse et affirmerai que toute allégation d’inexactitudes factuelles doit être déposée dans un délai d’un mois après la publication d’un article ou d’une vidéo. Explicitement du côté des victimes . Les journalistes ont la responsabilité de centrer leur attention sur les victimes et de raconter leur histoire. Les médias qui négligent cette tâche fondamentale ont oublié leur rôle dans la société. Gil Courtemanche, un journaliste de Radio-Canada, l’a affirmé dans une interview en 2001 : « L’objectivité est un non-sens. C'est de la complicité. Il faut choisir son camp. Il faut choisir le camp de la victime. » . Il y a 25 ans, ces journalistes existaient dans le courant dominant. Aujourd’hui, ils sont de plus en plus nombreux à s’en éloigner. J'adopte cette approche de manière explicite et sans aucune excuse. ## **Normes Journalistiques et Genres** **J’exerce deux genres différents de journalisme** : l’information et l’opinion. Je les combine souvent, particulièrement dans mes vidéos. Généralement, je réserve la dernière partie des articles que j’ai rédigés pour exposer mon opinion après avoir présenté les faits. Le journalisme d’information se concentre sur le reportage de faits liés à des enjeux d’intérêt public. Il les éclaire, les contextualise et rapporte les analyses, commentaires et opinions de divers points de vue. Tout journalisme d’information est influencé par les valeurs et les opinions du journaliste. Cette influence se reflète dans le traitement du sujet et dans le choix des citations. Cependant, cela retire le prononcé de l'opinion. La plupart des journaux font cela en ne disant jamais « je », mais cette plateforme est entièrement mienne, alors je ne me retire pas toujours de l’histoire. Le journalisme d’opinion présente des analyses, des points de vue et des critiques explicites. Beaucoup d'écrivains d'opinion modernes n'utilisent pas de faits pour soutenir leurs opinions . Les bons auteurs d’opinion examinent les faits avant de formuler des conclusions fondées sur des preuves tangibles. Le véritable journalisme d’opinion consiste à présenter des faits, puis à laisser ces faits éclairer les points de vue. Ces éléments doivent être pertinents, exhaustifs et applicables dans leur contexte. Pour le dire en d’autres termes : « Nous utilisons la Qualité de l’Information et le Journalisme Factuel et Critique plutôt que le journalisme “objectif” et “neutre”. » Il n’existe pas de journalisme « objectif » ou « neutre », alors je propose de suivre un modèle de journalisme factuel et critique avec un accent sur la qualité de l’information. Je suis convaincu que « l’objectivité » et la « neutralité » ne sont qu’un masque pour les biais inconscients, ou souvent conscients, qui informent l’écrivain. Chaque biais qu’il détient consciemment ou inconsciemment informera qui il est et les histoires qu’il raconte. Je vais constamment chercher la vérité, sans jamais prétendre à la « neutralité », à « l’équilibre » ou à « l’objectivité ». C’est en rejetant ces fausses notions que j’aborde tous mes travaux, qu’ils soient basés sur l’opinion ou sur les faits. ## **Règlements Journalistiques et Équité** Le reportage doit respecter les principes suivants : véracité (utiliser des informations précises et prouvées) ; cohérence (les arguments créent un ensemble logique) ; compréhension contextuelle (les faits ne doivent pas être retirés de leur contexte) ; équité : je ne citerai personne, ne critiquerai rien, ni ne m’opposerai à quoi que ce soit de manière injuste, mais avec la même équité avec laquelle j’aimerais être traité. **Examen critique** : Je mets en doute la véracité des événements et des autorités qui affirment qu’un fait est vrai. Je présenterai parfois des points de vue qui ne sont pas « vrais ». Ces opinions sont souvent présentées pour clarifier mon point de vue critique sur un sujet en examinant un point de vue opposé. Pour comprendre une position divergente, je dois parfois en discuter et l’analyser. Partager une opinion dans un article ne revêt pas forcément son approbation. Ces points de vue doivent souvent être considérés dans leur contexte global également, et avoir leur espace . Le fait de considérer ces points de vue ne sous-entend pas qu’ils soient justes, mais plutôt que je les examine avec impartialité, comme je souhaite que les autres le fassent pour moi. Les points de vue que je prioriserai dans mon travail sont ceux des personnes socialement marginalisées, ceux qui ne sont pas souvent discutés, et ceux des mouvements qui ne bénéficient pas d’une grande couverture médiatique. On m’a déjà demandé de parler de sujets qui n’avaient pas besoin de ma voix. Il y a pourtant parfois des sujets largement rapportés qui ont besoin d’une voix de gauche pour être abordés. Je vais tenter de m’exprimer sur ces sujets. Un bon exemple serait la grève chez Air Canada, la grève des médecins au Québec ou la manifestation syndicale de masse à Montréal. ## **Partisanerie, Intérêt Public et Conflits d'Intérêts** Servir l'intérêt public est important pour moi. Je ne m’associe à aucun groupe en particulier et je rejette toute allégeance envers les partis politiques. Je ne m’affilierai à aucun parti politique et ne soutiendrai aucun parti politique. Tout média qui endosse un parti politique montre son manque de compétences en journalisme critique, et démontre sa partisanerie abjecte . Aucun journaliste ou média endossant un parti politique n'a jamais rien fait pour la société, sauf éroder la confiance du public en eux . En exprimant mes opinions, je dirai ce qui me semble bon ou mauvais, peu importe le parti. Je ne subirai aucune pression de la part des politiciens pour qu’ils soient plus gentils envers moi, ou moins critique, juste parce que nos idéologies se ressemblent. Je ne défends pas les intérêts de groupes particuliers, qu’il s’agisse d’organisations communautaires ou de syndicats. Cependant, il est possible que je prenne position en leur faveur, car les mouvements de gauche ont souvent des affinités avec certains groupes. Par exemple, bien que je ne sois pas affilié au FRAPRU, je les traiterai avec la même rigueur que je m’applique à tous les autres. Néanmoins, je suis souvent aligné avec eux et enclin à être d'accord avec eux publiquement . Je n'endosserai jamais ni ne serai aux côtés d'un parti politique, bien que je puisse parfois être d'accord avec une position qu'ils prennent . Je ne permettrai à aucun intérêt financier d'influencer ma prise de décision ou mes croyances à aucun moment . J’ai déjà travaillé comme consultant pour Greenpeace. J'ai exigé dans le contrat que je sois autorisé à faire mes propres recherches et à critiquer les leurs ouvertement, ainsi qu'à les corriger sur leurs torts . Ils m'ont payé pour mon travail. J’ai réalisé des vidéos en partenariat avec eux, mais je les ai écrites et produites de mon propre chef. Dans le contrat, ils ont clairement reconnu que j’avais le droit de m’exprimer librement. Je ne ferai pas de travail rémunéré avec des groupes que je couvre en tant que journaliste, ou vice versa . Il est impensable pour moi de couvrir des personnes qui m’ont rémunéré, car cela créerait un conflit d’intérêts majeur. Cela implique que je ne serai jamais en mesure de réaliser un reportage positif ou négatif sur Greenpeace ou Ground News, car j’ai précédemment effectué un travail rémunéré avec ces deux entités. ## **Méthodes de Reportage et Erreurs** Je me positionne en tant qu’observateur plutôt que participant lors des événements que je couvre. Lorsque je couvre des manifestations, par exemple, je ne prends pas part aux chants ni aux actions militantes. Je me consacre à la documentation. Les rectifications seront apportées dès qu’elles me seront signalées, et selon le cas, une vidéo diffusée ou partagée sera immédiatement retirée si elle contient des informations trompeuses. Je suis prêt à admettre mes fautes et à accepter mes échecs avec sincérité et humilité. Je ferai des erreurs. Je les reconnaîtrai et apprendrai de ces erreurs . Nous devrions néanmoins définir les petites erreurs et les grandes erreurs . Les grandes erreurs sont des éléments de désinformation qui pourraient nuire à la réputation de quelqu'un, des informations qui ont un effet profond sur l'histoire que je raconte, ou sur ce que je rapporte . Une grande erreur n'implique pas d'avoir oublié de mentionner une statistique, ou de ne pas raconter tout le vaste contexte d'un scénario . Je suis limité à 3 minutes sur Instagram, parfois il n'y a pas assez de temps pour tout le contexte . Les petites erreurs sont des échecs à mettre en contexte qui pourraient aider l'histoire, qui pourraient clarifier des éléments d'information . Les petites erreurs peuvent être de se tromper sur un pourcentage de quelques points, ou de ne pas être aussi précis que je devrais l'être . Est-ce que j’ai dit « c’est environ dix » au lieu de « il y en a treize » ? . Les corrections majeures seront rapidement envoyées via les courriels Substack, et appliquées aux commentaires et descriptions sur les réseaux sociaux . Il est compliqué de distinguer les erreurs majeures des erreurs mineures, et cela nécessite un contexte pour être compris. Le traitement de ces écarts sera adapté en fonction de la gravité de leurs répercussions potentielles. **Manifestations et actes de vandalisme** : Je ne participerai pas à la manifestation, mais j’enregistrerai et couvrirai l’évènement. Si je vois du vandalisme ou des actions semblables, je ne partagerai aucune image, même avec la police. Je ne prendrai jamais part au vandalisme, et je n'approuve pas des actions comme celle-là . Je conserve le droit en tant que membre de la presse de témoigner, de documenter et de faire ce que je veux de mon travail . Malgré la reconnaissance de l'illégalité des actes de vandalisme, mon travail n'aidera pas les structures de pouvoir telles que la police à attaquer les citoyens qu'ils sont censés protéger . **Méthodes de reportage clandestines** : Je n'utiliserai pas de méthodes d'enregistrement clandestines . Avant d’enregistrer une conversation téléphonique, je veillerai à informer l’interlocuteur de ma démarche. Je ne filmerai rien sans prévenir les gens, ou à tout le moins en étant suffisamment évident pour qu’ils sachent que je tourne une vidéo (je suis au milieu de la route avec ma caméra). Si quelqu’un pénètre dans mon champ de vision lorsque je filme dans la rue, mais sans être l’objet de ma prise, j’aurai tout de même le droit d’utiliser les images. Les enregistrements publics capturent parfois des gens . Dans des scénarios sensibles, je flouterai les visages. Si quelqu’un me contacte avec des préoccupations quant à l’apparition de son image, je ferai tout mon possible pour résoudre ce problème. Conflits d’intérêts : Ma priorité reste la protection du public. De plus, le milieu du journalisme indépendant est relativement restreint. Parfois, les conflits d’intérêts surgissent dans le domaine des amitiés et des relations, et il arrive qu’un renseignement provienne d’un ami. Je ferai tout mon possible pour les éviter. ## **Interviews, Débats et Sources** **Interviews et débats** : J’essaie de répliquer du mieux que je peux. Souvent, les interviews sont basées sur l’opinion, ou sur l’histoire, et ne sont pas entièrement enracinées dans les faits. Quand il y a des faits à aborder, j’essaierai de les corriger. Il est clair que, si une personne interrogée énonce une affirmation et que je ne détecte pas qu’elle est erronée, elle endosse la responsabilité de ses propos. J’ai l’intention de m’entretenir avec des individus qui partagent des opinions diamétralement opposées aux miennes. Je pense que c’est en partie de ma responsabilité d’aborder les points de vue controversés, de remettre en question les gens et d’engager la conversation avec des personnes qui ne sont pas d’accord avec moi. Je ne pense pas que les débats puissent régler les problèmes. Je ne vais pas m’engager dans des discussions en ligne avec des inconnus dans les sections de commentaires, les messages privés ou des débats qui, selon moi, ne servent pas les intérêts de quiconque. Je ne me laisserai pas provoquer à débattre avec quelqu'un, et je ne débattrai pas quand je ne veux pas débattre . Je considère que ce n’est pas de ma responsabilité d’argumenter sur toutes les idées fausses. Quand j'ai commencé à travailler dans le journalisme, on m'a critiqué pour avoir parlé à des gens d'extrême droite . Je n'étais pas d'accord avec ces gens. J'essayais de m'engager de bonne foi. J'apprends encore . Maintenant, un an plus tard, j'ai beaucoup appris. Je ne savais pas à l’époque qu’il ne fallait pas s’engager dans un débat avec des fascistes ou des extrémistes, ou autour de sujets tels que l’identité trans (bien que je ne pense pas avoir jamais discuté publiquement avec quelqu’un qui est contre les droits des trans) ou les droits à l’avortement. Maintenant que j’ai une meilleure compréhension du fonctionnement de ce monde, je n’aurai plus jamais le réflexe de débattre avec des fascistes ou des extrémistes de droite qui ne croient pas en la démocratie ni en la liberté d’expression. Je ne débattrai pas publiquement avec des gens sur certains sujets : droits des trans, droits des femmes, avortement, démocratie, droits de l’homme, et bien d’autres. Il y a des limites à ne pas franchir. Bien qu’il soit parfois légitime de discuter de l’ampleur ou des limites de certaines questions, cela peut rapidement devenir une source de division et de conflit. Par exemple, je suis porté à croire qu’il vaut mieux ignorer quelqu’un qui ne croit pas aux droits à l’avortement que de débattre avec lui sur les limites de l’avortement. Ces discussions sont, dans la majorité des cas, inutiles et ne servent personne. Elles permettent simplement aux individus d’exprimer leurs opinions et de dominer leurs adversaires. **Sources** : Parfois, je dois parler à des gens en « off » (off the record) . Si les gens sont « off the record », ils constituent soit la meilleure source au monde, soit il y a un minimum de cinq personnes vérifiables qui peuvent attester du sujet sur lequel on les interviewe. J’essaierai toujours d’officialiser toutes les citations. C’est parfois impossible. ## **Réseaux Sociaux et Culture en Ligne** Les réseaux sociaux ne sont pas perçus comme une source légitime d'information par la plupart des entreprises de presse . Beaucoup de journalistes du courant dominant me suivent et aiment mon travail, mais à une échelle institutionnelle, la plupart des médias pourraient être en désaccord avec mon approche . J’aimerais changer cela. Le même ensemble de principes éthiques s’applique à mon travail sur les réseaux sociaux. Cependant, il y a aussi certains cadres que je voudrais ajouter en annexe afin de continuer d’assumer mes responsabilités et de reconnaître que je souhaite atteindre certains objectifs. Il me semble crucial d’évoquer certaines facettes de la culture numérique qui sont souvent des thèmes sensibles, rarement abordés ouvertement par les individus. **Corrections** : Il est très difficile de corriger les publications sur les réseaux sociaux. Si toute la prémisse d'une vidéo ou d'un post est fausse, pas de problème . On retire, on poste des excuses et une correction . Mais que faire lorsqu’un aspect mineur de la vidéo n’est pas tout à fait exact ? Un journal populaire pourrait ajouter un astérisque en bas ou en haut d’un article pour indiquer qu’une version antérieure de l’article disait ceci ». Deux options sont possibles en cas d’erreur mineure sur les réseaux sociaux : corriger dans les commentaires et l’épingler, ou rédiger la correction dans la description. Bien que ces techniques puissent corriger certains aspects, il est préférable d’éviter les erreurs. **Distinguer le fait de l'opinion** : Je pense que je peux m'améliorer ici . Environ cinquante pour cent des gens en Amérique ont du mal à faire la différence entre fait et opinion . Bien que nous n’ayons pas effectué d’études sur le même sujet au Canada, j’envisage qu’il y ait un phénomène similaire. Dans mes vidéos, je vais donc bien séparer le fait de l’opinion, et attirer explicitement l’attention sur les éléments factuels plutôt que sur ceux qui relèvent de l’opinion. Je m’abstiendrai d’utiliser les noms d’autres individus à mauvais escient sur les réseaux sociaux lorsque j’aborderai un sujet, à moins que l’individu en question soit déjà une figure publique. Même dans ce cas, il y a des exceptions. Par exemple, si je discute d’un homme politique qui a commis une action répréhensible, je le nommerai. Cependant, si j'aborde un article que je pense problématique, ou un événement que je pense être mauvais, il est peu probable que je nomme l'auteur, ou l'auteur d'un événement . C’est parce que les gens montrent encore et encore qu’ils ne peuvent pas être normaux et pacifiques, et aussi à cause de la tendance d’Internet à harceler les autres. Je ne nommerai pas les personnes avec qui je suis en désaccord, sauf si elles sont connues, et même dans ce cas, je pourrais m’abstenir. C'est participer à la culture de l'annulation (cancel culture), que je rejette explicitement . Je m’engage à aborder les sujets délicats avec franchise et sans détour. Je me suis souvent attaqué au thème du génocide, de la guerre, de la mort et des problèmes de santé, entre autres. Je ne compte pas m’arrêter là, car cela risque de nuire à la visibilité de mes vidéos, qui sont susceptibles d’être censurées par l’algorithme. Je pense que minimiser les aspects les plus sombres est préjudiciable à notre capacité en tant que société à aborder ouvertement les problèmes sociaux. Culture de l’annulation : En 2025, la culture de l’annulation est toujours bien présente. J'ai déjà eu plusieurs personnes qui m'ont attaqué en ligne en utilisant des phrases délirantes — une personne a dit que je participais à la « culture des reçus » (receipt culture) et que ce ne sont que les occidentaux qui font cela . Je n'ai pas répondu à cette personne. Beaucoup d'autres essaient de commencer des drames avec moi . Je n’ai jamais l’intention de me lancer dans des conflits inutiles en ligne. Si je dis ou fais quelque chose de mal, j’essaierai de le reconnaître et de m’excuser. Je suis conscient que je peux dire ou faire des choses stupides, insensibles ou trompeuses. Je vais faire des efforts pour ne pas être comme ça. Bien que je ne réponde pas au drame public de manière sensationnaliste. Si quelqu'un poste une vidéo m'attaquant, je vais leur parler directement et de manière conflictuelle . Je suis un journaliste, je ne suis pas un influenceur . Je suis ouvert à la discussion dans les commentaires, mais je m’engage à ne pas y répondre avec des phrases-chocs ou des pièges (« gotchas »). J’ai regretté d’avoir adopté cette approche par le passé, car elle peut facilement entraîner des conflits inutiles. Je préfère adopter une attitude professionnelle ou amicale, sans jamais sombrer dans l’agressivité, même si d’autres commentateurs peuvent être antagonistes. Je me réserve également le droit de supprimer les commentaires inappropriés et de modérer mes plateformes en ligne. Bien que la plupart des commentaires sur Instagram et TikTok aient été de bonne foi, beaucoup ne le sont pas . En particulier, j'ai remarqué un manque de bonne foi pendant les élections . J'ai l'impression que la plupart de ces commentaires de mauvaise foi sont des robots . Pourtant, je peux, et je vais, vous bloquer et supprimer vos commentaires, si je veux. C’est ma plateforme. En général, je ne le ferai pas, à moins que ce soit de la mauvaise foi, ou que cela cause une perturbation inutile. Quand je vois un fil de discussion avec trente commentaires et que ce sont juste deux étrangers qui s'insultent, je vais le supprimer . Ce n'est bénéfique pour personne, et nous rend tous collectivement plus stupides . ## **Politique sur l'IA** L'IA, c'est nul. J'espère qu'elle disparaîtra. Je l'utilise pour les transcriptions. J'utilise une plateforme appelée notta.ai. Cette plateforme m'a simplifié la vie. Elle intègre une IA. Je demande : « Où se trouve le timecode de cette citation ? » et elle me le donne. Cependant, lorsque je note une citation, j'écoute et je la retranscris moi-même. Voici ce pour quoi je ne l'utilise pas : Je ne l'utilise pas pour créer des images. Je ne l'utilise pas pour écrire. Je ne l'utilise pas pour corriger. Je ne l'utilise pas pour corriger mes erreurs. Je ne l'utilise à aucune fin créative ni pour quoi que ce soit qui pourrait constituer une violation de la propriété intellectuelle. ### Quitting Spotify - A Guide on how to do it URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/quitting-spotify-a-guide-on-how-to/ Last updated: 2025-12-04T15:30:06.000Z People all over the world are in the middle of posting their “Spotify wrapped!” My friend and colleague, and overall badass journalist, William Wilson, posted yesterday “What’s more utterly asinine, narcissistic and self aggrandizing than posting your yearly roundup of favourite Spotify artists? It’s like posting about how many pairs of socks you own.” I don’t agree with Will even a bit here, since I find the practice to be quite community driven, fun, and I enjoy looking at other people’s Spotify wrapped. Anytime I see someone who listens to Taylor Swift, Charlie XCX and Sabrina Carpenter I call them a white girl and the two of us have a laugh. Because that’s fun, and cute, and I enjoy seeing what people enjoy. I’ve never had the opportunity to use spotify wrapped because I only paid for the service once in 2016\. I’m an audiophile, and the sound quality wasn’t good enough. As time has gone on, I have accidentally wound up on the right side of history, although not through conscious moral decision making. Not only does the company not sound good, it is an overbloated app that looks unusable with its obsession with pushing books and music, but it’s also an evil company. In no order, here is everything wrong with the company: 1. They don’t pay their artists. This year my music, which I haven’t pushed in two years, has received 427,510 streams on Spotify. Spotify, for these almost half a million streams, has paid me $744\. 0.0017 dollars per stream– about one twentieth of a cent. Apple Music on the other hand is paying me about 2 cents a stream. That’s a pretty good payment. **More simply put if I received the same amount of streams on Apple Music as Spotify, I would have been paid $8,550.** 2. The only people who are paid are labels with special deals with Spotify 3. [They actively advertise ICE,](https://www.nme.com/news/music/spotify-unwrapped-campaign-calls-for-boycott-over-ice-ads-and-ai-music-3915774?ref=onthetrail.info) the organization in the USA who is violently assaulting people of all stripes, is deporting people with extreme racist prejudice, and is [among the top 20 largest military in the world.](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ice-funding-world-militaries-b2790466.html?ref=onthetrail.info) 4. [They censor palestinian singers](https://en.hespress.com/64560-spotify-under-fire-for-deleting-song-dammi-falastini-after-accusing-its-singer-of-antisemitism.html?print&ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=The%20digital%20music%20and%20podcast,%2C%20Mohammed%20Assaf%2C%20of%20antisemitism.) 5. [They donated for Trump’s inauguration](https://www.tpr.org/podcast/the-source/2025-11-30/big-techs-big-spending-in-politics?ref=onthetrail.info) 6. [They supported the Joe Rogan Experience, ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAi7NnzQeyY&ref=onthetrail.info)one of the largest media in the world actively spreading misinformation and one of the biggest reasons the USA elected Trump (again?) 7. [They fired 17 per cent of their staff while not paying artists, turning a profit, and paying execs huge sums](https://www.businessinsider.com/spotify-layoffs-read-memo-ceo-sent-employees-announcing-cuts-2023-12?ref=onthetrail.info) 8. They use AI music to not pay royalties to real artists Every major company is evil, let’s be clear. There is no ethical consumption in our system, but we can make better and worse choices. In this case, the stage is set– pretty sure that Spotify comes out as the worst of the bunch. Well what else can you do then? I personally buy vinyl and use Tidal. Tidal is owned by Square, an evil company, but less evil. It’s a bit less convenient for people who like listening to podcasts, but if you’re on Apple, use Apple Podcasts, and if you’re on Android, use Podcast Addict. Super chill! I have tested every app, and I would recommend three, based on how you live. 1. [Tidal](https://tidal.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) is excellent. Every day they improve their app, it has lossless sound quality, great suggestion algorithms, and the same library (pretty much) as Spotify. If you like some really obscure, strange tunes, you might not find them. But even then, I listen to a lot of obscure artists. The app is particularly good on Apple phones, but I use an Android for mine. They pay about as well as Apple does! If everyone was listening here, people would be much better off. Their phone app is great. Best music streaming phone app I’ve ever used. 2. [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/ca/login?ref=onthetrail.info) is a fantastic music streaming app. It pays well, the app is nice, and they have an identical library to Spotify. It’s apple though, so they have some ethical concerns, but you’re going to have that problem everywhere. Except the third choice. Apple music is great. Highly recommended to those who want to escape Spotify. 3. [Qobuz](https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/discover?ref=onthetrail.info)– Qobuz slaps. It’s an amazing app with amazing sound quality. However, this is like, the old man choice. Their library is good, not quite as good as Tidal, Apple Music, or Spotify, but you mostly won’t have problems. They also give you discounts on purchasing music from artists– they’re a real storefront! They’re hi-res lossless, and specifically if you listen to music on your computer, their computer app is phenomenal. **They also pay about 2.5 times more than even Tidal and Apple Music.** Final note? They’re not an evil corporation. They’re a small French company with a tiny team of staff members. Their phone app isn’t great, but I love this company. The largest drawback, and it’s huge, is that they don’t have a discovery algorithm. This is why I use Tidal. I love finding new music, but if Qobuz ever does a good algorithm, I’d switch in a heartbeat. But if you just wanna listen to your old tunes and be happy… well go use Qobuz. It’s bar none the best one, unless you value finding new music. Switching Spotify is simple. You don’t wanna lose your music, I get it. Use [Soundiiz](https://soundiiz.com/?ref=onthetrail.info). It’ll switch your tunes. When I’ve tried out all the platforms (and trust me, I’ve tried them all out.) I just pay the five dollars, switch, and never think about it again. Podcasts on Android: Podcast Addict Podcasts on Apple: Apple Podcasts Audiobooks: Libby Still, I personally buy merch and vinyl from my favourite artists, as well as attending their shows. I love music more than almost anything, it is bar none my biggest passion (music, books and video games are my three biggest passions I’d say.) So, your best option is still to buy physical stuff. If you want to enjoy the amazing quality of Vinyl (which sounds better than music online because of “dynamic range” and better masters. I won’t explain it, but trust me, I have a degree in music and I’m a lifelong audiophile.) Go pick up a little suitcase turntable with built-in speakers! It’s a cheap, 100 dollar investment, and then you can better support your favourite artists. That, or go on bandcamp to buy music! But most of us are poor. So if you wanna do *slightly* better than spotify, there’s some options. Do you have your own thoughts? What are they? How do you listen to music? No shame if you stick with Spotify, it’s convenient! Tell me what you’re thinking! ### Correction: image found from the last email, I was the one spreading rumours. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/correction-image-found-from-the-last/ Last updated: 2025-12-03T17:58:11.000Z Hey folks, I need to make a correction on the last email. The photo is not AI from that video, and I have removed the video from every single platform. I apologize for this mistake. Make sure not to share it. William Wilson found the image for me and I am sorry that I didn’t do a better job fact checking the image. The story about the raccoon remains untrue, but the image is from getty images. Thank you, and sorry once again. Isaac Peltz ### A counterweight to constantly rising prices URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/a-counterweight-to-constantly-rising/ Last updated: 2025-12-02T12:45:27.000Z Black Friday and Cyber Monday are stupid, useless days that celebrate a system that is slowly killing us. It supports a cynical, consumerist worldview that all of us are victims of. It argues that we should purchase things we don’t need, upgrade our lifestyle with electronics, devices, and novelty that we don’t need. The price of our happiness is at a discount today, and so we should spend. Well, today is Giving Tuesday. It is intended to be a “counterweight” to the hyper consumerism of those two useless American traditions that have been forced down our throat. [So, let’s join in.](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/helpmediasurvive?ref=onthetrail.info) [I’m giving a discount on the annual subscription](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/helpmediasurvive?ref=onthetrail.info), and asking for people to help fund this next year. I want to get $25,000 to survive this next year. If I have $25,000 I can focus on work, live, and keep going. If we can raise 25,000 for the next year, we can keep everything free, un-paywalled, and keep charging only $5 for a subscription. I believe in raising money through community engagement, not through charging good people money. But there’s a catch. I would still like you to spend the full $50 that you would usually spend with an annual subscription with me. I want you to take your leftover **13.5 dollars**, and go give it to another news org that you love, that’s doing good work. [The Rover](https://therover.ca/support-us/?ref=onthetrail.info) and [Pivot](https://pivot.quebec/contribuer/?ref=onthetrail.info) have my full endorsements, but they sure aren’t the only ones. Out east, [the Independent ](https://theindependent.ca/support-us/?ref=onthetrail.info)constantly inspires me to do better work (Justin Brake is my fucking hero.) Out west, [the Tyee](https://support.thetyee.ca/?utm%5Fcampaign=mbar&ref=onthetrail.info) is amazing, the [Alberta Worker ](https://albertaworker.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info)is radical… I don’t personally have any connections to Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, but if you’re one of my readers and you live there– go give them money! If you can’t give because you’re a poor-ass student, or money is tight, or anything else, well, help out by sharing this with people. Help make this into something! If you need arguments as to why funding people like me is important, well, it’s in part because I have two cute cats who I need to feed, and partly because I**’m trying to craft resources for people to point to, and to completely transform the landscape of media.** I think I’m about to do it again, I think that we’re about to radically change how people perceive and ingest media, and I’m pretty sure we’ve started a train that won’t be stopped now. I also think these people whom I’ve mentioned above are doing that. Because honestly, they’ve been doing it longer than I have and without them I don’t have a start. If you need arguments as to why you should give 37.5 dollars to this journalist, it’s because journalism defends democracy, calls out power, and fights for the vulnerable. At least it should. I think I’m doing that. I’m going to keep writing about the most in the weeds stories possible, and look through the most obnoxious statistics and numbers to make sure you know what’s happening. In the 1980s, no one in the media did the number crunching to expose the destruction of our social systems by the Mulroney government, no one took the time to beat their heads against a wall and call out the Mulroney government and then the Chretien government for choking out our systems. And then Harper did the same. No one is as stubborn as I am, to beat their head against a wall for weeks straight to get an answer from a financial statement regardless of how draining it is. And I want to keep doing it. The Media is in a dark place. This is because of money. Our system forces us to make profit. Journalism is a service. So, here’s a discount code, please help me reach my goal of $25,000 for next year’s expenses, and please take the difference and give it to one of those other news orgs! Take care everyone, you’ve all blessed me so much. [Here’s the link](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/helpmediasurvive?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Governments running to the right, while unions turn out to bring down the government! URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/governments-running-to-the-right/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:25.000Z Governments running to the right, while unions turn out to bring down the government! 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/ebe25caa-5897-4831-95ec-f4e3ba701c78_1920x1080.png) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) If you like these discussions, feel free to give $5 a month on substack, or donate a one time donation! https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz This is the year that never stops giving! The news won’t stop newsing, and Carney won’t stop moving to the right. This week, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Carney and Smith may have permanently jeapordized his chances of continuing his reign in Canada. Quebec media and Quebec communities are upset, and are being pushed towards the Bloc Quebecois at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, in BC, lower mainland voters are upset, alongside much of the NDP in the province. How will the MOU affect the voters in the next election? We’re going to find out! Then, unions turn up in force! Fifty thousand members of unions came out on Saturday to fight back against the Quebec government, which is resembling more and more a far right nationalist government (wow that’s a terrible sentence to say!) who wants to destroy unions, end LGBTQ rights, and give the rich more power while diminishing social services. Hmm why do all these things sound so historically familiar? ### Le débat néo-démocrate « français » n'a pas été français URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/le-debat-neo-democrate-francais-na/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:25.000Z Le débat du NPD en français fut une déception. L’objectif du débat de jeudi n’est pas très clair. Le NPD n’était soumis à aucune pression pour organiser un débat en langue française en 2025, et stipulait dans son règlement qu’il tiendrait soit un débat en français et un en anglais, soit un seul débat dans les deux langues. Compte tenu des performances de jeudi soir, il aurait probablement été plus judicieux d’organiser un débat unique plus proche de l’élection à la chefferie, ce qui aurait permis aux candidats de mieux s’exercer. Bien que ce débat comporte de nombreuses critiques, on s’abstiendrai de les formuler avant le débat en anglais, car l’incapacité à communiquer en français a été l’élément le plus marquant de la soirée. « Les débats se déroulent dans chaque langue officielle ou, s’il s’agit d’un seul débat, en anglais et en français à parts égales », stipule le règlement de la course à la chefferie présenté sur le site officiel du NPD. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/1f07e9a9-5da7-4433-8693-d2145c8fc9fb_1600x709.png) Les dirigeants du NPD ont décidé de ne pas respecter les règles qu’ils avaient eux-mêmes établies. Ils ont finalement annoncé que le débat serait composé de 60 % en français et de 40 % en anglais. Le débat a été loin d’atteindre même cet effort nettement inférieur. Beaucoup de francophones qui souhaitent en savoir plus sur les dirigeants du parti et leur capacité à séduire le Québec ont été profondément déçus. Dans l’ensemble, il est possible que la décision d’intituler cet événement un débat « français » n’ait pas servi ces candidats du tout au Québec. Il ne sera pas nécessaire de s’étendre sur la prononciation ou l’accent, puisque la plupart des candidats ont appris le français depuis environ deux mois. Il suffit de dire qu’une grande partie du français parlé sur scène était difficile à comprendre. Les candidats devront travailler leur prononciation s’ils veulent se produire sur la scène nationale. Si le modérateur avait posé une question en français, les candidats devaient y répondre en français. La seule candidate à l’avoir fait est Heather McPherson. Avi Lewis est arrivé en deuxième position. Chez *On the Trail*, nous avons procédé à une analyse approximative du pourcentage de français utilisé par chaque candidat. Heather McPherson a déployé des efforts considérables pour améliorer son français, et cela se voit. Elle a également les meilleures chances de réussite grâce à son travail au Parlement, où des cours de langue sont offerts à tous les députés. Lewis a terminé en deuxième position (selon la langue), mais a tout de même parlé en français pendant près de deux minutes de moins que McPherson, revenant parfois à l’anglais pour mieux s’exprimer. Si l’on inclut le temps de parole du modérateur dans le total, les candidats n’ont parlé français que pendant 19,13 % du débat. Si l’on exclut le temps de parole du modérateur, comme le fait ce graphique, les candidats ont parlé en français pendant environ 25 % du débat. Bien sûr, la plupart, sinon la totalité, de ces candidats n’ont commencé à apprendre la langue que récemment. On ne peut pas s’attendre à ce qu’ils répondent dans un débat rapide. La responsabilité ne repose pas vraiment sur les épaules des candidats, mais plutôt sur l’organisation du NPD. Plusieurs témoignages “off the record” nous ont fait part de la profonde désorganisation au sein du NPD. Des personnes au sein du parti nous ont fait part de leurs frustrations à l’égard de l’état-major du parti, et il existe une frustration continue entre les membres et l’establishment du parti, qui auraient peut-être été bien avisés de s’abstenir d’un débat sur la langue française qui ne respectait même pas les règles les plus élémentaires qu’ils s’étaient fixées eux-mêmes – ou les règles plus assouplies qu’ils avaient tenté d’instaurer. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Une manière possible d’organiser le débat plus efficacement aurait été de donner aux candidats toutes les questions à l’avance et de leur laisser le temps de préparer leurs réponses. Une perte de dynamisme aurait été acceptable, étant donné que ce débat était censé être 100 % en français, selon les règles du NPD. Étant donné que le modérateur, Karl Bélanger, ne leur a pas posé de questions difficiles, cette approche leur aurait permis de s’adresser au public québécois qu’ils tentent d’atteindre et de mieux faire ressortir les différences dans leurs programmes. Toutefois, d’autres méthodes auraient pu être efficaces. C’est peut-être une chance que peu de gens en dehors des plus fervents partisans du NPD vont regarder ce débat. Toutefois, il aurait été plus efficace d’opter pour un format adapté aux médias sociaux, car de nombreuses personnes n’ont pas le temps de regarder des échanges de 90 minutes entre des individus qui partagent les mêmes opinions. Chaque candidat a reconnu que le NPD ne pourrait pas remporter d’élection sans gagner le Québec. Pendant la section du débat sur l’engagement du Québec, McPherson et Lewis ont tous deux persisté à s’exprimer en français. Les trois autres candidats se sont tous excusés de leur manque de français et ont promis de faire mieux à l’avenir. Néanmoins, étant donné à quel point il est nécessaire pour le NPD de gagner au Québec, celui qui l’emportera devra consacrer une quantité extrême de temps à l’apprentissage de la langue. Il est presque certain qu’il y aura une élection en 2026, ou début 2027. Seuls Lewis et McPherson ont pu répondre aux questions des journalistes, qui étaient en français, lors de la mêlée qui a suivi le débat. Bien que les Québécois soient habitués à ce que les politiciens utilisent la langue comme un outil pour gagner du soutien, il y a peut-être une personne qui aurait pu vraiment les toucher en leur montrant qu’elle les comprenait. Tanille Johnstone a parlé de sa propre langue et, dans ce qui semblait être une tentative réussie de faire preuve d’empathie envers les francophones, a promis d’apprendre et de progresser. « J’ai passé ma vie d’adulte à essayer de perfectionner ma langue maternelle, le Liq’wala (Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ). Nous n’avons peut-être que 6 à 10 locuteurs fluents qui parlent le Liq’wala (Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ) dans ma communauté. Je ressens l’engagement envers la langue comme le font les francophones. Je suis vraiment engagée envers le français à travers notre pays d’une manière équitable parce que je sais ce que l’on ressent lorsque sa langue est menacée », a-t-elle affirmé. Chaque personne a été questionnée sur sa satisfaction concernant ses compétences en français. Lewis et McPherson semblaient assez confiants et ont tous deux promis de continuer à progresser et à apprendre. McQuail, Ashton et Johnstone semblaient tous prêts à apprendre, à progresser et, s’ils remportent la chefferie, à devenir des locuteurs français. Cependant, tout espoir n’est pas perdu. Si ces candidats redoublent d’efforts et s’efforcent de maîtriser véritablement la langue, ils pourraient encore séduire le Québec. Jeudi dernier, aucun des cinq candidats ne pouvait prétendre à l’expertise de Mark Carney (qui n’est pas bon) ou de Pierre Poilievre, et tous auraient du mal à suivre le rythme d’un débat animé, moins amical et beaucoup plus conflictuel. Tous les cinq devront progresser à une vitesse fulgurante s’ils veulent devenir chef du Canada. ### The "French" NDP debate did not live up to its namesake URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-french-ndp-debate-did-not-live/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:26.000Z The “French” NDP debate was a disappointment. The purpose of Thursday’s debate is unclear. The NDP was under no pressure to hold a French language debate in 2025, and stipulated in their ruleset that they would either have 1 French Debate and 1 English debate, or, one debate with both languages. Based on Thursday night’s performances, it would have probably been wiser having a single debate closer to the leadership election, if only to give more time for the candidates to practice. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Although there is a lot to criticize about the debate, I will refrain from doing so until the “English” debate, simply because the failure to engage with French was the highlight of the evening. “The debates will occur in each official language, or if there is only one debate, in French and English in equal parts,” say [the rules for the leadership race outlined on the official NDP website](https://www.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/2026-reglesregissantlacoursealadirection.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/d70c8469-b3f6-44f2-80dc-ced191d591ae_1600x709.png) The NDP’s directors decided not to follow their own rules that they outlined. In the end, they said the debate would be 60% French, and 40 per cent English. The debate fell wildly short of even that significantly lower effort. If there were francophones interested in the party and had tuned in to learn about the leaders and whether they would appeal to Quebec, they were likely highly disappointed. Overall, the decision to call this a “French” debate may have done more to hurt these candidates in Quebec than help them. We will not spend much time on the pronunciation or accent, seeing as several of the candidates have been attempting to speak French for approximately two months. Suffice to say that much of the French spoken on stage was hard to understand. The candidates would need to improve their pronunciation if they expect to be on a national stage. If the moderator asked a question in French, the candidate was supposed to respond in French. The only candidate who did so was Heather McPherson. Avi Lewis spoke French the second most, although was still outmatched by McPherson. We at *On the Trail* have taken the transcript and given an **approximate** analysis of the percentage of French spoken by each candidate. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) *Use the page buttons to see everyone* Heather McPherson put a massive effort into working on her French, and it showed. She also has the most advantages in learning the language, seeing as she works in the Parliament, and all MPs have access to language lessons. Lewis came second, but still spoke nearly two minutes fewer than McPherson, sometimes defaulting to English so he could better express himself. ​​*Not including the moderator* If the moderator’s time is included in the total, the candidates only spoke French for 19.13 per cent of the debate. If we remove the moderator from the total debate time, which this chart does, the candidates spoke for around 25 per cent of the debate in French. Of course, most of, if not all of, these candidates only recently started learning the language, and can’t be expected to respond in a rapid-fire debate. The blame does not truly lie with the candidates, but with the organizational structure of the NDP. Many sources have talked to us about the disorganization of the NDP, which goes far beyond what has been reported on. People within the party have spoken to us about their frustrations with the party brass, and there is a continued frustration between the members and the party establishment, who may have been well advised to hold off on a French language debate which didn’t meet even the most basic rules that they set for themselves– or the diminished rules that they tried to put in place. A potentially more effective way to do this debate could have been to *provide the candidates with all the questions in advance* and allow them to write out everything beforehand. A loss of dynamism would have been acceptable, considering that this debate was supposed to be 100 per cent in French, based on the NDP’s rules. Considering that there were no challenging questions thrown at them by the moderator, Karl Bélanger, this approach would have allowed them to speak to the Quebecois audience whom they are trying to reach, as well as better highlight the differences in their platforms. However, there may be other approaches that could have worked as well. It might be a blessing then that few people outside of the most hardcore NDP are going to watch this debate. However, what may have been more effective is prioritizing a format that could be clipped and used on social media, seeing as many people do not have the time to sit through 90 minutes of people agreeing with each other. Something that might be good to ask is whether or not debates in this format have significant relevance in 2025, or if even having a French debate which might hurt the candidates was the right decision. Most people are not paying attention to a leadership election (the Liberal leadership election in 2025 was an exception, because whoever was elected in that would become Prime Minister.) and alternative approaches could have been acceptable. Every candidate acknowledged that the only way to win an election as the NDP would be to win Quebec. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Both McPherson and Lewis maintained the French language during the entire debate around appealing to Quebec. The other three candidates all apologized for their lack of French, and promised to do better in the future. Nonetheless, considering how necessary it is for the NDP to win Quebec, whoever wins needs to devote an extreme amount of time to learning the language. **It is nearly certain that there will be an election in 2026, or early 2027.** Only Lewis and McPherson were able to respond to reporters asking questions in French during the scrum after the debate. Still, Quebecois are used to politicians only learning the language as a tool to win. In the debate, there may have only been one person who might have truly made Quebecois people feel understood. Tanille Johnstone spoke about her own language, and in what seemed like a successful bid to empathise with francophones, vowed to learn and grow. “My adult life has been spent trying to hone my native language of Liq’wala (Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ). We only have maybe 6 to 10 fluent language speakers that speak Liq’wala (Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ) in my community. I feel the commitment to language as francophone folks do. I am truly committed to French across our country in an equitable way because I know what it feels like to have your language threatened,” she said. Every person was asked if they were satisfied with their performance in French. Lewis and McPherson seemed fairly confident, and both of them promised to continue growing and learning. McQuail, Ashton and Johnstone all seemed ready to learn, grow, and if they win the leadership, become French speakers. However, hope is not lost. If these candidates redouble their efforts and work to truly master the language, they could still appeal to Quebec. As of Thursday, none of the five candidates could call themselves as proficient as either Mark Carney (who is not good at French, but can still perform) or Pierre Poilievre, and would struggle to keep up in a dynamic debate on stage that is less friendly, and much more confrontational. All five will need to learn at an incredible pace if they expect to become the leader of Canada. ### Rob Ashton is out to completely transform Canada's society through systemic change URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/rob-ashton-is-out-to-completely-transform/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:26.000Z Rob Ashton is out to completely transform Canada's society through systemic change 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Rob Ashton, running to be the next leader of the NDP has spent his life as a labourer, and he looks it. He’s the real deal, and it makes sense that he would be running to be the leader of the party who aligns themselves with unions and labour rights. A labour leader, a union boss, and a true west coaster. Rob wants to fundamentally reform Canada to reflect a bottom up vision, where worker have power and aren’t run by the ruling class. Can he do it? Although his vision is bold, we had questions about the specifics of how he’s going to do it, and some criticisms of how it might unfold. Dive in today with Isaac Peltz and Rob Ashton On the Trail. ### Une semaine pas plate URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/une-semaine-pas-plate/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:27.000Z Une semaine pas plate 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e4c72cf1-304d-40b6-b79a-3b36b73999f4_1920x1080.png) # [ÉCOUTEZ ICI SUR VOTRE APPLICATION DE PODCAST](https://linktr.ee/isaacpeltzpodcasts?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Bienvenue dans le sixième épisode du Plancher des vaches ! Cette semaine, dans notre balado en français, nous décortiquons les éternels drames et catastrophes de la scène politique canadienne. Le gouvernement fédéral est instable, le budget ayant été adopté de justesse, tandis que la popularité de Pierre Poilievre continue de chuter. Au Québec, la constitution menace les droits des citoyens, les médecins sont en colère et les syndicats sont en pleine effervescence. Mais cette semaine ? Le Parti libéral du Québec traverse une crise majeure qui a éclipsé tous les problèmes considérables du gouvernement de la CAQ. Pablo Rodriguez pourrait bien ne jamais s’en remettre. Enfin, les élections municipales de Montréal sont en difficulté, et des membres de l’équipe de Denis Coderre travaillent maintenant pour Soraya. Tout cela, et bien plus encore, dans le Plancher des vaches de cette semaine ! ### Scandal in the Liberal Party of Quebec! The Parliament isn't gonna last much longer! AI in journalism!!!!! URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/scandal-in-the-liberal-party-of-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:27.000Z Scandal in the Liberal Party of Quebec! The Parliament isn't gonna last much longer! AI in journalism!!!!! 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/40d360eb-cd78-4f1e-86cd-1c83ce13db0a_1920x1080.png) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Isaac and Gabrielle are back to discuss this past week of news… which just wouldn’t stop. The parliament passed it’s first budget since the federal election, and the Epstein files are coming out. Isaac splits hairs when they comment on Trump probably not touching little girls, but nonetheless being a serial r\*pist. Woops! Simply put he’s a horrible person! After that, they dig into Quebec… which is having a huge scandal rock the Liberal Party of Quebec! What a wild week in the endless slew of news information. We also dive right deep into AI in journalism again as an amazing article came out in the Local Toronto! Check it out here, highly recommended, you should read it. https://thelocal.to/investigating-scam-journalism-ai/ Enjoy this off the rails discussion, and feel free to donate, help out, and share the podcast! https://onthetrailmtl.ca ### Another year of International impotence around climate change, with massive police presence suppressing indigenous voices, as well as mass lobbying derailing the project. URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/another-year-of-international-impotence/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:27.000Z Indigenous groups in Brazil picketed COP30 this year, with groups storming the entrance and attempting to get access to meet with the President of the event. The meeting has taken place on the doorstep of the amazon forest, inciting indigenous groups to push back and protest to see real climate justice take place. COP’s reputation has fundamentally shifted since 2023, when COP28, hosted by Dubai, [saw a quadrupling of fossil fuel lobbyists attending.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cop28-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-1.7048746?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=An%20unprecedented%20number%20of%20lobbyists,new%20analysis%20by%20environmental%20groups.) Since then, COP’s global reputation has been falling, despite the negotiations being the goal of the meeting. “Indigenous people continue to be the biggest impediments of what (fossil fuel companies) would consider progress, which is affecting the bottom line of these fossil fuel companies,” Janelle Lapointe, senior advisor at the Suzuki foundation said. She outlined how the push back against climate progress and action against global rising temperatures is funded by companies who simply don’t want to lose profits. Lapointe is a rights holder from the Stellat’en first nation in BC, and despite her nation’s territory being threatened by Mark Carney and his backsliding on Canada’s climate change innovations, she was only given an “observer badge,” compared to about a dozen lobbyists being given “official Canadian delegate” status. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) While the police violently oppressed indigenous dissent, [Big Polluters Out](https://kickbigpollutersout.org/?ref=onthetrail.info), an environmental activist and research group, counted there to be more than 1600 fossil fuel lobbyists at the meeting, which is 1 lobbyist per 25 attendees. “I’m really struck by the hypocrisy of barring the people that are on the front line of this crisis and the front line of development while we let the fossil fuel lobby waltz in the door,” Lapointe said. Canada has recently committed to creating a new Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) transmission pipeline in British Columbia (BC), which has not been received well by indigenous groups. The APTN reported numerous nations who expressed both skepticism and a closure to these projects. LNG value is supposed to peak around 2030, so building a new transmission line will likely not be finished in time for Canada to take advantage of its potentially financial benefits. Meanwhile, Canada is simultaneously holding talks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to build a new oil pipeline to the west coast despite tanker bans on the northern coast, and despite not inviting Premier David Eby to these meetings– despite the bitumen pipeline requiring collaboration from the BC government. Carney has not committed to following Canada’s commitments in the 2015 Paris agreement, except for a minor promise made to Elizabeth May during a question period, where he made a vague promise to keep Canada’s legally binding objectives in order to secure May’s vote for their recent budget. Although it was a loose, politically motivated promise, May used it as a pretense to vote for the budget. Critics have pointed out that it was surprising to see such a small concession win the vote of a staunch activist like May. Considering that these discussions around a new pipeline have been in secret, and only started surfacing after the budget was passed, it seems that the meetings with Smith were hidden from public view so as to help gain the confidence vote of the green party for their [backsliding budget](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/p/the-2025-budget-is-my-least-favourite?ref=onthetrail.info). [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Willo Prince, Education Coordinator with Indigenous Climate Action, asked climate minister Julie Dabrusin if she was comfortable with Indigenous communities “remaining in the sacrifice zone” of climate change. “Yes, or no?” she reportedly asked. Dabrusin avoided answering the question directly, taking Lapointe and Prince aback. “I was struck by her ability to look me square in the pupils and lie,” Lapointe said. Instead of giving a direct answer, the minister said that the Liberal government is doing well with other indigenous projects, and that they’re friendly to LGBTQ+ people. This is surprising, since the Liberals often present themselves as the best government for indigenous people. Albert Lalonde, a project manager for the David Suzuki Foundation explained the most effective way to push back against these large emitters. “One of the most successful ways of organizing against LNG projects is to put pressure on banks, insurers, and reinsurers,” they said. “At the end of the day, these projects are really risky. Canada is being mediocre at its own game, because even by the classic rules of liberalism and neoliberalism, resource extraction makes very little sense.” One of the worst pieces of news to come out of COP30 is that the planet is on track to heat by 2.7 C because of failed climate policy. Lalonde is pushing for people not to give up hope. “It’s not true that the 1.5 C objective is dead,” they said. When climate scientists are talking about 1.5C they don’t only mean in the immediate future, they mean by the year 2100\. Lalonde says we have to start turning back the clock. It’s important, in their view, that we don’t let go of hope and give way to despair. “The doomism on climate has fascist undertones,” they said. “Hope is political, and when we operate on the assumption that it’s a done deal and that we can’t do anything about it, what we are doing is making large parts of the world ‘sacrifice zones’.” Although we have exceeded the 1.5 C target, Lalonde says we need to stay above the target for “the least amount of time possible” to prevent unmitigated disaster. “Climate hope is often conflated with denial,” Lalonde said. They do not believe this is true– despite some people claiming that ‘things aren’t that bad’, particularly climate change deniers, they believe that hope should be direct, and not reject challenges but still with the goal of overcoming. “We need hope in the form of: Okay, this is going to be a very difficult walk.” The world is in a terrible political context, but the climate crisis might be the ticking time bomb to force change to happen. It simply needs ### Fossil Fuel Lobbyists given ‘official Canadian delegate’ status at COP30 while experts sidelined URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/fossil-fuel-lobbyists-given-official/ Last updated: 2025-11-21T19:25:56.000Z Fossil Fuel Lobbyists given ‘official Canadian delegate’ status at COP30 while experts sidelined 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Today On the Trail we have Janelle Lapointe and Albert Lalonde from the David Suzuki Foundation who are here to discuss COP30 and its failings. There were some technical problems, but the interview came out beautifully. Enjoy this deep dive into the resistance, the power structures, and the power of hope while fighting off the onslaught of the far right. If you enjoy interviews like this, please check out On the Trail at https://onthetrailmtl.ca or look at all our articles and other work at [https://linktr.ee/isaacapeltz](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video%5Fdescription&redir%5Ftoken=QUFFLUhqbUU4TVhidGQzX3BZT2dGdzNpY1lENmtQcFJFZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttUzIya0N6Zk9RdnV0T0dkdkdEbWl4LXc2WTJVSFVHNHZNdXFhV3lfSlBYZVhnOXduVFR0ZHYxXzcwQkxON2luR2RPN2wwMENTaTh5c2pFdjF3RlFaYzZaVklULXFudUgwMEFoYzk2UTcxZklxM2JIVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fisaacapeltz&v=n87HXjm1cQA&ref=onthetrail.info) ### Canada's National broadcaster is inept URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/cbc-and-radio-canada-are-failing/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:27.000Z I am affronted, appalled, dismayed, and disgusted by the CBC today. The CBC is supposed to be a resource and support average people. It’s a network of information that Canadians can use to know what’s happening across our vast country into the places that no one else can go. They are supposed to be independent, and generally I think they are. That being said, they’re Liberal party coded. In part this is because the Conservatives want to defund them, and in part because they play into this *absolute centrism both sideseyness* that places like CTV and the New York Times and whomever else play into. They don’t generally do journalism, they’re the commentators at a sports match. “He did this. She did this.” Often they write an article saying, “Johnny killed 12 people. Here’s what Johnny had to say about that.” They then proceed to quote the murderer and talk about his feelings. Or they write headlines like “Trans people want to live their lives. Here’s why Adam thinks they don’t deserve to.” I want to be clear that I want the CBC & Radio-Canada to be well funded, robust institutions. I think they’re necessary for Canadian democracy. They maintain an important information network for Canadians, particularly in remote locations such as the territories, indigenous land, and rural regions. Without them, who will cover the annual wildfires? The article that stood out today? [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### **As U.S. escalates threats on Maduro, some Venezuelans welcome regime change** So why is this headline supporting US Imperialism? What is the point of this article? If you read the article (don’t.) it goes on to expound on why a bunch of random people want a regime change. It doesn’t address the severe violence that this will entail. It doesn’t discuss the infrastructural destruction, the moral implications, or the history of regime change. No, instead it details how Trump can find the legal justification for an invasion. The US has been air striking fishing boats in Venezuela, claiming they’re members of a drug cartel. Reports have come out that they are not– [the families of those being murdered have attested to it being just random fishermen.](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/24/us-conducts-10th-deadly-boat-strike-as-bombing-campaign-quickens?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=Families%20in%20Colombia%20and%20Trinidad,traffickers%2C%20the%20families%20have%20said.) Instead of the CBC highlighting the plight of **victims** they support the USA in their regime change goals. We can certainly assume that some Venezuelans would want a regime change– that makes sense. Hell, I want a regime change in Canada as well, I’m tired of a centrist neo-liberal government. But this is supporting a violent imperialist country overthrowing the leader of a sovereign nation. Did the CBC just decide to forget one hundred years of context? For a media that claims to follow facts and always give context they sure didn’t do it here. In an article written by the editorial staff (I won’t be saying his name, because people are insane on the internet) the CBC said, “...we have much more work to do to explain the mechanics of journalism and the principles of **fairness, balance and impartiality** under which we operate… The job of a CBC News journalist is to report facts, to proportionately surface the variety of viewpoints that exist about those facts, to provide context and counter narratives where they exist, and to ensure credible analysis is in the mix. **The goal is to give you a 360-degree view of a story so you can draw your own conclusions.**” These people don’t know what journalism is. Fundamentally journalism has a few principles that have been historically accepted until somewhere around the invention of the Trump presidency. Journalism has a couple basic functions that are necessary for democracy. - **Watchdog**– to keep power accountable. - **Fact checking**– do not publish false facts, and if falsities are quoted, explain why it’s wrong. - **Reporting on “what’s happening.”** The Canadian Press does this in Canada. AP and Reuters do it in the States. When you read the Canadian press, it’s five sentences that only say facts and nothing else. That’s how you do this. - **Context and meaning** to world events - **Analysis and Civil discourse** like what I’m doing in this article. Op eds are only useful if they’re analytical in nature. People like Matthieu Bock Cote and Richard Martineau are braindead, and have no place in legitimate journals. Where is *any of this* in an article that approves of the invasion of a south american country by an imperialist country? But don’t worry, Radio Canada gifted us with another disastrous article today. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### **Des propriétaires peinent de plus en plus à trouver des locataires à Montréal (Landlords are struggling more and more to find renters in Montreal.)** Once again, the focus is on the people with power. If you are a landlord, you have power over people’s lives. Landlords are controlling the livelihood and ability to survive of those who are often poor and working class. They hold an enormous power over renters, and can do more or less whatever they want. Our system is built for landowners, it always has been. So why is the CBC supporting the status quo? They can produce amazing reports on [fascist fitness clubs](https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/fascist-fight-club?ref=onthetrail.info), and [break open government failures](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/opioid-overdose-crisis-street-drug-government-funding-9.6976562?ref=onthetrail.info) around the opioid crisis, but then they can’t hold landlords accountable? I don’t want to minimize real struggle here– owning a house is tough in 2025\. Renovation costs have more than doubled, and houseowners have it tough. Yet there aren’t endless articles about how tough renters have it. There’s hardly any reporting from the national broadcasters about the abhorrent living conditions of renters, and the abuses of landlords, and illegal evictions that happen constantly. There’s hardly reporting about people who live in conditions that are against Canadian law. The CBC/Radio Canada is mostly failing at its one job. It’s easy to nit pick and go over texts with a fine toothed comb in order to critique and pull out things that are not great about writing and opinions– you could easily do it to me. The problem is that it doesn’t take a fine toothed comb to pick out the disastrous state of most CBC journalism. A journalist from Radio-Canada, Gil Courtemanche, said in a [2001 interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tiVVMr0XM&ref=onthetrail.info), “Objectivity is nonsense. It’s complicity. You have to choose your side. You have to choose the side of the victim.” 25 years ago, these journalists were the ones at the heart of our national broadcaster. Today, those who are in the institution worship at the altar of “objectivity” without any purpose, they reject any other approach. They stand for nothing. They fight for nothing. And they will change nothing. It’s this failure to be an institution that defends the principles of journalism that makes people dismiss it as a bourgeois, liberal coded institution. It’s because in its current form, it’s exactly those things. ### La loi 2 menace les soins pour les personnes LGBTQ+, itinérantes et vulnérables URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/la-loi-2-menace-les-soins-pour-les/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:28.000Z # [LIRE L’ARTICLE COMPLET SUR PIVOT](https://pivot.quebec/2025/11/17/la-loi-2-menace-les-soins-pour-les-personnes-lgbtq-itinerantes-et-vulnerables/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Deux cliniques médicales renommées de Montréal, ainsi que huit cliniques de santé sexuelle réparties dans la province, pourraient fermer à cause de la loi 2, censée favoriser l’accès aux soins de santé en liant la rémunération des médecins à des critères de performance qui demeurent flous. La nouvelle loi augmentera aussi la charge de travail des soignant·es, qui devront rendre des comptes sur le travail effectué par leurs collègues.** [*Cet article est aussi paru en anglais chez The Rover.*](https://therover.ca/bill-2-threatening-care-for-quebec-lgbtq-homeless-and-vulnerable-populations/?ref=onthetrail.info) Les cliniques Agora et Quorum se trouvent à proximité de la station de métro Berri-UQAM et accueillent des personnes vivant avec le VIH, des membres de la communauté LGBTQ+, des personnes itinérantes, ainsi que des familles du quartier. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Prelib est un réseau de huit cliniques, présent dans cinq villes du Québec, qui offre des services de santé sexuelle confidentiels. Ces cliniques sont menacées de fermeture, comme [de nombreux autres](http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/11/14/danger-deffondrement-des-gmf-tirent-la-sonnette-dalarme-face-aux-impacts-anticipes-de-la-reforme-en-sante?ref=onthetrail.info) groupes de médecine de famille (GMF), ce qui pourrait priver de leur médecin de famille des milliers de Québécois·es. Si la loi 2 ne subit aucune modification, le docteur Maxim Régimbal-Éthier, fondateur de Prelib et co-fondateur de Quorum, prédit que les cliniques Prelib cesseront leurs activités dès le 1er janvier 2026. Quant à la clinique Agora, qui soigne souvent des personnes non inscrites à la Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), elle devra fermer ses portes le 1er avril, à moins que la situation ne soit rapidement résolue. Le gouvernement a adopté le projet de loi 2 le 25 octobre en recourant au bâillon, une manœuvre parlementaire lui permettant de contourner la consultation des expert·es et des partis d’opposition. Les médecins de toute la province s’y sont opposés. L’adoption de la loi a rapidement conduit à la démission [d’un ministre](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/longtime-quebec-minister-lionel-carmant-steps-down-9.6959818?ref=onthetrail.info), à[ l’exode immédiat de 260 médecins](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/260-quebec-doctors-apply-ontario-licences-after-bill-2-9.6973978?ref=onthetrail.info) vers les provinces voisines, et à un déferlement critiques envers le gouvernement Legault, déjà en [difficulté au cours de sa dernière année de mandat.](https://qc125.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) « La loi suscite beaucoup de réactions, et c’est normal », a affirmé un porte-parole du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS). « Rappelons que l’objectif de la Loi est d’augmenter l’accès. » En vertu des nouvelles règles, le gouvernement menace de retenir jusqu’à 15 % de la rémunération des médecins, sans qu’on sache exactement quels paramètres seront pris en compte pour le versement de ces sommes. La docteure Emmanuelle Huchet, directrice de la clinique Agora, explique que les futurs paiements seront notamment déterminés par la catégorie des patients traités : vert, jaune et rouge. Ces couleurs indiquent la priorité du patient, qui peut être faible, moyenne ou élevée. Les paiements pourraient varier considérablement en fonction de la gravité de la situation des patient·es. Le gouvernement n’a pas précisé quels codes de couleur seront associés au bien-être sexuel ou à l’itinérance, malgré de nombreux courriels adressés par le corps médical pour demander des clarifications. Or, si la santé sexuelle se retrouve plutôt en bas de l’échelle de rémunération, cela aura un impact considérable sur les revenus des cliniques. Le mode de rémunération conçu par le gouvernement semble favoriser le nombre de consultations effectuées plutôt que la qualité des soins prodigués, décourageant les médecins de consacrer du temps aux patient·es. Pour améliorer l’efficacité, le gouvernement a recommandé aux médecins de limiter chaque consultation à quinze minutes. « On ne peut pas tenir ces cliniques à bout de bras, et clairement, ça ne fonctionne pas », s’inquiète le docteur Régimbal-Éthier. ### Bill 2 Threatening Care for Quebec LGBTQ+, Homeless, and Vulnerable Populations URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/bill-2-threatening-care-for-quebec/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:28.000Z ## [This is an excerpt. Read the full piece at The Rover](https://therover.ca/bill-2-threatening-care-for-quebec-lgbtq-homeless-and-vulnerable-populations/?ref=onthetrail.info) **At least two renowned clinics in Montreal and eight sexual health clinics across Quebec are likely to close because of Bill 2, the provincial government’s controversial healthcare reform.** L’Agora and Quorum are located beside Berri-UQAM metro station. Both treat people with HIV, serve the LGBTQ+ community, the homeless, as well as families in the area. Prelib is a group of clinics throughout the province that help people with sexual health anonymously. Many more Groupe de médecine de Famille (GMF) clinics beyond these are [also in danger of closing](http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/11/14/danger-deffondrement-des-gmf-tirent-la-sonnette-dalarme-face-aux-impacts-anticipes-de-la-reforme-en-sante?ref=onthetrail.info), potentially causing many thousands of Quebecers to lose their family doctor. If the bill continues as written, Dr. Maxim Régimbal-Ethier, founder of Prelib and co-founder of Quorum, says it will lead to Prelib’s immediate closure on Jan. 1, 2026\. L’Agora, which often cares for people who are not registered with the provincial medicare system (RAMQ), will have to close down on April 1st unless this is quickly resolved. The government passed the bill on Oct. 25 using a parliamentary manoeuvre that allows it to circumvent consultation with experts and opposition parties. The bill passed against the advice of doctors across the province, which quickly led to one of the party’s [cabinet ministers stepping](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/longtime-quebec-minister-lionel-carmant-steps-down-9.6959818?ref=onthetrail.info) down, [260 doctors](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/260-quebec-doctors-apply-ontario-licences-after-bill-2-9.6973978?ref=onthetrail.info) looking to leave the province, and an onslaught of bad press for the already [struggling government in what is likely its final year.](https://qc125.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) “The law is generating a lot of reactions, and that’s normal,” a spokesperson for the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) said. “The goal of the law is to increase access.” [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Under the new rules in Bill 2, the government is threatening to remove a large portion of payments, up to 15 per cent, to doctors based on yet-to-be-defined parameters. Dr. Emmanuelle Huchet, the director of l’Agora, explained that future payments will also be based on patient categories: green, yellow, and red. These colours indicate whether a patient is low, medium, or high priority. The payments could vary significantly depending on whether a patient is severely ill, or if they are less ill. The government has not indicated which colours correspond to sexual health or homelessness, despite several emails from the doctors requesting clarification. If sexual health is ranked lower on this payment scale, it will severely affect the income of all these clinics. The payment seems to prioritize the number of people seen over the quality of service they receive by discouraging practitioners from spending time with patients. The government has outlined the need for doctors to spend no more than 15 minutes with each patient to improve efficiency. “We can’t keep these clinics afloat on a shoestring, and clearly, it’s not working,” said Régimbal-Ethier. The new regulations will cut payments for Prelib. They contacted the government, which said “they understand the uncertainty” and several elements from Bill 2 “remain to be agreed upon.” Prelib provides rapid, anonymous sexual health assistance and has become an essential resource for people who are unable or unwilling to go to traditional clinics. These clinics help almost 100,000 per year. According to data from Santé Québec, there were about 35000 screening tests done. 22,963 STI screening tests among people aged 14 to 25 were carried out last year in public SIDEP clinics. In the same age group, Prelib performed 19,883 tests. Several other private clinics also offer STI screening, so this seems to indicate that the total number of tests in this age group exceeds 35,000 per year. “We help sex workers, transgender people, and drug users. We’re taking a broad approach to promote access to sexual health, to create truly inclusive environments,” Régimbal-Ethier said. His other clinic, Quorum, is also in danger of shutting down. Bill 2 cares about efficiency, but Quorum has a clientele that is predominantly transgender, gay, and often sex workers, who need more time and have a level of trust that they don’t feel in many other places. Régimbal-Ethier said that the clinic handles more sensitive situations and that the bill will cut into its mandate. “On Jan. 1, 15 per cent of our remuneration will be based on ‘performance indicators.’ But what are these?” said Huchet, the director of l’Agora. The government replied to her that it hadn’t made that decision, but whatever they are, they will be in place on Jan. 1\. Huchet is exasperated. “Well, Jan. 1 is six weeks away!” # [READ THE REST ON THE ROVER](https://therover.ca/bill-2-threatening-care-for-quebec-lgbtq-homeless-and-vulnerable-populations/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### The First Taste of Liberal Promises URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/preliminary-election-promises-breakdown/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:28.000Z I am currently plowing away at the tool for tracking this government’s promises, and working on it with the help of my colleagues, Aedan and Eliot. Hopefully soon I’ll have it done for you all. I have done about 150 of the promises that the Liberal givernment has given us. I have categorized everything into a few categories, and am adding commentary and some links to some of them. **Fulfilled— Y (Front to back done)** **Not addressed— N (No announcements, no beginning.)** **Promised— P (Started, but not fully seen through)** **Failed— F (Abjectly failed the process or the promised timeline.)** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Of the first 150 things: the most prominent finding is the percentage breakdown itself: **9.32%** of the checklist items were ‘Fulfilled’ (Y), while **90.68%** are ‘Not Addressed’ (N), ‘Promised’ (P), or ‘Failed’ (F). The 90.68% figure is overwhelmingly composed of the ‘Not Addressed’ (N) category, which accounted for 88 of the 118 items, or **74.58%** of the total checklist. This is logical, seeing as the government has only been in power since May. I would not expect more than this to have been done. My worry, in the early stages of development, is that some of these extremely ambitious goals that are in here will not be addressed at all because the government is unlikely to last more than 18 months or 2 years. The 11 items ‘Fulfilled’ (Y) were almost exclusively large, new, multi-billion dollar fiscal announcements that aligned with the budget’s core stated themes. Even then, it was never as well ‘fulfilled’ as I would have liked to see. The core problem is that they are not making generational investments like they promised. In fact, if they mad a bad investment, like their useless $5 billion into health infrastructure, I decided they deserved an F. Five billion is hardly a down payment on three projects. Not addressed items were often things that haven’t had time to stew, or things that I suspect will be ignored in the long term. I only gave four or five things a fail, but the fact that the government didn’t address many of these items in their budget is alarming. This government is in danger of hyping themselves up constantly, and failing to address the needs of Canadians. I will have the list released as soon as I can, but for now that is the overview. ### Can Avi Lewis Win, and Fight the Rise of Fascism? On the Trail with Avi Lewis & Isaac Peltz URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/can-avi-lewis-win-and-fight-the-rise/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:28.000Z Can Avi Lewis Win, and Fight the Rise of Fascism? On the Trail with Avi Lewis & Isaac Peltz 0:00 /200 1× Avi Lewis is running to be the leader of the NDP. His views are openly socialist, and pulling the party to the left. His ideas include creating public options for grocery stores, public options for housing, public options for... honestly, just public options for everything. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) A Social Democrat, he believes that the right thing to do is to actually build things in this country, and he thinks he might be able to be the one who does it. Some things he expresses ? Avi believes that democracy is not fully realized in the country. Local representation is crucial for effective governance. Community connections play a vital role in political engagement. He is willing to die for his community. A legacy behind him, and a lifelong activist, writer and reporter, Avi is a bit different than the others in the race for leadership. Will he win? Can he convince you? More to come soon, On the Trail. If you like these types of interviews and want more, say the word and we’ll make it happen. Subscribe or do a [one time donation at Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/isaacapeltz?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/20735fff-0ee0-4c50-b963-95073507dbb5_328x328.png) [!](https://ko-fi.com/isaacapeltz?ref=onthetrail.info) ### The Conservative Party of Canada Is Splitting In Two URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-conservative-party-of-canada/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:29.000Z The Conservative Party of Canada Is Splitting In Two 0:00 /200 1× This week was another insane week in a year that was full of insane weeks. Isaac and Gabrielle break it down in their usual way. If you want to support the work we’re doing, please share this, rate this on your podcast app, or support us with $5 a month. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The Mayoral election race in Montreal has occured, and suprising no one, Soraya Martinez Ferrada is the winner. She ran a compaign that no one would call inspiring, but she was against opponents that most people would struggle to call anything but *flat.* The competition was unimpressive, uninspiring, and it led to Projet losing the race, losing some seats, and finally losing their leader. The night of the election loss, Rabouin took the responsibility and quit. It seems that Liberals in Canada are having insane luck with their opponents falling short, because while Ferrada won in Montreal due to her opponents being uninteresting, Carney is looking better and better in the eyes of Canadians. Popcorn flick drama took the parliament by surprise this week, as the conservatives started eating themselves alive. First, Chris d’Entremont, a mild mannered east coast Progressive Conservative member of the party crossed the floor, reminding us that the PC and the Liberals are not far from one another. Poilievre then failed to announce the conservative ammendment to the Liberal budget. Then, another member quit dramatically, and rumours say that he was likely to cross the floor. For any political junkies, it’s been a wild week. In other news, Quebec Solidaire elected a new co-leader. Isaac complains, Gab complains, and we’re all in shock. Their strategy seems to be to capture the nationalist left, which hardly exists in 2025 like it did in the 70s. Has QS just shot themselves in the foot? [GIVE A ONE TIME DONATION](https://ko-fi.com/isaacapeltz?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/ed601269-4276-4368-898c-694c5e1ac9eb_328x328.png) ### Chris D'Entremont interview and the culture of the conservative party URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/chris-dentremont-interview-and-the/ Last updated: 2025-11-09T22:15:38.000Z This interview was very revealing of the culture within the conservative party. ### An Earnest, Heartfelt Update URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/an-earnest-heartfelt-update/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:29.000Z Late état des lieux. Létat des lieux. Get it??? Late… létat…. it’s pronounced the same. If you don’t think I’m funny, we are enemies now. No seriously, as usual thank you for supporting me. I’m going to start off this monthly update with a simple request to support me financially. Currently we have 4000+ subscribers, and make 30,000 a year off of 751 subscribers (the majority of them pay for the discounted 1 year subscription!) The first 12k was shared 50% with Gabrielle *(whom I miss, and would gladly share the 30,000 with, if she ever gets tired of her job. Hint hint, i know she’s reading this),* and that’s before transaction fees from Stripe. After taxes and transaction fees, i’ve made about $19,000 this year from this substack. I have been keeping the price at $5 a month, and I’m committed to keeping it at this low price. I believe in this project, and I want to make sure it’s as accessible as possible. I keep everything free, which is uncommon on substack. It’s because everyone deserves good information, and I’m doing *alright* financially. You also have the option of giving more if you pay for the founder level. If you give $5 a month, it would be amazing. I want to get to $50,000 a year on $5 a month. At $50,000 I will be allocating $10,000 a year to hire someone to help me with administrative work, and some reporting work. I have someone in mind. I would like this to grow some, and develop into a full fledged media someday. So please consider it– I know things aren’t always easy financially, but your support allows me to do social media, as well as my written work while remaining in university. Three thousandish people read this newsletter every time I send it. If half of those three thousand supported me, I would easily be able to hire a second person part time. But like I said, I know it’s tough out here, so the site will be available to everyone in perpetuity. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) This month I was drowning in the work that I was doing. The election absolutely ravaged me. I released two and a half highly consequential reports in [French](https://pivot.quebec/2025/10/15/elections-municipales-ensemble-montreal-defendra-t-il-les-locataires-ou-les-promoteurs/?ref=onthetrail.info) and [English](https://therover.ca/municipal-election-will-ensemble-montreal-fight-for-tenants-or-developers/?ref=onthetrail.info) that I think had an influence on the election, I released reports on the failures of the Liberals in [Newfoundland Labrador,](https://theindependent.ca/news/seismic-shift-needed-to-address-n-l-housing-crisis-experts-say/?ref=onthetrail.info) who lost the election, and I released videos, [reports on muslims](https://presence-info.ca/article/vivre/spiritualite/lappartenance-a-lepreuve-de-la-laicite/?ref=onthetrail.info) in Quebec, and have broken some big news– like the constitution of quebec [ignoring the demands of feminists](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQXBtUQCbE4/?ref=onthetrail.info), like the community in Longeuil being [ignored by the city of Longeuil](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQFnd-ViWj7/?ref=onthetrail.info)… But here we are, made it through two more elections. I also taught a journalism class at Concordia, with an amazing group of people who are bound to do great things. I know a few of them read this newsletter, so to you folks— I’m sorry for being so tough on you! I always try to push the line as far as possible. Those students, all doing masters programs, are the future of journalism that we need. I’m tired, and finals are coming up. I’m ready to have a little break, and looking forward to some time off at Christmas. I also released the first [Corruption & Democracy Review ](https://www.isaacpeltz.ca/p/corruption-and-democracy-review-oct?ref=onthetrail.info)a week ago, which is more or less the direction I’ve been looking to head for a long time. I believe in fighting for democracy, and this is how I plan to do it. If you haven’t read my piece with Dónal Gill [on Canadian Dimension, please do](https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no-longer-be-ignored?ref=onthetrail.info). I’m happy to announce that me and Dónal are planning on doing more work together, since we have aligned interests and I believe that our particular skills could combine well. He’s a PhD. I’m a shoe leather reporter. We can make something good. We’re approaching magazines and publications for further work with them, and we will hopefully be growing our work together into some sort of marquee policy criticism. Time to replace some old dogs like Paul Wells and Andrew Coyne, and Robert Fife. I’m coming for those guys. Wish me luck. I’m also building something special. This week I’ve started building an election promises tracker with my colleagues Aedan and Eliot, two exceptional minds whom I’ve done a ton of work with on other stuff. Aedan runs the database of MP landlords and assets. Eliot helps me with a ton of stuff on the DL. We’re hoping to have the promise tracker for the feds up and running next week. We also are fleshing out our investigation into the media. It got slowed down because of the elections I was working on, sadly I wasn’t able to keep up on my goals with that while simultaneously working on two elections as a journalist, but I should be back. Within the next couple weeks I’m hoping to have the Post Media investigation out. This week I will hopefully have the Gab and Isaac show on monday, and on Tuesday or Wednesday the french podcast, Le Plancher des vaches out. Otherwise, this next week is going to be a bit quieter on the “posting” front. I am putting all my energy into this elections promises project, since I think it could lead to a long term game changer. We’re designing it to be embeddable in any website, so hopefully we can make this work. **So, please be patient with me in this next week as I will not be posting much on socials or on substack. After we get the federal promises done, I’m hopeful that we can do Quebec for next year. We’ll asses my capacity afterwards.** I actually, overall, want to decrease my output. I’m incredibly talented at working at breakneck speeds. I’ve been providing three or four posts a week for months now, while publishing on other media, while producing social media videos. But I think I want to be less present, and make higher quality products. I had other people in mind as I was modelling these platforms before, but I’m always trying to re-adapt and see what works. Things I’ve seen working are when I released my Democracy and Corruption review, when I wrote the piece on Canadian Dimension, and my analysis on the budget this week. These articles have been getting big numbers and big positive feedback. I’d like to focus down on that. I haven’t fully figured out how to do videos with this newer context. I feel that I’m changing, and the winter is coming, which means less protests and outdoor coverage, and more reading and institutional coverage. But I hope you don’t mind as I figure this out, I might switch up here and there as i work out the best approaches for everything, and It’s not gonna be perfect right away. I truly, genuinely appreciate all of you. In one month i’ll have been doing journalism on social media for one year, and I feel like that will be some type of celebration to come. Thank you as always for your patience, you’re all incredible, and kind. I will see you after the weekend. ### The 2025 Budget is My Least Favourite Literature That I've Read in Years URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-2025-budget-is-my-least-favourite/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:29.000Z Yes, I know the budget isn’t literature. This budget was supposed to shake a generation. The problem is that they said they were going to write a masterpiece, but when the performers arrived they didn’t know how to play their instruments. The actors had a lot of passion, but the screenplay is shit. The trailer was good, but the plot was predictable. The takeaway is that Carney is another Liberal. ”Generational investment,” “transformational,” “new government.” None of these things are true. If this is all you read, know this: this budget is neither transformative, nor generational, neither left nor right, neither bad nor good; this budget is, at the best, a fairly average liberal budget with a ‘conservative’ lean. Carney’s Liberals want you to believe they are a new government. They are the same government with an ideological realignment. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Beyond the exact details, of which I have highlighted some, the biggest thing that stood out in this document was the level of insecurity that was found within its pages. When writing a film, the rule is to show, not tell. In the Liberal budget, they desperately tell you, for five hundred pages, that this budget will change the country. Yet for such an ambitious statement, the numbers are few and far between, the specifics are non-existent, and the book is filled with endless filler, never proving what it claims. The numbers and facts don’t support their rhetoric. Its incredible length could have easily been cut in half. It is a repetitious document that begs to be seen as something it isn’t. The editing is verbose, afraid, and shows the government for exactly what many already knew it would be. It’s a centrist Canadian government, and there is virtually nothing in the budget that surprised me in a positive or negative sense. Something to note about the budget is that there was not very much “new” spending, with the exception of our defense budget. When reading the document, most of the programs introduced before, but renewed and adjusted. If you squint you’ll see the previous government popping its head through. It surprised me how few new ideas were in the document. The biggest changes are the cuts to public service, and a *much heavier* reliance on PPPs, objectively the worst way to run our social programs, but it’s the way that we’ve done it in Canada since the 90s. There’s still plenty of good to discuss before I rip the document to shreds. The budget has a great start to a new housing program that could lead to big results, but it needs to be better funded. It turns the government into a developer in a significant way. They talk about a “focus on non-market housing,” which is great. We’re seeing a real shift towards properly managing this housing crisis. *However,* this is with some major caveats. The first being the reliance on PPP, the second being that they’re not going far enough or fast enough. These innovations won’t be enough to significantly reduce the housing deficit or to quickly bring down rental prices. Long term it will help, but this program should be the center of their platform, and they should dump their investments into defense, and put all of it into housing. Nonetheless, this is a great start, and I am pleased and hopeful. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Making the National School Food Program permanent is huge. They’re expanding the program across the country, and this will actively lift children out of poverty. I mean, this is a real progressive win. It’s great to see. Fantastic. Half a million children will be given free lunches every day. Wonderful. Now tax the rich and pay for it. The creation of automatic tax filing for those below the poverty line should have been done a hundred years ago. Poverty stricken families often don’t file their taxes because of how little money they make, however many of these people are able to receive significant support from the government, whether tax breaks, or subventions. Hopefully, long term, it will turn into a program that works across the whole country and not just for the poor. For now, this will help out many poor families. They said it will be in place for 2028, which would be great. They’re introducing laws to clamp down on greenwashing, which is great, and they’re going to build laws that better integrate highly credentialed immigrants such as international health care workers. Finally, massive investments into wind power and expediting the high speed rail, which will be controlled by the crown, is great. We need that rail as soon as possible. It will change the country, since it will cover almost half of Canada’s population. Sorry westerners, you’re all a bit out of luck. Despite some excellent investments, there’s still a lot of cuts and a lot of nonsense in the budget. The biggest problem is the tax cut. A 1 per cent effective tax rate cut for the bottom two tax brackets is leading to a 28 billion wealth redistribution to the richest Canadians. When the government collects less revenue, it has fewer funds for public services like healthcare, education, or housing supports that disproportionately benefit lower- and middle-income groups. Wealthier individuals rely less on those services and thus lose little from the cuts, while still pocketing their share of the tax break. The result is a double upward shift: high earners gain directly from the tax reduction and indirectly from a government less able to fund redistributive programs. Furthermore, the tax cuts are so insignificant won’t even have the desired effect of making people feel like they have a bit of extra cash in their wallet. The libs claim that it will save the average family of 2 $800 a year, while costing the federal treasury $28 billion a year. It will cost the government as much as they say, but it won’t save Canadians nearly as much as they pretend. [The CCPA did the math during the election. It’ll probably only save $660 a year](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/platform-crunch-comparing-all-parties-tax-cut-and-cash-transfers-promises/?ref=onthetrail.info). Meanwhile groceries are exorbitantly expensive, and that probably wouldn’t even cover one month of most people’s grocery bill. The average per Canadian household per month, including drinks/alcohol, food, etc, is [$721 a month.](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8347-breakdown-average-canadian-grocery-bill-and-what-might-be-cart-part-1?ref=onthetrail.info) So while it won’t change anyone’s life, practically speaking, the loss of revenue is instantly apparent in the budget and will affect almost literally everyone’s lives. Canada’s 2025 budget seeks $60 billion in savings over five years through public-service cuts, program “rightsizing,” and slower spending growth. Up to 40,000 federal jobs may be eliminated, and funding for Indigenous programs, health transfers, and foreign aid will decline. Environmental and housing initiatives face reduced or delayed investment, while child-care expansion stalls. The government frames these moves as efficiency measures, but analysts warn they will weaken core social services—particularly those relied on by lower- and middle-income Canadians—while preserving tax relief and capital projects that tend to favor higher earners. The question is therefore what they will be replacing 40,000 workers with. Right now, if you call the CRA, you aren’t getting an efficient answer. So what will they do? You already know. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) AI. The government will be the first employer in the nation to replace mass amounts of workers with AI. Suddenly Pandora’s box will be open, and every other administrative position is in danger from AI, if it wasn’t already. Not only that, but the government is putting almost $1 billion into AI investment. They’re betting it all, and it will likely work short term. The investments into AI will probably not pan out. A useful tool? Absolutely. A replacement for people’s brains? Well, maybe some people. I asked ChatGPT what it thinks about how Carney could have made a much better budget with better taxation. Its proposal was earnestly better than this mediocre document. *Fundamentally rebalanced Budget 2025: keep the government’s capital and social investments (housing, childcare, pharmacare rollout and green infrastructure) but pay for them primarily by (1) instituting a progressive wealth tax (1% >$10M, 2% >$100M), (2) taxing capital gains at ordinary rates for the top 5% of incomes and raising the capital-gains inclusion rate progressively, (3) enacting a permanent excess-profits surtax on corporate profits above a high threshold and rolling back universal immediate-expensing windows that benefit large firms, (4) introducing a small financial transactions tax and a temporary windfall tax on extraordinary fossil-fuel profits, (5) reinstating a high-threshold estate tax, and (6) sharply beefing up CRA enforcement to recover avoidance and close transfer-pricing loopholes — revenues from these measures immediately fund expanded universal childcare, a national pharmacare baseline, accelerated social housing construction and a Just Transition fund for green jobs while freeing up operating savings to cut the structural deficit and put the federal debt-to-GDP ratio on a steady downward path without cutting core social programs; administrative savings and reallocated corporate tax expenditures are reinvested into productivity-enhancing public goods so growth remains strong even as debt falls. (This keeps the investment focus the Budget emphasizes while shifting the financing burden upward and applying targeted anti-avoidance measures to protect revenue integrity.)* **Maybe the first person we should replace with AI is our minister of finances, who wrote this budget.** The budget is removing the emissions cap on industrial polluters. This is a bone that the Liberals are throwing to Alberta and it’s fairly plain to see that it’s a way of undercutting much of the Conservative Party’s ammunition. They touted it as a law that prevented them from producing oil, which was a blatant lie. The law said “produce as much oil as you want as long as it doesn’t create more than X number of emissions.” It was a clever way to force industrial emitters to invest in carbon storage, carbon capture, and if they couldn’t do so, they would lose money long term. Despite their promise to make the industrial carbon pricing more robust, it seems to be a cynical political move that is designed to, once again, kneecap the conservatives. In fact, there’s a lot in here that is clearly designed to kneecap the conservatives. The tax cut, the emissions cap, the tax incentives for energy corporations… They’re decreasing red tape, and expediting regulatory frameworks, they’re basically taking every policy proposal by the conservatives outside of “destroy our institutions” and they’re making the conservatives look dumb. They have absolutely flanked the Conservative Party, and with the minister crossing floor, and more possibly doing the same. This government sees an enemy, and they’re aiming to make them look like clowns at every turn. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The environment is getting absolutely ravaged in this document as well. It’s pretty much the end of the progress we’ve made around the environment in the past decade, and we should kiss our climate goals goodbye. This budget has no interest in supporting the indigenous, with tools to bypass much regulatory frameworks, and barely seems interested in supporting the historical progress Canada has made with our First Nations since 2015. I didn’t talk about the defense budget increase, because I don’t know how I feel about it. I think about nordic countries, social democracies that overall match with my politics (except the crazy racism.) A lot of Europe has major defense budgets, and many have mandatory service. In the 20 or so countries mandatory military service, it’s mostly just administrative staffing. I dunno, we might get invaded by an increasingly fascist United States. Maybe we should be ready for it. That’s clearly what Carney is thinking. An actual good use of the military is as a centralized logic machine. In the budget, they’re spending a quarter of a billion on jets to help with aerial support for forest fires. That being said, is it realistic to think the Canadian government will use military as a logistic machine? I’m doubtful. It’s also cutting into programs that need more funding, like housing and health care. I guess what I’m saying is that a highly efficient socialist government with strong, centralized social systems might be able to invest in the military. If we had governments that worked as well as Norway, sure. Right now I think it’s a bad idea to invest in military, because I question the intention of these investments, and this money needs to go into fixing our institutions. My conclusion of the budget: It’s a big shrug, and it feels like a budget that could have been posed by Mulroney or Chrétien at their most neo-liberal, with incremental progress in some ways, and some steps backwards in other ways. The huge wealth transfer is a big cause for panic, especially considering our weakened social systems, and the overreliance on PPPs are going to cost the government huge amounts of money without building the expertise we need to transition into a system that works for the people of the country. ### What's up with AI and Andrew Cuomo? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/whats-up-with-ai-and-andrew-cuomo/ Last updated: 2025-11-04T17:28:05.000Z The weirdest thing about the New York Mayoral race has been the use of AI all over the place. What's up with AI in our society? What's going to happen? ### Is Canada Going to Enter Another Election? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/is-canada-going-to-enter-another/ Last updated: 2025-11-03T15:06:03.000Z Is Canada Going to Enter Another Election? 0:00 /200 1× No, it isn’t. (We might regret this statement.) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) That’s what it boils down to. Why? Pretty simple— no one can afford it except the Liberals. They’re currently the only party who has the confidence to win and the money to make a national statement. Not only that, but if anyone votes down the budget and plunges the country into another election, it’s highly likely that the Liberals would beat the hell out of anyone who forced the government into another eleciton. No one wants that. Everyone wants a little stability right now, with Trump to the south and global democracy on the downward spiral. Beyond that, the fallout of Bill 2 in Quebec has been consequential. Already nearly 200 doctors have applied to leave the province, with more to come. As our health care is already near collapse, we can’t afford to lose this many people. Here we are nonetheless, with doctors fed up. The CAQ is at the lowest point in their history in public support, and yet they implemented a major, complex law, and people are calling this a move towards authoritarianism. All this and more today! ### GO VOTE YOU QUEBS URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/go-vote-you-quebs/ Last updated: 2025-11-02T16:08:50.000Z Please today get out there and vote! Go to elections Quebec and go vote! Let's see real change, this will affect your daily life! ### Corruption & Democracy Review Oct 31 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/corruption-and-democracy-review-oct/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:30.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Welcome to Corruption review. As it is my primary concern in Canada, this will be an ongoing series regarding the finances, and the openness of governments across the country. This will be our flagship series going forward, and will be updated as often as is necessary. We are still waiting for Conflict of Interest disclosures from the federal government. This disclosure report is due at the latest on **December 28th, 2025**. They have a maximum of 8 months from polling day to file these reports online. On October 2nd, the government released a [**retrospective on the 45th general election.**](https://www.canada.ca/en/democratic-institutions/services/protecting-democracy/critical-election-incident-public-protocol/retrospective-report-45th-gerneral-election.html?ref=onthetrail.info) This retrospective said near the beginning “Coming out of the 45th General Election, I believe that, in this regard, Canada continues to serve as a model to the world – a nation where democracy is not just a system, but a shared commitment. Where citizens take the time to make informed choices, to scrutinize, to engage, and ultimately, to shape the future of this country.” This is both true and not true. Canada has a [more stable democracy](https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/country/canada?ref=onthetrail.info) than many other countries in western democracies right now, particularly in comparison to the United States or the United Kingdom, however the state of democracy is in danger right now considering the rise of the far right, [expansive rise of misinformation,](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/22-20-0001/222000012024003-eng.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) and [foreign interference.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/foreign-interference-opposition-registry-1.7547650?ref=onthetrail.info) Although foreign interference didn’t seem to have a major affect on this election, there is still massive amounts of work to do. First and foremost Canada still must reckon with its [unbalanced electoral system that doesn’t provide appropriate representation to its citizens.](https://thisvsthat.io/first-past-the-post-fptp-vs-proportional?ref=onthetrail.info) The Liberals, in the [previous election received 43 per cent of the votes](https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=pas/45ge/geer&document=index&lang=e&ref=onthetrail.info), while receiving 49 per cent of seats. The conservatives received 42 per cent of the vote and somehow only received 41 per cent of seats. The NDP received 6 per cent of votes, while receiving 2 per cent of seats. Considering the extremely vast voting intentions throughout Canada, and the way the electorate has consistently voted, the electoral system continues to cause great harm to our country. The failure to represent the country is leading to a democratic deficit, which in turn opens the door to fascism long term. [**Dónal Gill (PhD) and I published an article on this in Canadian Dimension.**](https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no-longer-be-ignored?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In that article we wrote: “Political scientists have long understood that mutual trust amongst the population and trust in governing institutions is vital for the maintenance of a healthy democratic culture. These attributes are[ in decline in Canada](https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/03/03/canadian-democracy-remains-strong-but-trust-is-low-in-politicians-and-parties-reports/452556/?ref=onthetrail.info), not as sharply as in other democracies around the world, but complacency in an era of[ democratic recession](https://freedomhouse.org/issues/democracies-decline?ref=onthetrail.info) is not an option.” I recommend reading the full article as it serves as a sharp criticism about our failures as a democracy, and the receding ability of our democracy to function. Not only did the **Retrospective on the 45th general election** fail to address how the electoral system doesn’t address the country’s desires accurately, it also failed to address the scandal of a voter in [Terrebonne being denied their right to vote by the electoral system and judicial system. ](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/politics/article/judge-rejects-request-by-bloc-quebecois-for-new-vote-in-terrebonne/?ref=onthetrail.info)The voter, a young woman, mailed in her vote in a riding where the Liberals won by a single vote. Her vote would have made it a 50/50 split. The rejection of the appeal by the Bloc Québecois is a failing of the democratic system that Canada likes to present “serves as a model to the world.” Meanwhile, in the Montreal election, certain areas have more votes than others, and one area has one less vote than the other boroughs. Ville Marie, because its mayor is the mayor of the city, has [one less vote than the other areas](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPlhhupjnL7/?ref=onthetrail.info), effectively causing those who live in the area to have a vote which counts for less. Meanwhile in the southwest, [they vote five times ](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQWcdeUjrhu/?ref=onthetrail.info)in each municipal election, effectively having a vote that counts for 1.666 times more than the rest of the city. Across Canada, there are municipal elections. The voter turnouts in these cities is exceptionally low. In Calgary [39 per cent voted.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-2025-election-turnout-9.6952263?ref=onthetrail.info) In Edmonton the figure was even worse, with only [30 per cent voting](https://www.edmonton.ca/city%5Fgovernment/municipal%5Felections/2025-election-results?ref=onthetrail.info). This low turnout represents not only a disappointment with the ability to affect change with a vote, but a failure of the system to encourage and educate people on voting. In Quebec, many cities and towns only have one individual in certain areas presenting themself for elections– this means that they automatically ascend to being an elected official without votes. Low participation in the political process is likely a result of disillusionment by young people around participating in politics, once again opening the door to fascism and the far right. The voter turnout in Montreal this year is likely to be less than forty per cent, though we will find that out on Sunday. In Quebec, corruption runs amok in the CAQ. This week saw some of the darkest, most substantial regressions to democracy that the province has seen since before the quiet revolution. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) [The CAQ declared an open war on Unions ](https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/quebec/quebec-tables-bill-to-limit-strikes-union-says-its-a-declaration-of-war/article%5Fb041ec45-47a9-59e3-849f-c09570942ff9.html?ref=onthetrail.info)in a law that will likely pass quickly. This bill will cause major problems for unions with less than 200 employees. It also allows the government much more control over the financial operations of unions, as well as an obvious conflict of interest on the part of the provincial government, who is trying to prevent Unions from have as much direct action in politics as they currently do. A move that seems to be because unions have strongly stood against the CAQ and their anti-union policies that have continuously had a major detrimental affect on those in Quebec who are middle to lower income. [They also quickly passed a bill that will ban children](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/religious-symbols-ban-quebec-passes-law-to-prevent-students-staff-from-covering-their-faces/?ref=onthetrail.info) from covering their faces in schools, a draconian bill interrupting the freedom of expression enshrined in the Canadian Charther of rights and freedoms. [This week we released the breaking news](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQXBtUQCbE4/?ref=onthetrail.info) that the minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette, ignored the wishes of feminist organizations by introducing abortion legislation into the National Assembly. The biggest news out of Quebec was the extreme overreach of the government in [implementing bill 2](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-special-law-doctors-compensation-9.6953663?ref=onthetrail.info) and potentially causing a mass exodus of Quebec doctors from the province. Already 170 doctors have applied to work in other provinces, with more expected to leave. Meanwhile, the minister, Lionel Carmant, has left the CAQ after his daughter (a doctor) said she was thinking of leaving the province because of bill 2\. Carmant was was of the “manifeto signatories” who helped define the CAQ’s identity. In Ontario, [Doug Ford is attempting to take away renters rights](https://www.acto.ca/actos-top-5-concerns-for-bill-60/?ref=onthetrail.info), although the worst of his propositions was thrown away. In the government’s bill 60, they are removing many tools of tenants to defend themselves against landlords in situations where they are being renovicted, or illegally evicted. It dereases the total payment allocated to renters if they are kicked out of their apartment, encouraging more landlords to throw their tenants on the street by lowering the penalties. It is likely to lead to an increase in homelessness when this bill passes. [In Alberta, the government ignored the democratic rights ](https://globalnews.ca/news/11497842/alberta-passes-bill-end-teacher-strike/?ref=onthetrail.info)of its citizens when it used the Notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work. The teachers were legally protesting, following all of the rules, and instead of good faith negotiation, Danielle Smith ignored the rights of Canadian citizens and used the infamous notwithstanding clause to force them back to work. The unions have vowed unprecedented action, and are building towards a general strike. Still, there is some positive news. [This week the federal government announced money for fighting scams and fraud everywhere in the country. ](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/10/minister-champagne-takes-aim-at-financial-scams-and-abuse-announces-anti-fraud-strategy-and-new-financial-crimes-agency.html?ref=onthetrail.info)“Budget 2025 will introduce Canada’s first-ever whole-of-government **National Anti-Fraud Strategy.** As a first step, the government will introduce legislative amendments requiring banks to have policies to prevent and address fraud, while giving consumers more control over their bank accounts.” This is extremely important, seeing as the banks are not on the hook for people being frauded right now. More legislation in this vein would do well to protect our most vulnerable from being frauded. [The government is also looking to improve its competition guidelines.](https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2025/10/competition-bureau-seeks-feedback-on-new-anti-competitive-conduct-and-agreements-guidelines.html?ref=onthetrail.info) This comes at a time where we need a rapid expansion of monopoly crackdowns, seeing as there are few banks in the country, as well as only three major grocery store chains. These monopolies are leading to price gouging and anti-competitive behaviour. In the current Canadian, capitalist framework, these initiatives need to be expanded at a rate not seen since the great depression. In BC, the province is looking to present a report on democratic reform. [93 per cent of respondents to a recent series of public hearings wanted proportional representation.](https://www.fairvote.ca/06/10/2025/bc-electoral-reform-committee-93-support-for-proportional-representation-in-public-consultation/?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=Of%20the%20865%20presentations%20or,%2Dpast%2Dthe%2Dpost.) Still, not enough is being done to protect our democracy, and backsliding is likely to continue unless we see massive movement to repair institutions that are already at their breaking point. ### Chute poilievresque, première femme japonaise au pouvoir et grèves néo-zélandaises URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/chute-poilievresque-premiere-femme/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:30.000Z \- ## [Écoutez ici!](https://linktr.ee/placherdesvaches?ref=onthetrail.info) Pour les francophones! Cette semaine, Isaac aborde les dernières frasques de Pierre Poilievre, Gabrielle dresse le portrait de Sanae Takaichi, première femme à être élue première ministre au Japon, et Ludvic nous parle des nombreuses grèves du secteur public en Nouvelle-Zélande. Si vous aimez ce podcast, mettez-lui des étoiles! Bonne écoute! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Canada’s democratic deficit can no longer be ignored URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:31.000Z [This is an excerpt of the full piece— available for free at this link.](https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no-longer-be-ignored?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e9412a05-55be-4c7d-ae3d-b53335e04dc9_800x533-jpeg-1.jpg) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Politics in the United Kingdom has been upended by the rise of a right-wing populist force that now stands as a serious contender for power. From our two overlapping yet distinct perspectives—a political science professor who studies parties and elections and an independent journalist seeking to hold politicians to account—we recognize many of the same currents propelling the UK’s populist insurgency at work here in Canada as well. This is largely a result of the failures of the political establishment to grasp and address our deepening democratic deficit. Canada faces many of the same problems, and those in power appear equally asleep at the wheel. We recently caught a glimpse at what might lie ahead for Canada. Reform UK, the right-wing populist party helmed by Nigel Farage, held its annual conference on September 5 and 6 in Birmingham’s National Exhibition Arena. This was a conference of a party ready for power, [flush with close to 250,000 members](https://www.reformparty.uk/counter?ref=onthetrail.info) and [sitting pretty at the top of opinion polls](https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/united-kingdom/?ref=onthetrail.info). If they can maintain it, Reform’s current share of stated voter intention places Farage’s outfit in pole position to form government, based on a [recent projection by YouGov](https://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farage-on-course-to-be-next-prime-minister-mega-poll-projects-13438143?ref=onthetrail.info). The Reform faithful who packed the convention floor may have been surprised that a guest of honour from Canada was on the agenda. Preston Manning, founder of the namesake Reform Party of Canada, was given prime podium time on the Friday evening of the conference to bestow his blessing upon Farage’s movement. Manning’s career in federal politics, and the rise of Canada’s Reform Party in general, is typically understood today to be a defining episode in the now generations-old matter of “western alienation.” Indeed, the party was [founded in 1987](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.3335354?ref=onthetrail.info) by interest groups and activists estranged from the Montréal-Ottawa-Toronto axis of political and cultural power in Canada. “The West Want In,” went the famous rallying cry. Yet “The West” meant more than simply a geographical region and its concomitant economic interests. It signalled the populist style of politics that has deep historical and cultural roots in Canada, from the Prairies to the Pacific Ocean. Just think of the United Farmers, the Progressives, the CCF, and Social Credit. This populist politics was a critical component of Reform’s appeal. It turns on a pervasive critique of the failures of the eastern establishment—that is, the “elites,” or Canada’s two “natural” governing parties—to build meaningfully democratic institutions that live up to its self-professed standards of representation, responsiveness, accountability, and transparency. Manning’s populist ideological orientation was an important driver of the party’s move from fringe regionalist outsiders in 1987 to strong electoral performances in 1993 and 1997\. The Reform Party tapped into the raw appeal of proposals to rectify blatant democratic deficiencies during its rise in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The party’s manifesto from 1992 highlights a range of policies that address perceived gaps in the democratic character of Canada. Entitled [*56 Reasons Why You Should Support the Reform Party of Canada*](http://www.poltext.org/sites/poltext.org/files/plateformesV2/Canada/CAN%5FPL%5F1992%5FRP%5Fen.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info), the manifesto has plenty of talking points and policies derived from social conservatism and western alienation that remain familiar to politicos today. It also, however, contains a series of robust proposals to meaningfully reform the institutions of democracy in Canada to address failures in government responsiveness and representation. Proposals for a Triple-E (equal, effective and elected) Senate, more referendums and citizens initiatives, a commitment to combat and root out patronage, and institutional changes to decrease stifling party discipline in Parliament all strike at major areas of democratic and representative deficiency that linger still in Canadian democracy. [READ THE FULL PIECE FOR FREE HERE](https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/canadas-democratic-deficit-can-no-longer-be-ignored?ref=onthetrail.info) Thank you to Dónal Gill for inviting me to work on this with him. ### Breaking: Government of Quebec Ignored Explicit Wishes of Feminist Groups In New Law URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/breaking-government-of-quebec-ignored/ Last updated: 2025-10-28T16:50:51.000Z The CAQ using women as a tool for political gain. The FQPN responded. The history of women's rights in Canada and Quebec are two stories of great struggle that was often paved with suppression and violence . Most of Canada saw women voting because of WWI, but women in Quebec got the right to vote in 1940- significantly after most of canada. It was the final province to see this movement. Since then, women have made leaps and bounds of progress, and some of the great feminist leaders came out of the province. Although the CAQ is pretending that it is a feminist action to introduce this into their legislation , of a conservative, anti choice group were to take power, feminist groups feel it could be used to remove rights and put limits around abortion. Currently rules around abortion are implemented by the patients in dialogue with medical professionals, just like most health care. The mainstream view has been that no law is the best law for decades, because it avoids the concept of a "debate" around what is commonly viewed in Canada as a fundamental health care right. The FQPN reached out to me with this, and I have reached out to the leaders tagged in this video. I will update if they respond. ### The Worst Avoided, but the Bad Still to Come URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-worst-avoided-but-the-bad-still/ Last updated: 2025-10-27T17:47:04.000Z Doug Ford is going ahead with many horrible reforms to Ontario's rental system. He stepped back from the brutal destruction to rent control because of public backlash, but he is going forward with several other things that are bound to increase homelessness in the province. From 2022 to 2024 , homelessness increased by 25 per cent. The tariffs are causing a job crisis as well, and is bound to get harder after the events of the last week. Ford has called himself a man of the people since the day he started running for office, but has consistently been allying himself with landlords and developers. This law will make it easier to evict for no reason, and harder for tenants to fight back. Now is not the time to stop paying attention. Whether the initial rent control removal was a political move is unclear, however it has successfully made people disregard the other things in the bill. We will continue following this story as it develops. If you like this work, please subscribe for 5$ a month and share it! ### Is it Over For Poilievre? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/is-it-over-for-poilievre/ Last updated: 2025-10-27T10:08:41.000Z Is it Over For Poilievre? 0:00 /200 1× The two of us break down the challenges that Poilievre has been making for himself in the past week. As Poilievre stands to be vetted in January, he’s made a mistake that has cost him a lot of support within his caucus- at least the easterners. As the Conservative Party moves further and further right, the party becomes divided on the viability of this strategy. Do they keep moving in the MAGA direction, or do they head back towards a more moderate, economic conservatism ? meanwhile, Quebec is suppressing any dissent within its fracturing medical system, as the doctors push back against the CAQ’s unwillingness to negotiate. Another desperate move from a desperate government. Finally, what’s up with these new tariffs? And do they even matter? Why doesn’t the government do something interesting about this, and nationalize industries that are refusing to stay in Canada? At one point, liberals were stronger and had a backbone. Now? A bit less so. Subscribe now if you enjoy our work! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Mayoral Liberal Taking The Mask Off URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mayoral-liberal-taking-the-mask-off/ Last updated: 2025-10-24T20:47:20.000Z These past weeks of election coverage have been really interesting to take part in. When I started, i was looking at the proposals made by each candidate and they all seemed , at least by Canadian standards, left of center. Sauve was obviously left but the other two were left leaning. As this election has gone on, Projet has become more left. Meanwhile, Mme Martinez Ferrada, who seems poised to win this election, stopped doing the "Liberal Special" of campaigning to the left with the intention of governing to the right. Instead, she started seeming more and more centre-right, talking about less government in our business and lowering bureaucracy. Her embrace of AI seems less like a fundamental belief, but more Mark Carney coded. Is it because she thinks it's right? Maybe. Is it because she thinks she can win with the same tactics as Mark Carney in a city that voted overwhelmingly for his liberal government? Yes, definitely. Sohere i am, eating humble pie. My original analysis was definitely wrong about where the parties stood on the left/right scale . I hope you like my journalism, and it would mean the world if you supported my work! ### Can Luc Rabouin and Projet Montréal Fix the Housing Market URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/can-luc-rabouin-and-projet-montreal/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:31.000Z ## [VERSION FRANÇAISE ICI](https://pivot.quebec/2025/10/23/que-peut-projet-montreal-face-a-la-crise-du-logement/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Luc Rabouin, the new leader of Projet Montréal, says he does not believe it’s his party’s fault that rent in the city has more than doubled since it took power.** Projet Montréal won a second mandate in 2021 off the idea that a family shouldn’t have to[ “ruin itself” financially](https://projetmontreal.org/assets/common/Plateforme-electorale%5FPM%5F2021.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) to live in this city. On July 1 of this year, there were over 200 households across the island without a place to live after their lease expired. Meanwhile, Montreal’s homeless population has increased [by 10 per cent each year since 2018](https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/04/15/quebec-homeless-count-2025/?ref=onthetrail.info#:~:text=The%20April%2023%2C%202024%2C%20count,10%20per%20cent%20a%20year.). Though the party has delivered on some promises, producing hundreds of builds with UTILE, a company that builds social housing for students, renters feel stranded. Montrealers are suffering exponential rent increases, and moving isn’t an option, since if they leave their rent-controlled lease, their new apartment might double their rent. While a majority of the city is dealing with these challenges, Rabouin is not. Citing a conflict of interest declaration filled by Rabouin in 2022 and provided to *The Rover* by journalist Zachary Kamel, we asked Rabouin about his investments. He told *The Rover* that he has owned a duplex for more than 20 years and is a landlord. His neighbour/tenant pays $905 a month. This was confirmed by a source close to Rabouin. Rabouin says that he and his tenant have an excellent relationship, and Rabouin has opted not to increase her rent for some time. Rabouin rejects the idea that being a landlord and a house owner harms his credibility to manage the housing crisis in Montreal. “I’m not a big property owner, I’m not an investor, I’m a landlord-tenant,” he said. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) On top of owning his house and being a landlord, [Luc Rabouin makes $177,309 after taxes](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/montreal/926550/candidats-mairie-montreal-devoilent-revenus??ref=onthetrail.info), four and a half times the [median wage of $39,000](https://statistique.quebec.ca/vitrine/egalite/dimensions-egalite/revenu/revenu-median?onglet=ensemble-de-la-population&ref=onthetrail.info) for Quebecers. “Rent has increased exponentially everywhere in Quebec and Canada, not just Montreal,” Rabouin said. In his view, it is the rent control laws in Quebec that have failed renters. “If the rent has gone up this much, it’s because rent control laws aren’t working.” Despite Rabouin asserting that this phenomenon was across the whole country, it isn’t true that other cities have experienced the same price increase as Montreal. By comparing the average rent paid in 2017 versus 2024, the average rent in Montreal has gone up 120 per cent since Projet took power: rising from $783 to $1,724\. Although the crisis is affecting other cities, rent did not increase to the same degree as Montreal. Quebec city in 2017 was more expensive than Montreal, and yet in 2024 had only increased by 63 per cent, half the percentage increase of Right now, if a Montrealer moved, the average [asking rent to move into an apartment is $1,930](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250625/dq250625b-eng.htm?ref=onthetrail.info), representing an increase of asking prices in the city of 71 per cent since 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Certain factors may explain this– Montreal is catching up to other big cities in Canada, it’s the job hub of the province, but this alarming increase can be circumvented through social housing. Rabouin said that his party can nonetheless help to bring back affordability by building out the socialized housing stock, a promise that Projet hasn’t fulfilled for the better part of the past four years. During Mayor Valérie Plante’s second mandate, the party implemented the bylaw for a diverse metropolis, also known as the 20/20/20 law. The bylaw mandates that in large new residential developments, at least 20 per cent of units must be social housing, 20 per cent must be affordable housing, and 20 per cent must be family housing (i.e. three-bedroom or more). Developers can choose to pay a modest fine if the new construction does not meet these requirements. The party’s rhetoric on the legislation was fairly boastful. Upon introducing this bylaw, Plante called it the “most powerful in North America.” [The bylaw has been widely acknowledged as not living up to the promise.](https://cdhowe.org/publication/mario-polese-lessons-montreals-failed-inclusionary-zoning-experiment/?ref=onthetrail.info) [According to the data available on the city’s own website](https://donnees.montreal.ca/dataset/ententes-reglement-metropole-mixte?ref=onthetrail.info), the bylaw led to five projects including on-site social housing, and three off-site. The amount of housing units which were created in these projects is unclear, as some don’t have addresses in the file. Rabouin thinks the bylaw is too complicated. “It’s too hard to apply,” he said. “Developers prefer to pay the fine, because then they don’t have to create the units.” He wants to simplify the law. The party’s solution would be to make it obligatory to build 20 per cent off-market housing and to make better use of the money collected from the developers. The law has collected $58 million in fines. “We can’t ignore $58 million, but there’s still some big failures around the implementation of that law,” said Stéphan Gervais, expert in Quebec politics, and scientific coordinator for the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montréal at McGill. Gervais commented that despite these failings, Rabouin seems determined to stand by the law, with a few adjustments. Despite having an additional $58 million in the coffers, Rabouin does not want the city to become a landlord or developer itself. “Housing is created either by private developers or non-profit developers. The city supports it,” he said. Instead, they want to support the building of socialized housing through zoning laws and financial contributions. Ricardo Tranjan, author, housing expert and researcher for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, believes that this attitude places all of the cards in the hands of the developers. “Governments (need to) get back into it, and have the capacity to develop more non-market housing,” he said. When developers won’t cooperate, he believes that governments need to say, “We’re gonna take back the land and put that shit out ourselves.” Though the bylaw for a diverse metropolis has been ineffective, the new regulations around Airbnb, introduced this year, have yet to prove themselves. In a bylaw which took effect as of June 10th, AirBnB is only permitted 3 months a year in Montreal, from June 10th to September 10th. Tranjan says enforcing a half-step regulation like the 9-month-a-year ban will be challenging. “To enforce that is extremely difficult,” he said. The most famous application for short-term rentals is Airbnb, but many other short-term rental apps exist. Booking and Expedia offer short-term rentals, as well as 9flats, Craigslist, or Kijiji. Enforcing it on Airbnb will be hard enough, but access to other platforms means that many may simply sidestep the ban. Controlling one app might work, but what happens when landlords begin using alternative platforms that are being ignored by governments, and they don’t have the capacity to enforce across a wide range of platforms like this? One solution Tranjan proposed is an “enforcement fee.” When people break the rules, a fine is issued, which is put back into the system to pay enforcers. This creates a system that won’t cost the city more money to hire personnel. [This still might not be sufficient, however.](https://ricochet.media/justice/housing/airbnbs-in-quebec-loopholes-lack-of-enforcement-make-a-mockery-of-new-laws/?ref=onthetrail.info) “How do you cover the entire territory of Montreal, or Toronto, or Vancouver?” he said. These sprawling, massive cities wouldn’t be simple to control. [Studies have shown that the only truly effective action is to have a full ban on Airbnb.](https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/96131/1/MPRA%5Fpaper%5F96131.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) “If this is a full unit (an entire apartment or house, not just a single room in an apartment), it needs to be rented long term. If it’s not, maybe then you can rent it short term,” said Tranjan. A [recent poll has shown that 55 per cent of Montreal residents are dissatisfied with Plante’s](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2200097/soraya-rabouin-segma-intentions-vote-boyer-fournier?ref=onthetrail.info)administration. Can Luc Rabouin stand in a year when Montrealers seem poised not to vote? It seems that disillusioned voters might be the biggest voting bloc in this year’s election, with a recent poll [saying 37 per cent aren’t decided.](https://montrealgazette.com/news/local%5Fpolitics/mtl-mayor-race/montreal-mayoral-race-martinez-ferrada-maintains-lead-new-poll?ref=onthetrail.info) “Will he truly be able to take responsibility for the actions of Projet Montréal because he was present, but at the same time distance himself from it and say, ‘I am a renewal; I am capable of bringing new ideas?” Gervais said. On Nov. 2, the city will decide. *With files from Zachary Kamel* ### Will justice be found in Longueuil? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/will-justice-be-found-in-longueuil/ Last updated: 2025-10-21T22:58:36.000Z I would love to see some action from those in power. Here in Longueuil, a 15 year old was killed. Today a short press conference and vigil was held as a month has passed , with barely any acknowledgement from the city and the institutions of power. As I spoke to people within the community there is anger and rage for how it has been treated, children have been traumatized, and what has been heard from those on high? Almost nothing. While the community reels, there has been virtually no comment from the mayor, Catherine Fournier, and her campaign for re-election hasn't connected with those who are struggling. The BEI haven't mumbled a word about their investigation. The nurses and clinics in the area are thinking of filing a complaint against the police because of how the kids are struggling. The school has not spoken out about this. So, as one month is now gone by, what will be the response from the city? Who will speak about what has occurred? And will change come? Support this sort of journalism. Sign up today. **#canada** **#mayor** **#quebec** **#longeuil** **#nooran** #mayor #justice #hope #government ### Should We Even Vote? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/should-we-even-vote/ Last updated: 2025-10-21T17:21:55.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) I was asked, very earnestly, on social media whether voting is a good idea or not, and whether it will truly change something. Yes, obviously it will. There is no such thing as a perfect leader, there is no such thing as a perfect solution. In no occasion and under no circumstance will we ever see a perfect, utopian leader or social system that we all dream of seeing one day. And that’s okay! Instead, voting becomes a practical way of exercising our rights. We seem to be focused on who is the “least bad” of all options, but in federal elections, only around 60 per cent of people are showing up to vote. But imagine a system where everyone showed up to vote, and where we had a better representation in government (a discussion for a different video would be proportional representation.) Those who are choosing not to vote are ignoring fundamental right they have in Canada, and are, through their actions, saying that they don’t care about the direction of a city. The importance of protesting is obvious, the importance of direct action is apparent, but a singular approach will not work, especially within an entrenched system like Canada. Instead, we have to have every approach simultaneously. We need to vote and participate in our elections, but then simultaneously we need to be seeing direct action and calling out public office. We need journalism, and we need activism. Without a dynamic, fluid, multi pronged society, there will be no change– and voting is a *mandatory* part of that within our society. ### Quebec's Disastrous Government Makes... A Constitution? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/quebecs-disastrous-government-makes/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:31.000Z Quebec's Disastrous Government Makes... A Constitution? 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) This week in the Gab and Isaac Show, we talk about the new Quebec constitution, an inapplicable law that is being presented as something new, and fresh. The polls are saying that more than seventy percent of Quebecois are approving of this idea, versus when the PQ did this exact same thing more than a decade ago. The Law of Laws? Bad news Quebec… The king in this country is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This has started a lot of media moguls to say that maybe this is the time when Legault steps down. Who will pick up from the ashes of his likely departure? Maybe they’re setting up the next leader quietly. Meanwhile, PSPP is making some of the biggest mistakes of his career, declaring a war on one of the most influential Quebec media and somehow being unable to publish their letter with another media, calling into question their influence. Their lead is tentative, but also the Quebec Liberals don’t seem to be making headway into the political scene. Finally, what’s going on in the Montreal Municipal election? It seems like there might be some twists and turns, and Isaac is predicting a m… well, you’ll have to listen to find out who Isaac thinks will win the mayoral race. Enjoy this bombastic, hot take filled episode covering the hottest news in Quebec right now. ### Renters Will Be Paying Renovation Costs for Their Landlord In Quebec URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/renters-will-be-paying-renovation/ Last updated: 2025-10-18T09:22:07.000Z In an article published by Pivot, it was revealed that as of October 18th, landlords will be able to pass off the majority of their maintenance and renovation costs on to renters. This new annual calculation will allow the landlord to look at the money they've used on their building every year and portions on to the bill of their renters. Of course, this might be more acceptable if there was more that renters could do to fight it, but currently the Tribunal is not a useful tool for renters in the long term. If you take your landlord to the TAL, whether you win or lose your case against them, this will be on your record, a record which is permanently accessible to every landlord who you might rent from in the future. What then, are the next steps? FRAPRU https://www.frapru.qc.ca/ RCLALQ https://rclalq.qc.ca/ ### Mayoral Candidate’s Social Media Posts “Extremely Disconcerting” URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mayoral-candidates-social-media-posts/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:33.000Z ## This article was written by Christopher Curtis from The Rover and the news broken as a collaboration. # [READ IT ON THE ROVER](https://therover.ca/mayoral-candidates-social-media-posts-extremely-disconcerting/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **A candidate for mayor of the Sud-Ouest borough says he was “being sarcastic” in a now-deleted Facebook post about vacationing over the ruins of Gaza.** In the February post, Thierry Daraize was referring to Donald Trump’s proposal to turn the Gaza Strip into a resort, [declaring, “I’ve already booked my 2032 vacation to Gaza, at an all-inclusive.”](https://montrealgazette.com/news/local%5Fpolitics/mtl-mayor-race/ensemble-candidate-says-gaza-post-was-sarcastic-regrets-not-adding-emoji-amid-social-media-backlash?ref=onthetrail.info) When confronted about the post earlier this week, the Ensemble Montréal candidate said he regrets not making it clear he was expressing his outrage at the inhumanity of Trump’s plan. Daraize’s boss, party leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada, accepted his explanation and apology. But as it turns out, that wasn’t his only controversial statement. In a series of posts obtained by *The Rover*, Daraize appears to fixate on Muslims, referring to them as “bearded radicals”, lashing out against efforts by Canadian universities to hire more Muslim professors and liking a post that derisively calls the left-wing French political party La France Insoumise “La France Islamiste.” In a 2024 post on the social media app Threads, Daraize wrote “this woman is dangerous” in reference to Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia. Elghawaby was appointed to her position in 2023 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who Martinez Ferrada worked for when she was a Liberal Member of Parliament. In a Threads post dated Oct. 27, 2024, Daraize spreads a debunked piece of Israeli propaganda that purported to show the wife of now deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar living a luxurious life in the tunnels below Gaza. His post, which claims to show Sinwar’s wife carrying a $32,000 Birkin purse, was initially shared by the Israeli military [but later debunked.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51S3A1xdHuY&ref=onthetrail.info) Members of two mosques in the Sud-Ouest told *The Rover* Thursday that Daraize’s posts are Islamophobic and called on Ensemble Montréal to reconsider his candidacy. “I’m disappointed. I grew up in the Sud-Ouest, it’s a great place, but our mosque has been smashed up before and many of us have been attacked for being visibly Muslim,” said Fatima Ahmad, whose father volunteers at the Khadija mosque on Centre St. in Point-Saint-Charles. “Islamophobia is a very real concern for us. The fact that he’s so comfortable sharing these posts publicly is scary for the Muslim community.” Ahmad says she’s been attacked three times while wearing her niqab in public, with the last coming in February of 2020\. That night, outside the Charlevoix metro station, she had her niqab pulled and was punched by a man who was later arrested and charged by police. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/0abb50cc-8dd0-4519-afef-e187ef8cfce7_1024x576.png) A member of another mosque, who did not want their name published, called Daraize’s posts “extremely disconcerting.” The National Council for Canadian Muslims is aware of Daraize’s Tweets and is preparing a response. A resident of the Sud-Ouest for the past decade, Daraize moved to Montreal from France over 30 years ago, making a name for himself as a [chef at high end restaurants like the Lutetia Paris, the Ritz Carlton and Chateau Mont Tremblant](https://ensemblemtl.org/candidates/thierry-daraize/?ref=onthetrail.info). He is also an acclaimed author and frequent guest on local radio and television. Daraize isn’t the only Ensemble Montréal candidate who has spoken out about Islam. Former TV journalist Leslie Roberts, who is running in Ville-Marie, called [Muslim street prayers in Montreal a form of “intimidation.”](https://nationalpost.com/opinion/leslie-roberts-quebec-calls-street-prayer-what-it-is-intimidation?ref=onthetrail.info) In the column, Roberts suggests that the sight of Muslims praying outside the Notre Dame Basilica echoes “the social friction seen in European capitals.” It seems that this is not the only thing that Daraize is participating in, as more is being uncovered actively. Here he is pictured in 2018 at a soirée at the Ritz Carlton. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/7501ec13-e762-443c-ad94-797581d390e6_1804x1596.png) . We have reached out to Ensemble Montréal and this article will be updated to include the party’s response. ### Municipal Election: Will Ensemble Montreal Fight for Tenants or Developers? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/municipal-election-will-ensemble/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:33.000Z THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED [IN ENGLISH ON THE ROVER](https://therover.ca/municipal-election-will-ensemble-montreal-fight-for-tenants-or-developers/?ref=onthetrail.info) AND [EN FRANÇAIS SUR PIVOT](https://pivot.quebec/2025/10/15/elections-municipales-ensemble-montreal-defendra-t-il-les-locataires-ou-les-promoteurs/?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/94a3f177-9655-414f-b85a-85e91235f691_1730x980-1.png) In a city where 63 per cent of the population is made up of renters, tenants’ rights groups worry about Soraya Martinez Ferrada’s connection to developers and the ultra-wealthy. On Sept. 30, the developer and frequent Conservative donor Ian Quint hosted a cocktail party featuring Martinez Ferrada on the roof of the old Holt Renfrew building. Quint’s company, Brasswater Inc., owns and manages 13 million square feet of commercial property across Quebec. That night, Martinez Ferrada was introduced by billionaire Stephen Bronfman and the party was well attended by the “who’s who” of Montreal’s business establishment. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) In June, she was similarly a guest at the 45th anniversary of CORPIQ, a landlord lobbyist group, along with colleague and city counsellor Julien Hénault-Ratelle. CORPIQ opposes implementing a rental registry in Quebec, and advocates for damage deposits, [a practice that many landlords participate in regardless of it being illegal](https://pivot.quebec/2025/01/15/exiger-un-depot-a-la-signature-dun-bail-une-pratique-illegale-mais-commune/?ref=onthetrail.info). Martinez Ferrada says that she wants a rental registry implemented. This would require participation by the provincial government. In May, [the Journal de Montréal](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/12/laspirante-mairesse-soraya-martinez-ferrada-a-exige-un-depot-illegal-a-ses-locataires?ref=onthetrail.info) broke the [story](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/soraya-martinez-mayor-montreal-1.7532660?ref=onthetrail.info) that Martinez Ferrada herself asked for a $2,850 deposit from her tenants upon renting the house, which is illegal under provincial law. Martinez Ferrada responded to the report saying that she only took $1,000, and that the situation was entirely due to a real estate agent she had trusted to do the listing on her behalf. She says she returned the money. An investigation by *The Rover* found that, during her tenure as a Liberal MP, Martinez Ferrada accepted donations from developers whose projects played a role in driving up commercial rent prices across Montreal. Two years ago, Stephen Shiller — a real estate magnate — donated $850 to Martinez Ferrada. Shiller’s firm, Shiller-Lavy, used rental hikes to drive out small businesses from its properties in the Mile End [before flipping the buildings at a massive profit.](https://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/real-estate/real-estate-investors-shiller-lavy-selling-five-buildings-in-mile-end?ref=onthetrail.info) During her time in the Trudeau government, where she worked as the Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Housing, she received campaign donations from Labid Aljundi and Majd Al Jundy, whose firm built *La Tour Fides*, a 300-unit luxury condo tower in Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles. Last year, Labid Aljundi decried the city’s lack of vision after he failed to get the green light for a six-storey condo tower that would have been built next to the REM station in Pierrefonds-Roxboro. “We don’t get the impression that Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada is truly interested in the concerns of tenants,” said Véronique LaFlamme, spokesperson for the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU). “If she is elected mayor, will she work for those who profit from housing or for the Montreal population, who, let’s remember, are mostly tenants?” When confronted with the names of people who’ve donated to her, and the parties she’s been attending with these developers, Martinez Ferrada replied, “I believe it’s an error to believe we can’t meet with housing developers.” Housing is set to be the defining issue in the Nov. 2 election, with some [48 per cent of voters telling pollsters it is their top priority](https://www.fppm.qc.ca/documents/communiques/Rapport%5FFPPM%5F13581-032.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info). The only issue that came close, in the August poll, was homelessness, which is also a housing issue. As the price of rent in Montreal has nearly doubled in the last decade, the city has seen a surge in its unhoused population and the rise of homeless encampments. Scenes of human suffering are a daily reality in most central boroughs. [85 per cent of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque,](https://ontariohousingmarket.com/2025/05/23/85-of-canadians-now-living-paycheque-to-paycheque-says-hr-block-survey/?ref=onthetrail.info) and [only one in 10 Canadians feel that their wage covers their basic living expenses.](https://www.benefitsandpensionsmonitor.com/news/industry-news/one-in-ten-canadians-say-their-income-doesnt-cover-basic-living-costs/391799?ref=onthetrail.info) [Consumer debt is rising at an alarming rate.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/canadians-are-falling-further-into-debt-beyond-just-pay-cheque-to-pay-cheque-living/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) We asked Martinez Ferrada how her government would achieve the ambitious targets set by her party: [50,000 new homes to Montreal in the next four years, including development of 10,000 social housing units, 6000 family units, 2000 student units, and 6000 affordable units.](https://ensemblemtl.org/en/program/a-city-accessible-to-all-and-inhabited-by-all/?ref=onthetrail.info) Martinez Ferrada did not seem aware of these numbers, despite it being on Ensemble Montreal’s website. “I don’t even know where you got those numbers from, because (we) don’t have them in Ensemble,” she said. “What I announced was 2,000 transitional housing units.” But is it realistic to imagine that working with the housing industry will yield 10,000 social housing units, 6,000 family housing units and 6,000 affordable housing units, as the party’s plan suggests? One housing expert has reservations. “At one point, the government had the capacity and the resolve to stand against private development,” Ricardo Tranjan, author of *The Tenant Class* and researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said. “Instead, what governments do now is to engage in these long negotiations on a case-by-case basis with developers and try to nudge and squeeze a bit of community benefit here and another project there.” Martinez Ferrada says she believes that regulations such as the bylaw for a diverse metropolis, also known as the 20/20/20 law, wouldn’t work because it would push developers to build housing outside of Montreal. The bylaw mandates that in large new residential developments, at least 20 per cent of units must be social housing, 20 per cent must be affordable housing, and 20 per cent must be family housing (i.e. three-bedroom or more), and in failing to build to these regulations, the developer could pay a modest fine. Ensemble Montreal has vowed to abolish the law if elected, with no replacement proposed. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) The law has produced few affordable or socialized housing units, since almost all developers opted to pay the fine. “I’ve met a lot of real estate developers throughout my life,” Martinez Ferrada said. “Because I myself worked to set up three housing cooperatives in my lifetime — since my family and I lived in housing that wasn’t suitable for my brother, who is disabled. So I’ve contributed a lot, and I really believe we can think differently about how we build in Montreal.” In reality, partnering with private corporations is nothing new to Canadian governments. Since the 1980s, under Brian Mulroney, Private-Public Partnerships (P3) have been the de facto method of building infrastructure throughout Canada. Tranjan explained how expertise in the government has shifted from the capacity to manage, coordinate, and finance complex projects to making P3s. “There’s an entire generation of public servants that have been engaged in P3s their whole lives. And so that’s how they do it,” he said. This is despite many studies showing that privatization usually [results](https://cupe.ca/sites/default/files/p3%5Ftransit%5Fbackgrounder%5Fen.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) in [the use of lower-quality building materials](https://policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Popular%5FPrimers/bottom%5Fline%5Fp3.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) while still [costing significantly more.](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334908614%5FComparison%5Fof%5Fcost%5Fand%5Fschedule%5Fperformance%5Fof%5Flarge%5Fpublic%5Fprojects%5Funder%5FP3%5Fand%5Ftraditional%5Fdelivery%5Fmodels%5Fa%5FCanadian%5Fstudy?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) As Martinez Ferrada has developed her relationships with developers, she has not met with tenant unions under the [FRAPRU](https://www.frapru.qc.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) umbrella or The Coalition of Housing Committees and Tenants Associations of Quebec’s (RCLALQ). Laflamme, spokesperson for FRAPRU, said that they sent two letters to Ensemble Montréal to propose a meeting in order to “present their concerns and priorities,” and that they hadn’t received a response to either letter. When asked if she had met with advocacy groups, Martinez Ferrada said she had spoken to groups that “focus particularly on homelessness.” The Rover asked if she had seen the letter sent by FRAPRU and their members. “We probably saw it, I can’t tell you if we answered or not,” she said, unsure of the exact letter in question. “But some of my team met with them, like Benoit Langevin.” Langevin is a current member of the city council for Ensemble Montreal. Laflamme categorically rejected having met with any individual within the party. “We have not had any meetings with Ensemble Montréal, especially not since Madame Martinez Ferrada became leader,” she said. A representative for RCLALQ confirmed that they received a response to a letter they sent to meet with Martinez Ferrada, but no formal meeting has been scheduled or taken place. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Martinez Ferrada told *The Rover* on October 4th “there are still 28 days left in the campaign” and that she’d be “pleased to meet them, no problem.” Using her conflict of interest records from her time in office, we narrowed down the number of properties the mayoral candidate owned. We confirmed the properties with Martinez Ferrada, who spoke openly about her investments. She was in possession of two rental properties — one in Hochelaga, one in Saint-Michel. The properties she owned for her own use were a chalet in Montpellier, and her house that she lives in. She has since sold the condo in Hochelaga and is trying to sell her chalet. Her tenants in Saint-Michel are a family with three kids who “pay about $2,850 for the entire house, and they haven’t had a raise (in rent) since they moved in,” she said. The family has lived there for three years. Martinez Ferrada has generally lived in Montreal since she moved here with her family as a child. An investigation by *The Rover* showed that her primary residence was, until recently, in Longueuil. Martinez Ferrada was not on Montreal’s initial voting registry list, indicating she recently moved back to the island. When asked whether she moved to Montreal exclusively for the mayoral race, Martinez Ferrada defended her bona fides as a Montrealer. “I fell in love with someone who has a child who’s finishing school, and I didn’t want to take him out of his environment. So I moved with him,” Martinez Ferrada said. She says she only lived in Longueuil for a year, and when she decided to run for municipal office, she moved back to the city. “No one’s ever doubted that I’m a Montrealer.” [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) The candidate has come under fire for her stance on Airbnb as well, though she said that she feels the media portrayal of her comments was inaccurate. Her original comments that were reported on were her expressing her desire to counter the marketing of housing for short-term rental purposes without penalizing citizens who want to “top up their income at the end of the month.” “I’m against the commercialization of housing on the back of the housing crisis by companies and private investors,” she said. “We must ban more, but not only that, we need to be able to apply the regulations put in place.” She pushed back against the bylaw that Projet Montréal has implemented, calling it a “public relations move” instead of a regulation that wants to deal with short term rentals. Her solution is virtually identical to Projet Montreal’s, but she would reduce the number of days during which owners can rent out their primary residence on a short-term basis from 93 to 90 days—consecutive or non-consecutive, and increase the number of [inspectors to enforce the ban](https://pivot.quebec/2023/10/06/debusquer-les-airbnb-illegaux-incursion-sur-le-terrain/?ref=onthetrail.info) to fifty for the next two years. While housing is bound to be one of the largest questions in this election, worries over rent and affordability are growing across Canada. “I want to make sure that no one else falls into homelessness,” Martinez Ferrada said. “We have to do prevention. The laws are so harsh that people, if they have bad luck, can’t pay their rent, they can lose their home.” So she presents herself as the “housing mayor.” On Nov. 2, voters will decide if that’s true. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Liberal cabinet ministers, PC MHA have not filed public disclosures: Commissioner URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/liberal-cabinet-ministers-pc-mha/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:34.000Z My colleague, and the editor and chief of The Independent, a Newfoundland Labrador based media published an article today that I felt it was necessary to share. This is more or less the third article in a series that we’ve been doing, which I think are of the utmost importance for the democracy in the province. I recommend you read ALL of the pieces. These might be my best work (hard to say, that being said) and I’m so proud of them. Last week I released “[Only Province in the Dark: Inside N.L.’s broken ethics system](https://theindependent.ca/news/only-province-in-the-dark-inside-n-l-s-broken-ethics-system/?ref=onthetrail.info)” This week I released “[Seismic shift needed to address N.L. housing crisis, experts say](https://theindependent.ca/news/seismic-shift-needed-to-address-n-l-housing-crisis-experts-say/?ref=onthetrail.info)” And with Justin releasing this piece, the story continues. I have another piece coming out with them, but the disrespect for transparency and lack of interest in serving the province is appalling. The challenge is that the eastern provinces are a news desert, that is to say, Justin is one of the few out there. So I hope you’ll go to his website and read the piece. Here is an excerpt of this foundational work. I will not be putting “subscribe buttons” in the piece today, because for me this isn’t about money- it’s about transparency in the government during a time of democratic backsliding. # [Read the whole piece here](https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/liberal-cabinet-ministers-pc-mha-have-not-filed-public-disclosures-commissioner/?ref=onthetrail.info) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/c3ce4de6-2fab-4ca0-ab94-e875277f3fd3_2000x1400-jpeg-1.jpg) By Justin Brake Newfoundland and Labrador Commissioner for Legislative Standards Ann Chafe says she still has not received public disclosure statements or supporting documents from three MHAs, including two cabinet ministers, running for re-election in next week’s provincial election. Liberal candidates Elvis Loveless and Lisa Dempster, both cabinet ministers heading into the election campaign, have not filed their 2025 disclosures which were due April 1, Chafe said Wednesday. Provincial legislation requires elected members of the House of Assembly to disclose to the commissioner their and their spouse’s assets like property, investments, business and corporate ownership, employment income, shares in companies, as well as liabilities, and other significant assets or interests “to guard against any real \[or\] perceived conflicts of interest,” the commissioner’s website says. They are required to file their disclosure statements within 60 days of being elected and then annually by April 1. The commissioner then reviews the statements, follows up with members if she has questions or concerns about the contents of their disclosures, then submits them to the speaker of the House of Assembly. The disclosures are then posted online as a measure of government transparency and public accountability. Loveless, MHA for Fortune Bay–Cape La Hune and the province’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Minister Responsible for the Public Procurement Agency, did not respond to two requests from The Independent for comment. Nor did Dempster, MHA for Cartwright–L’Anse au Clair and Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture. Dempster, who has served four terms in office, has also served as Deputy Government House Leader, Deputy Speaker, and has held seven other cabinet portfolios. “There’s no excuse, to my mind,” Chafe said of Dempster’s failure to submit her disclosure. “The forms are pretty straightforward and she’s done it before.” Chafe said Dempster told her there’s no change in what she would disclose but added “she has not complied” in filing her documents. Chafe, who was appointed acting commissioner in December 2022, said she is also missing a disclosure statement from Lloyd Parrot, the Progressive Conservative member for Terra Nova. The Independent spoke with Parrott Friday and the twice-elected MHA said his delay was partly due to a “fairly significant health situation” in March that put him “out of the picture for 17 weeks.” Parrott returned to the legislature May 12 for the remainder of the spring sitting but still did not file his disclosure. He says he takes full responsibility for not getting the completed documents to Chafe. “It was an honest oversight,” he said. “I got nothing to hide.” Parrott said his disclosure hasn’t changed since 2024\. “It’s the same,” he said. “No new investments, no different banking, no anything.” According to Chafe, in 2024 Parrott did not disclose any investments or other assets or holdings which might be of concern. # [Read the whole piece here](https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/liberal-cabinet-ministers-pc-mha-have-not-filed-public-disclosures-commissioner/?ref=onthetrail.info) --- I hope you’ll read the full piece. I’d just like to close this with a statement of how bad the whole of Canadian governments is at being transparent. It’s a dark time, and the only way we will make it through this is by fixing the corruption at the heart of our governments. Elected officials are basically allowed to do legal insider trading, and get rich off of being elected. Poilievre was middle class when he started in politics. Now he’s a multi millionaire. We should ask how that’s possible, and why we don’t call people out. I’m working on many initiatives that I hope to launch after the Municipal election in Montreal. Keep tuned. Part two of the media ownership is coming soon, and Aedan is working on some good stuff as well. ### IA, banques, et manifestations de la génération Z URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/ia-banques-et-manifestations-de-la/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:34.000Z # [LIEN](https://linktr.ee/placherdesvaches?ref=onthetrail.info) Alors que les institutions s’effondrent partout dans le monde et que les États-Unis répriment toute opposition au gouvernement actuel, des milions de jeunes se soulèvent partout dans le monde contre les gouvernements oppressifs. Ludvic trace un état des lieux des différents coins du monde qui se soulèvent. Le journal Métro renait de ces cendres, après deux ans d’inactivité, en proposant un modèle de production de nouvelles qui utilise notamment l’intelligence artificielle. Gabrielle décortique cette nouveauté. Isaac se penche sur les architectes d’un avenir plus vert. Mark Carney et une grande partie du monde financier ont dissous leurs alliances, renonçant à investir dans la lutte aux changements climatiques. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Belonging Under the Strain of Secularism URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/belonging-under-the-strain-of-secularism/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:34.000Z ## [LISEZ L’ORIGINALE EN FRANÇAIS ICI](https://presence-info.ca/article/vivre/spiritualite/lappartenance-a-lepreuve-de-la-laicite/?ref=onthetrail.info) Determined to tighten the principles of Quebec’s Law on State Secularism, the CAQ government has been considering, since late summer, to restrict the freedom of praying in public. On September 25, the Parti Québécois announced that it would ban the wearing of a religious head covering in primary schools—if the party were elected in the next provincial election. Recently, a Léger poll published by *Le Journal de Montréal* revealed that 54% of Quebecers support such restrictions. It’s a social trend that some Quebec Muslims find themselves at odds with. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **A Complex Process of Integration** “I grew up in Montreal, but part of me feels like I don’t belong here,” Moustafa said, a video game developer. He explains that for him, being Muslim in Quebec feels like being a foreigner—juggling multiple identities without fully belonging to the culture at large. His religious practice experienced a revival after the solar eclipse in August 2024\. Although his approach to faith is moderate, he’s noticed tensions in his romantic relationships from his faith—some partners have even shown open hostility. “My religious affiliation has never hindered my integration,” Jana said, a student. She explains that she’s able to fully engage in society despite restrictions imposed by her beliefs, such as avoiding certain celebrations or refraining from shaking hands with someone of the opposite sex. “The power to decide one’s own participation—or non-participation—is one of the most precious privileges of Quebec society,” she said. **Religious Symbols** The wearing of a head covering draws attention, and sparks heated debate within the Muslim community itself. Alex, a university administrator, wore the veil until adulthood. When she’s in a family context, she still wears it and prays. Otherwise, she no longer does. Asked about how others perceive her, she said: “I hadn’t noticed \[the judgment\] until I took the veil off. That’s when I suddenly realized how differently I was treated.” When she’s with her mother, “she attracts much more attention than I do—often inappropriate looks or comments.” These experiences are common. “One day, a woman stopped me in a shopping mall to make sure I knew my rights in this country and that I could get help if someone was forcing me to wear a veil,” said Mariam, a science student in Quebec’s Estrie region. “I understood she meant well—it was kind of funny—but sometimes people can be very critical or simply unwilling to understand.” [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Moustafa said he doesn’t draw much attention in public because he “looks fairly European.” But when he says his name, strangers start commenting on his appearance, noting his features, and “then the questions begin,” especially if the person has little experience with Muslims. “This idea of religious attire like the veil contradicts many principles of Islam,” Moustafa said. “We’re not supposed to have fixed external markers, but the topic is so debated in the community that it becomes an extremely personal decision. \[…\] The choice to wear the veil, in some ways, hurts a lot of people. Some even do it for political reasons.” **The Question of Prayer** The issue of public prayer entered the political debate after videos circulated online showing Muslims praying in front of Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica during pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The ‘phenomenon’ of public prayer, however, isn’t limited to the Muslim community—yoga and meditation sessions are frequently held in parks, and the Christian group Revival Montreal organizes weekly religious services and evangelizing in front of the Hudson’s Bay store on Sainte-Catherine Street. According to traditional interpretations of Islam, believers must pray five times a day. For those committed to full observance, these daily obligations can be demanding. “For Muslims, prayer can’t just be skipped when you’re out and resumed once you’re back home or at the mosque,” Mariam said. To fulfill this roughly five-minute ritual, some practitioners look for quiet spots—sometimes stairwells at school or a corner in a park. Going to a mosque isn’t always simple, as there are relatively few in the province, especially outside Montreal. “I don’t go to the mosque often because there are only two in my city, and they’re far from my house,” Mariam said. “I go only for special events. I think that’s very common for Muslims outside big cities like Montreal.” For her, a blanket ban on prayer in public spaces isn’t the answer. “I believe that as long as prayer doesn’t harm the environment, bother anyone, or disrupt others’ lives, the government shouldn’t interfere—and certainly not by imposing rigid rules.” ### AI Journalists Running the Newsroom URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/ai-journalists-running-the-newsroom/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:34.000Z AI Journalists Running the Newsroom 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/ba217ef0-04ca-402f-a182-ac19b984243f_474x266-jpeg.jpg) Journal Métro is back from the dead… and the news on its site will be written by AI. This is likely a trend that will slowly take over, so let’s take a moment to discuss. Metro, a Montreal daily that was previously one of the best pieces of information for everyone who needed local news, is back from the dead. Covid killed it, and they’ve been resuscitated. But with a twist!? Their articles and news will be written by AI, with the goal of making the original news on the platform through journalists who will do deeper investigations instead of dailies. All of this news that will be written by AI will be curated and fact checked by their editor in chief, Olivier Robichaud, a colleague and acquaintance of both Isaac and Gab (Isaac has done some work with Olivier.) Is this a good, or a bad idea? Well, let’s figure that out (spoiler, Isaac and Gab do not approve.) What are the advantages of this, other than saving money? Well, let’s dig in for this eighth instalment of the Gab & Isaac show. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### The NDP Identity in Flux URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-ndp-identity-in-flux/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:34.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The future of the NDP is uncertain. The race for leadership in the NDP is shaping up to be a highly dynamic, and driven debate between those who are interested in the party being driven by more leftist, class based politics or those who are more interested in the politics of the Jagmeet Singh era– a left of center, “big tent” type of NDP. **Heather McPherson** The assumed front-runner and establishment candidate, Heather McPherson started her bid with what would turn out to be a major sticking point for much of the party. People seem to have given it a shrug, and walked away from the launch feeling disappointed. Her launch had a clear focus on the idea of being “more inclusive,” and gave a small amount of regard for the cost of living crisis which most Canadians are suffering from. She said she would fight for fair wages, but the takeaway from the launch was her mention of a “purity test” that was pushing people away from the party. Her messaging around this idea has been messy. Leah Gazan snapped back. “When I hear a leadership candidate suggest that you have to pass a ‘purity test’ to fit into the NDP, I am appalled and deeply disappointed,” she said. The grassroots in the party have been angry and upset about this, with individuals like Matthew Green responding on Instagram with a post pushing back, and the NDP subreddit having many discussions around the subject. Several responses have gone back and forth, with an NDP candidate getting what almost seemed like positive press from the National Post. This is probably not a glowing endorsement for most NDP voters. The term “purity test” is long considered a dog whistle by racialized communities. It frames ethics down to an idea of “purity” and plays directly into far right ideas of “socialist, woke politics”. The word “woke” originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) as a call for awareness of systemic racism and social injustice. By the 1930s–40s it already carried radical connotations in Black political thought. Communities that have been driven by equity see the idea of “purity tests” as a way to get rid of leftist policies, or socialist politics in an attempt to appeal to the far right by doing away with equity or ethical frameworks to appeal to capital based politics. It seems that McPherson has alienated the grassroots and racialised supporters of the NDP, and it could be challenging to climb out. I reached out to McPherson’s team with a request for comment, but received no reply. Her advantage in this race is being a true “party insider.” Her disadvantage is that she seems to be interested in continuing the status quo of the NDP, which is what led them to have the worst election results in their history. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Avi Lewis** Meanwhile Avi Lewis has been called a “champagne socialist” by many online. This is a pejorative label for someone who advocates socialist or left-wing ideas while living a lifestyle that appears bourgeois, privileged, or hypocritically affluent. Nonetheless, his policies have grabbed a lot of attention in the NDP sphere, as his launch video was effective in focusing down on one central theme– affordability. The Lewis family might be as close as the NDP have to an historical dynasty, with his grandfather having been the Federal NDP leader and his father the leader of the Ontario NDP before becoming a diplomat. Some NDP voters seem torn over this, but many seem to be looking past his name and paying attention to his campaign launch and the focus of the work he’s doing. Lewis could have one big advantage over the others in the race– messaging. Lewis is a filmmaker and journalist, and has spent his life communicating. Despite his communication skills, he has still lost two bids to become an MP. Some NDP members have criticized this track record. This is not a criticism rooted in history since the most successful leaders of the NDP lost multiple times before their election. Tommy Douglas helped to create the federal NDP and was the first leader of the party, but lost his election bid in 1962\. He won a by-election in 1963, taking his seat in the house. This was a widely criticized embarrassment at the time. Jack Layton lost in 1993 and 1997 before winning in 2004, and eventually leading the NDP into their best-ever election victory. Lewis will have to overcome the “champagne socialist” perception if he wants to make headway in the race, but he might be starting on a strong foot with his slick messaging and easy slogans (They are the money, we are the many.) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Rob Ashton** Rob Ashton has excited many NDP voters as well. A practical man with true blue-collar roots, he said something out the gates that may have won him over a ton of leftist voters when he said “eat the rich,” unabashedly signalling some sort of political will– something that is uncommon in politics today. He is taking a class-based approach to his campaign, which is bound to make waves among many NDP voters who are disillusioned with the party. He doesn’t seem as concerned with some more modern NDP identity politics, and he said in an interview that he will let the NDP inform him how he should react to new pipelines, signalling something that many people are feeling the need for– a more democratic approach to the party. Although to some, it may signal that he isn’t left enough on the environmental spectrum. One of the challenges that has always been faced by a party such as the NDP is their ability to be a working class party, but often that is at the sacrifice of environmental policy. Their politics around climate have still managed to be better than the Liberals or Conservatives, but when you analyse the policy of western New Democrats, their abysmal track record on climate change is fairly apparent. This comes with the territory of being a labour focused party in provinces where large portions of labour are working on oil rigs, the foresting industry, or fisheries. Ashton has some major advantages that other leaders don’t have though. First, his working class appeal could be a game changer for the party. When you look like Ashton, a lot of ‘joe-canada’ types likely would see themselves in him. This bonafide working-class man running the labour party could be the exact thing they need to spice themselves up. He also has significant experience in organizing and speaking, as an operator within a union. Running a union involves management, negotiation, organizing skills that are transferable to political campaigning. It also involves speaking like a regular person, which could be an advantage versus the political class of Lewis and McPherson, who may have trouble appealing to the blue-collar types. **Less suits, more boots.** Others are bound to launch a bid for the NDP as well. Yves Engler, a well known activist, has promised to be launching his policy in the near term, and Tony McQuail is now an NDP leadership candidate as well, though he hasn’t made the waves that the other three have. Engler is working with a large team of activists, and McQuail is a farmer and working class man and has run seven times in Federal races, believing that he can help make a greener planet. The race is just beginning. I will continue following it and updating you all. ### Social Media is Giving us PTSD URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/social-media-is-giving-us-ptsd/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:35.000Z Social Media is Giving us PTSD 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/d60eb97f-f51d-47cc-be5b-98090ffccde9_1280x720-jpeg.jpg) Photo by the Rezayi family. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The world doesn’t seem too good right now, and we’re here to talk about it. But even more than that, we’re here to talk about how social media is causing observers of world events more trauma in some cases than the very people world events happen to. A study in the national geographic has opened our eyes to the way that our brain will become cyclically retraumatized around major events, and how dark it can get. Meanwhile, we also dive into Nooran’s shooting in Longueuil Quebec this week, the brutal response by the police, and the emboldening, and worsening racism of the CAQ. We also dive into the replacement theory of the PQ as Gabrielle confronts Isaac about their previous interest in the PQ. All in a days work with Isaac and Gab! We’d love if you signed up for $5 a month at https://isaacpeltz.ca to support our work, or if you’re unable, like and subscribe to this podcast, and share it! ### This Month On the Trail URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/this-month-on-the-trail/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:35.000Z Photo by the brilliant William Wilson --- Good morning. I hope you’re all doing well. This is your état des lieux for the month of September. This month has been full of highs and lows. Since the previous état des lieux on August 27th, I have released 17 pieces, whether that be podcasts, films, or written pieces On the Trail. There’s no way that I release at this speed all the time though, so I hope you’ll be comfortable if there are quieter weeks. I work alone basically. I’m working on a few higher profile items right now, and they’re taking some extra time. Nonetheless, I try to get good work out there for you as often as possible. In the past month, I had a lot of great momentum, [with my pieces on the ownership and governance of media companies](https://www.isaacpeltz.ca/p/canadian-media-ownership-and-boards?ref=onthetrail.info) across the country turning into my largest piece ever written for On the Trail. I recommend it. [Will and I released our mini documentary on the Bike Lanes](https://www.isaacpeltz.ca/p/doug-ford-vs-toronto-bike-lanes-the?ref=onthetrail.info) in Toronto, a video that will stand the test of time I think. I had one person DM me and tell me that I was washed up for doing a piece on bike lanes, and that I went from doing hard hitting political content to a piece about bike lanes… it made me laugh, simply because the Bike Lanes in Toronto are some of the most political pieces of infrastructure I’ve ever seen. This week, I also released one of my favourite pieces I’ve written when [I talked about the ethics disclosures of the Newfoundland Labrador government](https://theindependent.ca/news/only-province-in-the-dark-inside-n-l-s-broken-ethics-system/?ref=onthetrail.info). I have two more pieces coming out about the province in the next few weeks. I love doing work like that, because it’s all data, and no one writes about the Atlantic provinces. There’s almost twice as many people who live in greater Montreal than who live out east across the combined whole of all of the Atlantic provinces. I mean, it’s a travesty that companies will do polling for the Montreal mayoral race, but not at all for a provincial election in Newfoundland Labrador! I know it’s harder because there are only 500 000 people in NL and there are more than 2 million on the island of Montreal, but still. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In regards to my reporting, I felt good this month. In regards to the events of the world and my mental health, it was much less good. Let me wax philosophical for a moment, and tell you about my feelings. Specifically the shooting of Charlie Kirk was incredibly disturbing to me. I didn’t sleep more than a couple hours a night for around a week as I processed it. There were a couple reasons for that. One, it was graphic, disturbing, and represents another escalation in the United States’ end of democracy. This month, we watched as the USA creeped ever further towards the end of democracy, first with the response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, where the far right started **threatening** anyone who expressed disdain or lacked empathy for Kirk— The same people who openly celebrated the murder of Democrats in Minnesota, and who made fun of Nancy Pelosi’s husband being assaulted, the same people who don’t care when school shootings happen— violating the first amendment, and then we saw it continue with Jimmy Kimmel being cancelled at the will of the president. He came back, only because the far right influencersphere decided that this was the violation of the first amendment that was a step too far. I have ex girlfriends who live in the states. Some of my best friends live in the states. Also **Canada is their neighbour** so yes, seeing their obvious fascist turn is disturbing, and left me reeling after Kirk’s murder. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Second, not to make it about myself, but I was disturbed because I’m a public political entity. Mind you I’m not controversial like Kirk, [Kirk was a white supremacist who didn’t believe that black people should have the right to vote](https://zeteo.com/p/charlie-kirk-in-his-own-words?ref=onthetrail.info), and claimed that people shouldn’t have empathy, and said that people being shot was an acceptable consequence in order to keep the second amendment. Mind you, I live in Canada, where political violence is more top down, [with cops shooting children,](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/police-shooting-longueuil-1.7639924?ref=onthetrail.info) or [assaulting protesters](https://www.isaacpeltz.ca/p/police-brutality-at-radpride-unprovoked?ref=onthetrail.info). And yet I still was affected and felt afraid of being killed for being a public figure. It’s a bad time to be a public figure. Discourse is dying. People are angry. I’m trying to be a voice of peace, but what does that do in a world so torn apart? Again I ask whether what I’m doing is useful or not. I always wanted to do something for the good of humanity, but I don’t know if journalism does anything. Sometimes I think it does, sometimes I think it doesn’t. In case you’re curious, this is a common feeling among journalists. The moments where I think it helps is when both conservatives and leftists separately text me to tell me they appreciate my work. This month, I’ve have several professors, great people, ask to work with me, or to present my work to their classes. I’ve had journalists talking to me behind the scenes because they like my work, and I’ll be doing some work with bigger entities than myself this coming week. Those are gratifying moments. Even still, sometimes you’re doing work, and so little feedback comes to you that you don’t know if what you’re doing matters at all. And no, Instagram and Tik Tok comments are not feedback. I hope it does, I hope people are affected by it. We don’t know the impact of our actions, and no one will for a long time to come. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) We, as a society, have been trained to need instant feedback. This instant feedback is an addictive loop which I participate in constantly (I’m often a propagator of this feedback loop on social media), so what I hope is that my work and voice in journalism has a long lasting impact. In ten years, hopefully my commitment to being independent, working on socials, and continuing the fight in a different and more modern way has the impact I hope it does. Still, I’m a child of the 90s, the first internet generation, and I will constantly need to remind myself that change is slow. The great René Lévesque, father of modern Quebec, worked tirelessly for more than 10 years as the leader of the Parti Québécois before he won an election in 1976\. He didn’t quit and kept working, slowly building more momentum until finally he changed Quebec for the better (mostly) and became the mythical figure we know. Real change is a decades long process, but for my generation and the generations below me, this isn’t easy to accept. So we should keep reminding ourselves of that. I processed through some of my trauma around Kirk’s killing, by the way– I remembered all of these things, and it helped me. I can sleep at night again. This next month, I feel that On the Trail is about to burst into flames and have a big ol’ growth spurt. I’m nearly certain of it. I’m excited for what I’m working on, and I believe that we’ll keep doing our goal of, to quote Gabrielle, [*changing journalism or dying*](https://youtu.be/8BekDPqj9YA?ref=onthetrail.info)[. ](https://youtu.be/8BekDPqj9YA?ref=onthetrail.info)We gotta keep doing what we’re doing, and if we don’t, there won’t be democracy in the future. Either we change journalism, or journalism dies, and democracy with it. Look at the states, y’all. Go spend all your money and subscribe to the Rover, subscribe to me, subscribe to the Independent, subscribe to Pivot and anyone else. Cancel Netflix & Disney plus, and put all that money into indie media. Cause we’re all broke. And trying to save democracy. ### Les glissements dangereux URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/les-glissements-dangereux/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:35.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) # [LIEN](https://linktr.ee/placherdesvaches?ref=onthetrail.info) Je suis sûr que vous pensiez que je vous avais oubliés, les francophones ? Gab n’étant plus aussi disponible, on parle un peu moins en français. Mais ne vous inquiétez pas, Gabrielle et moi vous aimons toujours et voulons vous faire plaisir. Toutes les deux semaines, Le Plancher des vaches revient : du contenu français analytique et percutant en partenariat avec Pivot ! Bonne écoute ! Cette semaine, Ludvic, Isaac et Gabrielle abordent la convergence entre les centristes et l’extrême-droite en France, la difficulté d’être à gauche, particulièrement aux États-Unis, et la chute des politiciens au Qubec et au Canada, en trançant un parallèle entre Justin Trudeau et François Legault. Bonne écoute! ### Only Province in the Dark: Inside Newfoundland and Labrador’s broken ethics system URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/only-province-in-the-dark-inside/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:36.000Z Ann Chafe is the province’s acting Commissioner for Legislative Standards. *Facebook*. *Illustration by Justin Brake.* ### [READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON THE INDEPENDENT](https://theindependent.ca/news/only-province-in-the-dark-inside-n-l-s-broken-ethics-system/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) --- Every Canadian province has readily-available public disclosures, a transparency resource commonly used by journalists and the public to monitor politicians’ potential conflicts of interest — except Newfoundland and Labrador. *The Independent* spent over a year working to acquire the Members of the House of Assembly (MHA) disclosures. In every other province, without exception, ethics disclosures are readily available online to every single member of the public. In this province, no ethics disclosures are posted online and there are significant barriers to accessing them since access is at the discretion of the commissioner for legislative standards and typically requires visiting the office in St. John’s. Newfoundland and Labrador’s laws around disclosures were last amended in 2001, before the internet became the cultural and communications force it is now. The federal government first adopted online publication of its conflict of interest declarations in 2006, and updated them [nine times since then](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/careers-cra/information-moved/directive-on-conflict-interest-gifts-hospitality-post-employment.html?ref=onthetrail.info) with the intention of modernizing the availability and use of the conflict of interest disclosures. Ontario was the first province to start using an online database, but all provinces have made an effort to ensure information is available online. The most recent, Manitoba, made its conflict-of-interest disclosures available online in 2023\. Making conflict-of-interest disclosures publicly available online is a form of accountability, encouraging civic participation and allowing residents and journalists to research their elected officials. When *The Independent* spoke with Newfoundland and Labrador Acting Commissioner for Legislative Standards Ann Chafe, there seemed to be resistance to making the disclosures available online. “There’s a line between privacy and what the public should know,” Chafe said in a phone interview last April. “Once you put anything online, it’s out there forever.” Provincial law gives the commissioner control over what information is publicly shared. The law does not guarantee public access to information, leaving journalists and residents with limited recourse. This is entirely legal and rooted in a system that hasn’t been updated to reflect modern realities, such as the development of the internet as a source of accessible information. Chafe was appointed acting commissioner in December 2022 after former commissioner Bruce Chaulk’s controversial six-year term ended. “Go and read the legislation. The legislation talks about how the public disclosure statements will be held; I have \[them\] here in a book,” Chafe during the phone interview. The legislation mandates disclosure but hasn’t been adequately updated since its initial publication in 1995\. The only way to ensure access is to visit in person and request to view the documents. With the information being more difficult to gather, compared to other provinces, journalists or residents may not understand all of the possible conflicts of interest in the House of Assembly. The purpose of the disclosures is to serve as a mechanism within the government that aims to keep MHAs accountable. “The point of having these disclosures is *me*,” Chafe explained. “If they don’t satisfy my standards, I report them to the speaker, and the speaker chooses how he approaches it.” ## [READ THE FULL STORY HERE](https://theindependent.ca/news/only-province-in-the-dark-inside-n-l-s-broken-ethics-system/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Former Coalition Avenir Quebec Minister Tells Legault to Step Down URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/former-coalition-avenir-quebec-minister/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:36.000Z Former Coalition Avenir Quebec Minister Tells Legault to Step Down 0:00 /200 1× ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/f6038b09-e6ca-46ec-9e5e-f6959dbd066c_758x668.png) This week on the docket is an endless slew of news about the winding, eternally collapsing CAQ government. In a shock move, a former minister left the CAQ last week to sit as an independent, saying that Legault has abandoned the regions. Meanwhile, PSPP is climbing in the ranks, and spreading misinformation (which Isaac is pushing back against) and the state of affairs within the Quebec government is growing more dire by the day. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) If you dig this work by Gabrielle and Isaac, please feel free to subscribe! $5 a month goes a long way. If not, share and talk to your friends about this Canadian political junkie podcast. ### The UN’s Gaza Genocide Report Summarized URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-uns-gaza-genocide-report-summarized/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:36.000Z **Today, on September nineteenth, the US blocked a resolution in the United Nations for a ceasefire for the 6th time.** I have read through the 70 page document detailing the findings of the UN commission, which has declared that the state of Israel is committing Genocide against the Palestinian people. Few people are going to read through the findings of a 70 page legal document, so I have endeavoured to provide it in simple English using subheadings for people to share, show and discuss with people. Please use this as a resource. [All of this is sourced from the UN legal findings in the Human Rights Council published on the 16th of September, 2025.](https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session60/advance-version/a-hrc-60-crp-3.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) The information is extremely intense, and uncomfortable to read. I have not included many of the disturbing stories and attempted to remain in the numbers. Still, I have included some stories to emphasize their findings. The commission gives many more stories and examples of these violent actions. In regards to their stories around rape and sexual violence, I would not *necessarily* encourage anyone to read it. Simply keep this in mind– the details are horrifying, traumatic, and disturbing. I personally find it harder to read than other subjects. I have nonetheless detailed it, so please read with caution, and take care of yourself. Importantly, there is a legal obligation on the part of nation states who are aware of a genocide to intervene if this is occurring. There has been no attempt at intervention from any western nation state. Bluster and words are the most that these states, including Canada, can muster. Although the UN has declared that what is occurring in Gaza has met the **legal threshold** of a genocide, not a single western Prime Minister, President, Chancellor, etc… has declared it a genocide. It should also be noted that the commission only studied information from October 7th onwards, and did not study anything beforehand. Although there has clearly been intent for a genocide and an apartheid for generations, the focus of this commission is **only from Oct 7th onwards.** Keep that in mind, they did not weigh in on the facts before that date. Here is the summary. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### **Introduction** The Commission of Inquiry’s report examines only the violations committed in Gaza since October 2023 and concludes that Israeli security forces have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes, including extermination, torture, rape, sexual violence and other inhumane acts, inhuman treatment, forcible transfer, persecution based on gender, and starvation as a method of warfare. The Commission further finds that Israeli authorities destroyed in part the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza as a group by imposing measures intended to prevent births, and deliberately inflicted conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians as a group. Both are identified as underlying acts of genocide. The legal framing is explicit: **genocide concerns acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group**. Citing the International Court of Justice’s recognition in the *Barcelona Traction* case of *erga omnes* obligations, the Commission emphasizes that **all states have an obligation to prevent and punish genocide wherever it occurs and that the duty to prevent arises when a state is put on notice of information suggesting a risk of genocidal acts and has the capacity and means to prevent them.** ### **Death Toll & Injuries** The human toll is stark. As of publication, 65,062 are dead and 165,697 injured. Within the report’s principal window—from 7 October 2023 to 31 July 2025— 60,199 Palestinians were killed. As of 15 July 2025, at least 46 percent of Palestinians killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023 were women and children, out of 58,380 verified deaths at that time. The war’s demographic impact is captured in a single metric: **life expectancy in Gaza dropped from 75.5 years for the year before October 2023 to 40.5 years during the first 12 months of war—a decrease of 34.9 years, or 46.3 percent.** This calculation does not include indirect deaths due to inability to access healthcare or malnutrition; the Commission notes life expectancy would be lower if such information were included. The Gaza Strip’s context aggravates civilian vulnerability: approximately 2.3 million residents live within 360 square kilometres, around 6,300 persons per square kilometre, placing it among the most densely populated areas on earth. The Commission documents Israeli military operations targeting locations in densely populated civilian areas, including high-rise buildings and residential apartment blocks. Entire city blocks and neighbourhoods were levelled under sustained bombardment. On many occasions, apartment towers were destroyed, killing almost all civilians inside. Between 7 October 2023 and 30 July 2024, Israel carried out 498 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza; these direct attacks killed 747 people, including children, and the report concludes that hospitals were struck while civilians, including pregnant women and children, were receiving treatment or shelter. As of 15 April 2025, 1,400 healthcare workers had been killed, and 180 ambulances had been attacked. By mid-2025, only 36 percent of health facilities remained functional, all partially except for a single field hospital that was fully functional. The compound burden of injury is reflected in amputation statistics: by the end of 2024 there were 4,500 amputation cases attributable to the air and ground campaign, including an estimated 800 children and 540 women. Medical professionals told the Commission that from the very beginning of hostilities, half of patients on surgical lists were children. UNICEF reported that by the end of November 2023 around 1,000 children had one or more limbs amputated, and many amputations were performed without anaesthesia. A doctor explained that a child amputee will need between eight and twelve surgeries before adulthood just to allow for growth. ### **Infrastructural Damage** The physical destruction of the built environment is corroborated by satellite-based assessments and damage surveys. UNOSAT reported on 13 December 2024 a total of 170,812 affected structures: 60,368 destroyed, 20,050 severely damaged, 56,292 moderately damaged, and 34,102 possibly damaged. Other assessments estimated 258,201 damaged housing units in total, alongside 70,436 destroyed structures and 18,588 severely damaged structures out of a total of 174,486 damaged structures. Cultural devastation is similarly extensive: 110 cultural and religious sites were damaged or destroyed since 7 October 2023, including 13 religious sites, 77 buildings of historical and artistic interest, three depositories of movable cultural property, nine monuments, one museum, and seven archaeological sites. The World Bank assessed in February 2025 that 53 percent of heritage sites in Gaza were damaged or destroyed. Educational infrastructure suffered catastrophic harm: 396 of 564 school buildings were directly hit and sustained damage, 80 schools were fully destroyed, and 66 lost at least half their structures. In a previous report covering 7 October 2023 to 25 February 2025, the Commission recorded 403 of 564 school buildings directly hit. The discrepancy reflects differing cut-off dates rather than a contradiction in trend. ### **Targeted Killings** The Commission describes a campaign that treated journalists, medics, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities as presumptively targetable. By 3 March 2025, at least 170 journalists and media workers had been killed due to Israeli military operations, with killings even occurring during ceasefire periods contrary to their terms and without warning. On 23 March 2025, first responders came under extended gunfire; given the duration and the identification of the victims as Palestinians, the Commission finds it reasonable to conclude intent to kill. The report also records statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich describing attacks as part of a gradual process planned since early March 2025. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### **Displacement and Detention** Displacement reached near-total proportions. Israeli military operations resulted in more than 1.9 million people—about 90 percent of Gaza’s population—being displaced from October 2023 to 25 June 2025\. Calls by Israeli authorities for “migration” or “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza, including explicit calls for forced displacement, accompanied the ongoing offensive. The Commission details a widespread pattern of abuse in detention. Numerous reports describe detainees stripped, transported naked, blindfolded, kicked, beaten, sexually assaulted, and threatened with disappearance or death. One released detainee recounted being told by a soldier, “I will kill you and can make you disappear. You will not see the sun, and nobody will know where you are.” Another explained how detainees were beaten during transfers, including a case where a detainee’s jaw was punched so hard that several teeth were broken. ### **Sexual Violence** The Commission verified more than 20 cases of sexual and gender-based violence affecting male and female detainees across more than 10 military and Israel Prison Service facilities. Sexual violence was used as punishment and intimidation from arrest through detention, including during interrogations and searches. Men reported beats and kicks to their genitals, often while naked, as well as rape and assault with objects such as sticks, broomsticks, and vegetables, and burns from an electrical probe to the anus. Women described sexual assault and harassment in military and prison facilities, threats to their lives and of rape, repeated prolonged invasive strip-searches before and after interrogations, and beatings mixed with sexual insults. Female detainees were photographed without consent in degrading circumstances, including in underwear in front of male soldiers, with some images posted on social media. ### **Basic Necessities & Famine** The report characterizes the siege on Gaza as instrumentalization of basic necessities, beginning as early as 9 October 2023\. On 7 October 2023, the then–Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water, Israel Katz, ordered the cessation of electricity supply to Gaza. The siege was framed as retribution: “a complete siege… no electricity, no water, no food, no fuel. We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.” By December 2023, OCHA called the situation “apocalyptic.” Starvation as a method of warfare is a core finding. The threshold for famine was passed in most areas, and malnutrition reached famine levels in Gaza City. Even before October 2023, the “Food Consumption in the Gaza Strip – Red Line” document calculated caloric intake to keep Palestinians on the brink of famine—an administrative apparatus that, in the Commission’s assessment, made starvation a policy tool. ### **Sanitation & Reproduction** Humanitarian aid was extremely restricted and requests for access repeatedly denied. Water shortages compounded sanitation collapse in camps and shelters, where damaged sewage systems and staffing shortfalls left approximately 400,000 kilograms of waste piling up daily, fuelling disease outbreaks including Hepatitis A. Conditions for childbirth were unsafe: hospitals lacked specialized personnel, medication, and equipment; pain management and infection control were stymied by shortages of epidurals, hypertension medication, anaesthesia, and antibiotics. As of 19 May 2025, almost 11,000 pregnant women were at risk of famine. As of April 2024, severe starvation, dehydration, and acute malnutrition had caused at least 28 child deaths—25 of them under one year old—with the caveat that these figures reflect only those who reached hospitals. Overall, the Commission estimates that about 545,000 women and girls of reproductive age were affected by attacks on facilities providing sexual and reproductive health services. The Al-Basma IVF clinic was directly struck by a tank shell on a date identified in the record; five liquid nitrogen tanks exploded, destroying all reproductive material stored for future conception. The clinic sustained the most damage among neighbouring buildings, indicating it was the principal target. ### **Culpability and Conclusions** Against this backdrop, the Commission reiterates earlier determinations of willful killing and expands its findings. Israeli security forces used wide-impact munitions with knowledge that they would cause large numbers of civilian deaths, and killings were conducted on a large scale over a significant period and across a widespread geographical area. The victims were not targeted as discrete individuals but collectively “due to their identity as Palestinians.” **Accordingly, the Commission concludes that Israeli authorities committed the crime against humanity of extermination in Gaza. It also finds that Israeli security forces intended to target and attack Palestinian civilians—including children, women, persons with disabilities, and older persons—during evacuation, within designated safe zones, and in shelters, with foreseeability that civilians would be present in residential buildings, UNRWA schools, medical facilities, and other purported safe areas. The Commission finds deliberate targeting and killing of Palestinian medical personnel and aid workers. It concludes Israeli authorities knew the high civilian toll since 7 October 2023 yet did not intervene to change means and methods of warfare.** **On genocide specifically, the Commission concludes on reasonable grounds that Israeli authorities and security forces have committed and are continuing to commit the actus reus of genocide—killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm; deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. On incitement to genocide, the Commission concludes that President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and then–Defence Minister Yoav Gallant directly and publicly incited the commission of genocide, and that Israeli authorities failed to take action to punish this incitement. Statements by other leaders, including Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have not been fully assessed and should be examined to determine whether they constitute incitement. On genocidal intent, the Commission identifies “fully conclusive evidence” in the statements of Israeli authorities, and determines that circumstantial evidence from the overall pattern of conduct makes genocidal intent “the only reasonable inference.” The conclusion is that Israeli authorities and security forces have had and continue to have the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The State of Israel, therefore, bears responsibility for failure to prevent genocide, the commission of genocide, and failure to punish genocide.** [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### **Recommendations** The recommendations follow the gravity of these determinations. To Israel, the Commission urges an immediate end to the commission of genocide in Gaza; full compliance with the ICJ’s provisional measures of 26 January, 28 March, and 24 May 2024; implementation of a complete and permanent ceasefire; an end to military operations in the occupied Palestinian territory that involve genocidal acts; restoration and unhindered access for all UN staff, including UNRWA international staff, and all international humanitarian agencies; an immediate end to starvation policy and to the distribution of food aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation; full, unimpeded aid at scale through multiple distribution points across Gaza, including food, clean water, medical equipment, and medicine, through a UN-led response; unhindered medical evacuations to third states; unhindered access for emergency medical teams; access for the Commission to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, to continue investigations; and credible investigations to punish genocide and incitement to genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza. **To all UN Member States, the Commission recommends employing all means reasonably available to prevent genocide in Gaza; ceasing the transfer of arms and other items, including jet fuel, to Israel or to third states where there is reason to suspect their use in operations involving or likely to involve genocide; ensuring that individuals and corporations within their jurisdiction are not involved in committing, aiding, or inciting genocide, and investigating and prosecuting those implicated; facilitating investigations and domestic proceedings and taking action, including sanctions, against Israel and against individuals or corporations involved in or facilitating genocide or incitement; and cooperating with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.** To the ICC Prosecutor, the Commission recommends examining the crime of genocide within the Palestine situation for amendment to existing arrest warrants and inclusion in future applications, and examining the involvement of the officials identified in the report for inclusion among those most responsible for international crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory. **The cumulative picture is unambiguous. Since 7 October 2023, the hostilities have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including entire extended families across generations; devastated homes, hospitals, schools, cultural heritage, and basic infrastructure; displaced more than 1.9 million people; destroyed reproductive material and capacity; starved civilians; and used detention abuse and sexual violence as tools of punishment and intimidation. The Commission’s assessment holds that genocidal intent is evidenced directly in official statements and circumstantially in the sustained pattern of conduct, and that the legal duties owed erga omnes now require states to act—to prevent further destruction, ensure humanitarian access, and pursue accountability, including halting material support that could facilitate the commission of genocide and cooperating with international investigations and prosecutions.** ### Repressive Secularism / La laïcité répressive URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/repressive-secularism-la-laicite/ Last updated: 2025-09-18T10:02:54.000Z ### “The proliferation of street prayer is a serious and sensitive issue,' Jean-François Roberge said. For the past year, various communities from across the province had to endure being the political safety net of the CAQ government. Amidst the countless social and economic crises we are facing from the housing crisis to food insecurity, from crumbling educational institutions to worker shortages, the government has consistently prioritized its battle against “Islamists” and Allophones on its agenda. Now, facing allegations of budget mishandling and corruption, the CAQ decided to redirect everyone’s attention to the scary Muslims committing what is clearly a heinous crime. **Praying in public.** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Many ask: why would Muslims pray in public at all? In Islam, there are five mandatory prayers to fulfill during specific times of the day. This rarely takes more than 5 minutes, and it serves as an anchor for Muslims worldwide to help maintain a spiritual connection to Allah during worldly hardships. In Muslim-majority countries, there are countless mosques and dedicated prayer areas in schools, malls, hospitals, and other spaces to accommodate this religious obligation. In Quebec, the areas are more sparse and scarce. As such, you may have come across Muslims praying under school stairwells, in a corner near a metro station, or even in parks during protests. Religion and culture are very distinct components of one’s identity, and integration to a culture is people’s willingness to engage and participate in the culture. As a Canadian citizen, and a proud Québecoise, I am perfectly trilingual. I completed my secondary and Cégep studies in French. I engage in public discourse, I work as a tutor, I have friends born and raised here. So do the vast majority of immigrants. My religion has never been an obstacle to my integration. How can integration occur despite refusing to drink or party? While refusing to shake hands with the opposite gender? While having women cover their hair or refusing to take part in many other Quebecer traditions and customs? It is not a barrier to integration, instead it is a reinforcement of one of Québec’s primordial values– liberty. To have the choice to participate– or not– has been one of Québec’s greatest qualities. As long as mutual respect of one’s faiths and choices are maintained, this liberty is and should remain celebrated for each one of us. Imagine if we pressured white women to dress in a certain way? Or for women to have physical contact with someone they’re not comfortable with? With the defacto hijab ban in public service, it’s clearly targeting people who are muslim (and sikh), but even more specifically who are *women* and muslim. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In a crisis of worker shortage, especially in education, you exclude an immense population of teachers by disallowing the hijab in public service. The hijab– which is part of a religious dresscode– is not limited to the headcovering: it is a Muslim woman's way of expressing herself both artistically and spiritually. When you worry about the integration of immigrants, is it truly the best idea to ban any outlet of their values and beliefs in public, thus excluding them from many possibilities to socialize with the dominant culture and forcing them to further close themselves off from the rest of society? To ban the hijab is to silence Muslim women and remove their right to be seen and heard in public. To ban prayer is to remove their right to exist in the province. Why are Good Friday parades secular enough to be tolerated, but a few minutes of Muslims praying outside deemed proselytic and dangerous? Why does no one bat an eye when our premier attends the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and yet it’s reprehensible for Muslim Quebecers to pray? White Christian is not the generic, default setting of a human being that we then customize and color to our liking, so why do we rip away the identity of these populations and remove their unique identifiers in order to pretend we aren’t simply oppressing immigrants?? **Does secularism have to be repressive to ensure equality?** In an echo chamber, we will never hear the answer to these questions. Communities on all sides are feeling scared and resentful. I dream of the day where we can truly have an open dialogue, to answer these questions together through a unifying goal: creating a safe, prosperous, and unified Quebec for all. But that will never happen until we show Legault and his cabinet, or any future politicians, that we are onto their game of divide and conquer, and hold them accountable for the insecurity they caused with their incompetence and ego. --- ### « La multiplication des prières de rue est un enjeu sérieux et sensible au Québec, » disait Jean-François Roberge. Pendant une année entière, dans tous les coins de la province, de nombreuses communautés ont servi de bouclier politique au gouvernement de la CAQ. Alors que le pays fait face à une myriade de crises sociales et économiques, comme la crise du logement, l’insécurité alimentaire, la détérioration des écoles et la pénurie de main-d’œuvre, le gouvernement a constamment privilégié la lutte contre les « islamistes » et les personnes allophones dans son agenda. En ce moment, alors qu’il fait face à des allégations de détournement de fonds et de corruption, le parti dévie l’attention en ciblant ces personnes musulmanes effrayantes, qui semblent avoir commis un acte odieux : Prier en public. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Beaucoup se demandent: « pourquoi les musulman-es prient en public? » Dans l’islam, cinq prières quotidiennes sont obligatoires à des heures spécifiques. Elles ne durent généralement pas plus de cinq minutes et offrent un moment de réconfort spirituel face aux défis du monde. Dans les pays à population majoritairement musulmane, on trouve des mosquées et des espaces de prière dans les écoles, les centres commerciaux, les hôpitaux et d’autres lieux publics. Au Québec, les endroits pour prier sont peu nombreux. Par conséquent, on peut voir des musulman-es qui prient dans des cages d’escaliers d’écoles, à l’écart d’une station de métro ou même dans un parc lors d’une manifestation. La religion et la culture sont deux dimensions distinctes de l’identité. S’intégrer à une culture, c’est choisir d’y participer. Je suis citoyenne canadienne et fière Québécoise, et je suis parfaitement trilingue. J’ai fait mes études secondaires et mon cégep en français. Je participe au débat public, je travaille comme tutrice, j’ai des ami-es qui sont nés ici — comme la vaste majorité des immigrants. Mon appartenance religieuse n’a jamais entravé mon processus d’intégration. Comment l’intégration serait-elle possible si l’on refuse de boire ou de faire la fête ? De serrer la main de l’autre sexe ? Si des femmes choisissent de couvrir leurs cheveux ou de s’abstenir de certaines traditions québécoises ? Cela n’est pas un obstacle ; en réalité, c’est l’expression d’une valeur profondément ancrée au Québec : la liberté. Le pouvoir de décider de sa propre participation, ou non, constitue l’un des plus précieux privilèges de la société québécoise. C’est un atout considérable, à condition que le respect mutuel prévale. Nous devons donc tous célébrer cette liberté. Est-il concevable d’imposer aux femmes blanches une manière spécifique de s’habiller, ou de les contraindre à une forme de contact physique qui les met mal à l’aise ? Avec (effectivement) l’interdiction du hijab dans la fonction publique, l’objectif est manifestement de cibler les personnes musulmanes (et les sikhs), et encore plus précisément, les *femmes* musulmanes. En pleine pénurie de personnel, surtout dans le domaine de l’éducation, on exclut un vaste bassin de potentielles enseignantes en interdisant le port du hijab. Ce vêtement, qui fait partie d’un code vestimentaire religieux, est à la fois une forme d’art et une manifestation spirituelle pour la femme musulmane. Est-il vraiment judicieux de bannir toute manifestation de leurs valeurs et croyances dans l’espace public lorsqu’on se préoccupe de l’intégration des personnes immigrantes ? Cela les prive d’occasions de côtoyer la culture dominante et les pousse à se refermer. Interdire le hijab revient à museler les femmes musulmanes et à leur retirer leur droit d’exister dans la société. Interdire la prière, c’est leur nier le droit d’exister en cette province. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Pourquoi les défilés du Vendredi saint sont-ils considérés comme suffisamment « laïcs » pour être tolérés, tandis que quelques minutes de prière musulmane en plein air sont perçues comme du prosélytisme dangereux ? Pourquoi personne ne s’offusque-t-il lorsque notre premier ministre assiste à la réouverture de la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, alors qu’il est répréhensible pour des Québécois-es musulman-es de prier ? L’identité « chrétienne blanche » n’est pas un réglage par défaut qu’on peut colorer à notre guise. Pourquoi enlever à certaines populations leurs marqueurs identitaires pour ensuite prétendre qu’on ne les opprime pas ? **La laïcité doit-elle être répressive pour garantir l’égalité ?** Dans une chambre d’écho, ces questions resteront sans réponse. Des deux côtés, les communautés sont envahies par la crainte et l’animosité. J’aspire au jour où nous pourrons enfin entamer un vrai dialogue pour résoudre ces questions et construire ensemble un Québec sûr, prospère et uni pour tous. Cependant, ce rêve ne deviendra réalité que si nous dévoilons aux membres de son cabinet, à Legault lui-même et à tout politicien futur que nous percevons leur tentative de diviser les gens et que nous les tenons pour responsables de l’insécurité qu’ils répandent en raison de leur incompétence et de leur ego. ### Post Charlie Kirk Assassination, Carney Loves AI, Quebec Government Attempts a Facelift URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/post-charlie-kirk-assassination-carney/ Last updated: 2025-09-16T10:02:14.000Z Post Charlie Kirk Assassination, Carney Loves AI, Quebec Government Attempts a Facelift 0:00 /200 1× ![blue and white country flag](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504813977377-9969cc0444b5?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cXVlYmVjfGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzk1ODgyOHww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080) Photo by [Adrien Olichon](https://unsplash.com/@adrienolichon?ref=onthetrail.info) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) Isaac and Gab talk about what everyone else is talking about, and probably add little to the conversation. The two of them are not deeply familiar with his work, although posthumously have learned much. Why can people not both condemn someone’s beliefs and mourn a horrifying, sickening event? Walking and chewing gum isn’t simple, but it’s about damn time people started doing it. Don’t trust what media is saying right now, since it’s mostly tainted with partisan cockery. If you don’t already, subscribe at https://isaacpeltz.ca [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Thankfully, right after the two of us are able to dive right back into analyzing Canada’s politics- first Carney’s resource innovation and movement to AI, and second into Francois Legault attempting a facelift. Don’t worry, it won’t work. All this and more in this week’s Gab & Isaac Show. ### Violence & Failure During Grand Prix Cycliste Montréal URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/violence-and-failure-during-grand/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:38.000Z *Photo by the always great William Wilson.* During the 13th edition of the Grand Prix Cycliste Montréal, the sporting event invited controversial individual *Sylvan Adams*, a Canadian-Israeli billionaire to participate in the event. He is a donor to the New Democratic, Conservative and the Liberal parties of Canada. He has gone on the record supporting the genocide in Palestine. He has also contributed various equipment and resources to the IDF. Backlash ensued. The event forced his team, Israel Premier Tech, to change much of their symbolism. Despite the visual changes, the team participated in the event prompting protesters to plan 22 actions. None of them were fully successful, although the protesters were able to gain visibility. This Friday, I will be in Ottawa for the march on Ottawa, where people will converge on Parliament to protest the genocide. On Saturday, I will hopefully attend another protest around trans rights. Things are likely to get violent at this protest. As of writing, here are the violent incidents which occurred at the Grand Prix. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) [](https://www.tiktok.com/@isaacapeltz/video/7550076322383416583?ref=onthetrail.info)[@isaacapeltz](https://www.tiktok.com/@isaacapeltz?ref=onthetrail.info)[hello cyclists! I'm fairly certain if you don't share this it will die instantly. so if you want Tik Tok and insta to propagate real info feel free to share ! #biking #cycling #bikes #montreal #grandprix #cyclist #canada #quebec](https://www.tiktok.com/@isaacapeltz/video/7550076322383416583?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/alert-circle-5.svg) Tiktok failed to load. Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser --- Early on in the day, violence broke out as the police assaulted protesters. The SPVM implemented arbitrary regulations not supported by fact or law that people were unable to wave flags near the race. When the violence broke out, police shoved and assaulted protesters. One nearly had his head curb stomped, as is visible in this video. More violence broke out after the day was done, instigated once again by police. It was short lived. There were many occasions on the front lines where specific commanders were looking to start fights, and aggressed protestors holding signs up. The protesters responded poorly, and took the bait. Instead of backing down, the protester yelled back at the commander (who has, on more than one occasion, pepper sprayed both Will and myself.) In the end, despite tensions being exceptionally high, neither side instigated any physical aggression. Paint was thrown on a participant with a water baloon, although I have not seen footage. Two arrests (as far as I’ve been told) occured. One, a woman, was arrested for waving a flag. She has bruising on her arms from the police treatment. They let her go soon after. The second was an individual who was assaulted by the police, pinned down and then detained. They were released soon after. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/272cf778-14d4-43aa-a5d7-26dacc9fcff2_586x780-jpeg.jpg) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) During an action by several well known activists, the group was violently dragged across the ground and thrown. Several activists stood in the middle of the cyclist route going uphill, covered themselves in fake blood, and laid down on the ground as a statement about folks being murdered in Palestine, and the complicity of those in the race. The police panicked, and were unprepared for the action. Of the four or five police there, they ran into the road, and dragged these protesters across the ground, likely harming several of them in the process. Afterwards, dozens of police officers were called to the scene, resulting in a ratio of around 4:1 police to protester. This weekend there is likely to be more violence in Montreal, with an anti-trans protest, and the counter protestors who will show up. In 2024 the same protest occured. Only people who were counter protesting were assaulted by police. The violence was intense enough that it resulted in the “trans day of vengeance.” The police were extremely violent at the trans day of vengeance. We will update you as events unfold. ### Doug Ford VS Toronto Bike Lanes: The True Story URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/doug-ford-vs-toronto-bike-lanes-the/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:38.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The epic saga of Doug Ford's hatred for the bike lanes has been slowly trickled out over the past year of arguments, court cases, rumours, and finally the loss of the Ontario Progressive Conservative government against Cycle TO and their legal team. Never before has the whole story been put into one piece like this. In this first ever piece interviewing the key players of the Doug Ford VS Toronto bike lane saga, Isaac Peltz and William Wilson hit the road and cycle through every event of the court case, the drama, and run head first into the data that surrounds everything. Join us as we rip apart the bike lane (saga) and give the TRUE FULL story of what happened. Our main players in this documentary: Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario Michael Longfield the Director of Cycle TO David Shellnut, the Biking Lawyer Andrew Lewis, lead lawyer for Cycle TO Albert Koehl, activist and Enviro Lawyer Trevor Townsend, co-founder of Keep Toronto Moving [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) We invited Trevor and Mr. Ford to speak to us. Trevor yelled at us for about forty five minutes and didn't speak to us on camera. Mr. Ford refused to answer our phone calls. If they respond eventually, or if they see this video, we would be happy to do follow up interviews with them and present their views and their side of the story, since we're certain we did not present it in a way that they would want. They can easily reach out on Instagram or at my email or phone number, all of which they have. On the Trail is based out of Montreal, Quebec and is entirely independent. We are beholden to no shareholders, and no oversight. We follow the ethics guidelines as posed in the Canadian Association of Journalists, easily findable here. https://caj.ca/wp-content/uploads/Ethics-Guidelines-v2023.pdf ### Quebec Media Failing at International Coverage / Les médias québécois échouent dans leur couverture internationale URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/quebec-media-failing-at-international/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:38.000Z *Photo taken from Pivot and Gabrielle’s piece on Senegal Wrestling* ### VERSION FRANÇAISE CI-DESSOUS International reporting has long been my focus within Quebec’s journalistic ecosystem, even if I’ve never done as much of it as I’d like. Few people know this, but I earned a master’s degree in International Journalism from Université Laval in 2012\. I didn’t choose the program thinking I’d emerge as a foreign correspondent—many are called, few are chosen—I did it to understand the mechanics of this specialized beat. I also knew the program’s hands-on approach would let me travel and experience international journalism in the field. I spent two months in Senegal working as a reporter for a national daily and for *Agence Science-Presse*. That stint taught me a lot about the indifference (or rather, the \*dis-\*interest) Quebec shows toward international issues. In May 2011, an historic revolution erupted in Senegal– one of Africa’s more stable nations. The public rose up to defend democracy, giving birth to *Y’en a marre*, a youth- and artist-led movement that later inspired uprisings elsewhere on the continent. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) While covering the daily protests in Dakar for AFP, I pitched Quebec outlets because what was happening was unprecedented and clearly newsworthy. I got replies such as, “We don’t really have economic ties with Senegal, so we won’t cover it,” or “It’s a bit far for our audience to care.” I was stunned. I’ll never forget an instance when a hurricane [ravaged Cuba and Quebec coverage focused on vacationers whose resort trips were spoiled](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2014/12/05/aucun-dedommagement?ref=onthetrail.info)—nothing about Cubans whose homes were destroyed. This brings me to the “death-distance” principle, an unwritten yet consciously applied newsroom rule: the closer a death is geographically (or culturally), the bigger its media impact. Put bluntly: “One death in Montreal is worth more than a thousand in Africa or Asia,” in media and emotional terms for some Western societies. Says it all. This led to my thesis: **how Quebec’s mainstream media handle international news**. I interviewed several assignment editors, and they were unequivocal about why foreign coverage is scarce (and shallow): “People aren’t interested in world news, so why should we cover it?” A jaw-dropping answer. Isn’t it a core mission of the media to spark interest in issues both local and global? It’s the chicken-or-egg problem: the more you educate, the more people care. Right? After my master’s, I landed a researcher job on a daily international-news radio show at Radio-Canada International (RCI). Under budget cuts by the then-Conservative federal government, Radio-Canada kept about thirty out of a hundred. I was among those laid off. Beyond the personal setback, I found it profoundly discouraging for foreign coverage in Quebec media, especially at Radio-Canada, one of the few outlets with the means to do it. International reporting does require hefty resources—human, material, financial. That’s why most outlets relay wire-service copy from Reuters, AFP, or AP (which have large budgets and global bureaus,) or they rely on underpaid freelancers. The result is that we drift away from the field there isn’t reporting from a distinctly Quebec purview. But what is information worth without direct presence? Without lived experience that lets you grasp more than stats and press releases? Without Quebec journalists on the ground, we risk reducing the world to background noise. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In Quebec, a few correspondents are posted in major world cities and often must cover two or three adjacent regions. Journalists are dispatched for a few days to cover conflicts (mostly Western) and U.S. politics. Every year, foreign bureaus close. In 2022, Radio-Canada shut its Beijing and Moscow offices. Earlier, bureaus in Dakar and elsewhere had also shut down. Resources matter, but so do editorial choices. International reporting shouldn’t hinge solely on Canada’s or Quebec’s economic ties with a country where something important is happening. And on the rare occasions we do cover foreign stories, some editors think the public won’t care unless Québécois are involved. A glimmer of hope: for several years there’s been a grant program—[the Quebec Fund for International Journalism](https://www.fqji.org/?ref=onthetrail.info)—created by three Quebec foreign reporters. These grants enable outstanding reporting on a wide range of subjects, far from economic-tie calculations and the death-distance rule. I urge you to explore the resulting work. Still, it’s only one program. We need many more to help us discover the world through journalism. Preserving international reporting in Quebec isn’t just a media affair; it’s a collective choice. Supporting reporters in the field, funding independent initiatives, recognizing the importance of this work—these are investments in our ability to understand the rest of the planet. --- Le journalisme international, c’est mon cheval de bataille depuis longtemps dans l’écosystème journalistique québécois, même si je n’en ai jamais fait assez à mon goût. Peu de gens le savent, mais j’ai obtenu une maîtrise en journalisme international de l’Université Laval en 2012\. J’avais choisi ce programme non pas en pensant que j’en sortirai en étant une correspondante internationale (beaucoup d’appelé-es, peu d’élu-es…), mais pour mieux comprendre les rouages de ce « beat » spécialisé. Et aussi parce que je savais que cette maîtrise, très pratique, nous permettaient de voyager et d’expérimenter de façon concrète ce qu’était le journalisme international. J’ai donc passé deux mois au Sénégal à y travailler en tant que journaliste, dans un journal national et à l’Agence Science Presse. Dès cette expérience, j’en ai appris beaucoup sur l’intérêt, ou plutôt, le non-intérêt, que l’on porte aux enjeux internationaux au Québec. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) En mai 2011, une révolution historique a eu lieu au Sénégal, un rare pays africains plutôt tranquille. Le peuple s’est soulevé pour préserver la démocratie, mettant au monde un mouvement principalement initié par les jeunes et les artistes, « Y’en a marre », qui a inspiré nombre de révolutions africaines par la suite. Alors que je couvrais les manifestations quotidiennes à Dakar pour l’AFP, je lançais des perches aux médias québécois, parce que ce qui se passait au Sénégal était inégalé et tout à fait d’intérêt public et important. On m’a répondu des choses comme « nous n’avons pas vraiment de liens économiques avec le Sénégal, donc on ne couvrira pas », ou encore « c’est un peu loin pour susciter l’intérêt ». J’étais absolument bouche bée et renversée de cette mentalité médiatique. Je n’oublierai jamais quand un ouragan avait dévasté Cuba, et que la couverture québécoise portait sur [les vacanciers dont les vacances dans un tout inclus](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2014/12/05/aucun-dedommagement?ref=onthetrail.info) avaient été gâchées par cette « catastrophe naturelle ». Aucun mot sur les Cubains, les impacts sur leurs vies, leurs maisons détruites, etc. Cela m’amène au principe du mort kilométrique, une règle non écrite mais sciemment appliquée dans les salles de nouvelles. Plus un mort est proche géographiquement (ou culturellement), plus il aura d'impact médiatique. Autrement dit : "Un mort à Montréal vaut plus qu’un millier en Afrique ou en Asie", d’un point de vue médiatique ou émotionnel dans certaines sociétés occidentales. Ça dit tout. Cela m'a conduit à ma thèse ; le traitement des enjeux internationaux par les médias québécois traditionnels. Dans ce cadre, j’ai discuté avec plusieurs affectateurs – des personnes en charge de distribuer les sujets à couvrir aux journalistes dans les salles des nouvelles – et ces derniers étaient sans équivoque sur les raisons pour lesquelles on couvre peu (et mal) les enjeux internationaux ; « les gens ne s’intéressent pas à l’actualité internationale, donc pourquoi le ferions-nous » ? Une autre réponse qui m’a complètement soufflée. N’est-ce pas la mission fondamentale des médias d’intéresser les gens aux enjeux d’ici et d’ailleurs ? C’est la poule ou l’œuf. Plus on éduque les gens sur des sujets, plus ils s’y intéresseront. Non ? [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Tout de suite après ma maîtrise, j’ai eu la chance d’être engagée en tant que recherchiste pour une émission quotidienne de radio sur l’actualité internationale à Radio-Canada International (RCI). Sous les coupes budgétaires du gouvernement conservateur de l’époque, Radio-Canada a choisi de garder une trentaine de journalistes sur la centaine que nous étions. J’ai fait partie du lot des personnes coupées. Mais je trouvais surtout cela éminemment triste pour la place de l’actualité internationale dans les médias québécois, et surtout à Radio-Canada, l’un des seuls médias qui avaient les moyens d’en faire. Il faut quand même souligner que le journalisme international demande beaucoup de ressources, humaines, matérielles et financières. Cela explique notamment pourquoi les médias, en général, relaient les sujets internationaux des grandes agences de presse comme Reuters, l’AFP et l’Associated Press, qui elles, ont de grands moyens et des personnes en poste dans plusieurs pays. On se tourne sinon vers des pigistes précaires. Résultat : on s’éloigne du terrain, on s’éloigne du regard québécois. Mais que vaut une information sans cette présence directe, sans cette expérience vécue qui permet de comprendre au-delà des chiffres et des communiqués ? Sans journalistes québécois sur le terrain, nous risquons de réduire le monde à un bruit de fond indistinct Au Québec, quelques correspondants sont en poste dans de grandes villes à l’international et ont souvent la charge de couvrir les deux trois continents adjacents. On envoie ponctuellement des journalistes, quelques jours, pour couvrir des conflits (surtout occidentaux) et la politique américaine. Mais chaque année, des antennes internationales ferment. En 2022, les bureaux de Radio-Canada à Pékin et à Moscou ont fermé. Avant cela, des bureaux à Dakar et ailleurs avaient aussi été fermés. Mais au-delà des ressources financières, il s’agit aussi de choix éditoriaux. Parce que oui, faire du journalisme international et choisir des sujets devrait aller au-delà des liens économiques que le Canada et le Québec a avec les pays dans lesquels il se passe quelque chose d’intéressant. Et les rares fois où le fait, certains médias pensent que si des Québécois n’y sont pas impliqués, le public ne sera pas intéressé. Une lueur d’espoir pour terminer. Depuis quelques années, il existe un programme de bourses pour le journalisme international ; le [Fonds québécois en journalisme international](https://www.fqji.org/?ref=onthetrail.info), mis sur pieds par trois journalistes internationaux québécois. Ces financements permettent d’aller réaliser des reportages incroyables, sur une foule de sujets, loin des liens économiques et de la Loi du mort kilométrique. Je vous invite d’ailleurs à découvrir tous les reportages qui ont en découler. Il s’agit néanmoins juste d’un programme. Il en faudrait beaucoup d’autres pour nous faire découvrir le monde à travers le journalisme. Préserver le journalisme international au Québec n’est pas qu’une affaire de médias, c’est un choix collectif. Soutenir les journalistes qui partent sur le terrain, financer des initiatives indépendantes, reconnaître l’importance de ce travail, c’est investir dans notre capacité de comprendre le monde autrement qu’à travers des prismes étrangers. ### Canadian Media Ownership and Boards (2) URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canadian-media-ownership-and-boards-499/ Last updated: 2025-09-10T10:03:19.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Before beginning, just to clarify a few things: This is preliminary research. It is to set the stage for the next many months of research. Following this I will be breaking down individual corporations, and releasing to you other research that myself, Aedan and Eliot are working on. Also, people who’ve requested I look into the CBC and Radio-Canada… Those are publicly owned, there’s no story there. Whether you like or dislike them, I have no interest in that. This is a report on ownership. So here’s the CBC: They’re the national public broadcaster. The end. Beyond the previous major players, Canada’s media landscape includes several mid-sized newspaper groups, digital-only media, and unique ownership models. **This information is likely incomplete, and requires much more study over the coming months, since data for these smaller entities is much harder to acquire than the large players**. --- Black Press Group: A private company that is a major publisher of community newspapers, especially in Western Canada. Black Press, based in British Columbia, publishes over 80 papers (notably Victoria News, Kelowna Capital News, many small-town weeklies in BC/Alberta) and some U.S. papers. Black Press is family-run; David Black serves as Chairman, and the board is essentially the Black family and close associates. Here’s the direct answer: Carpenter Media Group (CMG) and Canso Investment Counsel each own exactly **50 per cent** of Black Press Media’s equity. CMG manages the company, but ownership is split equally between them. In March 2024, Carpenter Media Group completed the acquisition of Black Press Media alongside Canso Investment Counsel, forming new corporate entities in the U.S. and Canada to hold the assets. The two parties now **“share total ownership equally,”** meaning each holds 50 per cent. Independent sources confirm that before the deal, Black Press was controlled by David Holmes Black (about 80.65%) with Torstar holding 19.35%. Post-acquisition, Carpenter Media Group is listed among the owners from 2024 onward. However, there is much more research to do around Black Press specifically. Their ownership is somewhat nebulous after the acquisition. --- Glacier Media: A Vancouver-based publicly traded media company (TSX: GVC) that owns newspapers and business publications in Western Canada. Glacier’s holdings include daily papers like the Times Colonist (Victoria) and many weekly papers in BC, as well as business/news sites (Business in Vancouver, Western Producer in agriculture, etc.). Glacier Media is controlled by Madison Venture Corp. (a company of Sam Grippo), which owns \~54%. The remainder is publicly held. Its board is chaired by Sam Grippo, with CEO Mark Melville also on the board. Other directors include Bruce Aunger, Geoffrey Scott, and Hugh McKinnon. Thus, Glacier is Canadian-controlled (Grippo is Canadian), and its governance blends insider control with public shareholders. Glacier receives some government support via postal subsidies for its publications and was eligible for the journalism tax credits. It’s a significant player in regional media and specialty trade publications. More research is required here, as less info is available. --- SaltWire Network: SaltWire is the largest media group in Atlantic Canada, formed in 2017 when the owners of the Halifax Chronicle Herald acquired 27 newspapers in Atlantic Canada from Transcontinental. SaltWire’s papers include the Chronicle Herald (NS), The Guardian (PEI), Telegram (St. John’s, NL), and numerous local papers in Atlantic provinces. It is privately owned by the Dennis family and Mark Lever – the Herald’s proprietors (Sarah Dennis and her husband Mark Lever each effectively own \~50% through family trusts). SaltWire’s governance is family-centric, with Mark Lever serving as (until recently) CEO and President. In 2023–24, SaltWire faced severe financial difficulty and filed for creditor protection (insolvency). A Nova Scotia Supreme Court process is underway to sell or restructure the company. The major creditor is Fiera Capital, and even Postmedia and Torstar have been speculated as potential buyers. The company did receive a one-time provincial loan in PEI for The Guardian’s printing press upgrade, and it leverages federal media support programs. The SaltWire board (when functional) was essentially the owners and a few Atlantic business people. The outcome of its insolvency will determine if Atlantic Canada’s papers remain locally owned or are absorbed by a larger chain. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) --- St. Joseph Communications: A Toronto-based private media company that is now a major magazine publisher. St. Joseph is owned by the Gagliano family (CEO Tony Gagliano). In 2019, it acquired Rogers Media’s magazine portfolio – including Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Today’s Parent, and others. St. Joseph already published Toronto Life and Fashion magazines. With the Rogers deal, it became Canada’s largest magazine publisher. It also operates printing and content marketing divisions. The company’s board is family-run; there’s no public disclosure, but the Gaglianos control it. St. Joseph’s publications benefit from the federal Canada Periodical Fund, a long-standing program that subsidizes Canadian magazines and non-daily newspapers. --- Power Corporation (Gesca) – La Presse: Until 2018, La Presse (Montreal’s French-language daily) was owned by Gesca, a subsidiary of Power Corporation (controlled by the Desmarais family). In 2018, La Presse was dramatically restructured: Power Corp donated $50 million and transferred La Presse to a new non-profit entity. Today, La Presse is published by a not-for-profit organization with no share capital. A independent board of directors oversees it, and any surplus must be reinvested in journalism. This change (enabled by a provincial law amendment) allows La Presse to accept donations and qualify for certain government support as a non-profit. The Desmarais family’s Power Corp no longer has ownership, though their endowment funds part of operations. The Quebec government was more willing to offer funding to a non-profit model; indeed, La Presse has since obtained charitable status as a Registered Journalism Organization. Its board includes respected figures (e.g. former judges, business people) and operates much like a foundation. --- Le Devoir (Montreal): Le Devoir is a French-language daily in Montreal. It has a trust-based ownership. In 1993, it was reorganized so that Le Devoir Inc. is owned by a \*\*non-profit trust (“Les Amis du Devoir” and staff)\*\*. Essentially, it’s run by a shareholder trust to prevent any takeover. In 2023, Le Devoir further became a Registered Journalism Organization, allowing it to issue tax receipts for donations. Its board of directors (chaired by André Ryan in 2023) includes community representatives and is focused on preserving the paper’s mission. Le Devoir receives donations and some public funding (like tax credits), but remains a private non-profit enterprise – owned by its readers and employees via a trust, not by government or corporate conglomerates. This governance ensures Le Devoir can maintain editorial independence and a niche audience. On the Trail is a Montreal based, wholly independant publication. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### The Quebec Government is Falling Apart URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-quebec-government-is-falling/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:39.000Z The Quebec Government is Falling Apart 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/96cdb76d-ca27-4db3-8718-d7af3d14316d_486x486-jpeg-1.jpg) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) This week Gab and Isaac break it down once again and discuss the past week of the Quebec government (and briefly talk about Mark Carney). Between the SAAQ-Cliq scandal and the Northvolt scandal, collapsing numbers in Quebec polling, historic potential to not gain a single seat, an overwhelming feeling of the end of a decade in Quebec politics is upon our doorstep. TELL YOUR FRIENDS Isaac is convinced that Legault is quitting. Gab is convinced that he’s going down with the ship. What will happen? Well, we don’t know yet. Meanwhile, Isaac and Gab make fun of people who don’t speak french but live in Quebec (well, we tease them at least,) The two have a great time throwing back and forth, and in the end, they get themselves cancelled\* through their FIREY opinions… which ones you ask? You’ll have to listen to find out in this Substack exclusive with Gab and Isaac! If you like the work, sign up for free or paid at https://isaacpeltz.ca ! **\*By the way, the cancellation thing is a joke. I know that a bunch of you won’t get that it was a joke. Nothing heinous was said in this episode.** ### Canadian Media Ownership and Boards URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canadian-media-ownership-and-boards/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:39.000Z [CHART CREATED BY READ THE MAPLE](https://www.readthemaple.com/election-endorsements/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Canadian media is vastly, almost entirely run by wealthy businessmen, with a few exceptions.** Although many people have adopted the saying “liberal media,” the facts do not support this statement. The below data is a preliminary, non-final version of data that is subject to change as Eliot, Aedan and I dive deeper into the data. Read this with some scrutiny, as it is subject to develop over the next months as we compile the information into readable charts, graphs, and we develop more information on the individuals who are in power. Also note that we are not diving into the employees of these companies. They are not of concern. The focus of these reports will be exclusively on ownership and board structures. There is also no assessment in this report about their bias, I encourage reading the Maple report on a more analytical stance around that. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) #### **POSTMEDIA** Postmedia is majority foreign-owned. As of 2025, roughly 66% of its equity is held by Chatham Asset Management, a U.S. private investment firm. Other significant shareholders include Allianz Global Investors (\~17%) and American investor Leon Cooperman (\~13%). The Board Chair is Peter Sharpe, former CEO of Cadillac Fairview. Jason Kenney (former Alberta Premier, joined the board in 2025), Terrie O’Leary (ex-World Bank director, joined 2025), Janet Ecker (former Ontario Finance Minister), Wendy Henkelman (corporate finance expert), Mary Junck (U.S. newspaper executive, chair of Lee Enterprises), and Andrew MacLeod (Postmedia’s CEO). (Outgoing 2024 directors Vince Gasparro and Daniel Rotstein did not stand for re-election in 2025.) Currently these people are trying to pressure groups like the cjc into not funding indie media along with the NMC , a lobbyist group who works closely with Postmedia headed by Paul Degan Postmedia’s holdings include nearly all major English dailies outside Toronto. Flagships are the National Post (national broadsheet) and Financial Post (business section). Through acquisitions (e.g. the 2015 purchase of Sun Media’s English papers), Postmedia owns the Sun tabloids in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton, plus broadsheets like the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Sun and The Province. In 2022 it also acquired Brunswick News in New Brunswick (including the Telegraph-Journal, Times & Transcript, etc.), briefly giving Postmedia a presence in all provinces. Overall, Postmedia illustrates the trend of financialization of Canadian media, with foreign capital and consolidation playing a dominant role. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **TORSTAR** Torstar is the publisher of the Toronto Star, Canada’s highest-circulation daily, and a group of other Ontario papers. Founded in 1958 by the Atkinson family. In addition to the Star, it owns daily papers in cities like Hamilton (The Spectator), Waterloo Region (Record), St. Catharines (Standard), Niagara Falls (Review), Peterborough (Examiner), and Welland (Tribune). Torstar’s Metroland Media Group operates over 70 weekly community newspapers across Ontario. In 2020, Torstar was taken private by NordStar Capital, a private investment firm co-founded by Jordan Bitove and Paul Rivett. NordStar acquired Torstar for about C$60 million, ending decades of Torstar as a public, family-influenced company. In February 2023, a settlement gave Jordan Bitove full control of Torstar. Bitove remains the sole owner (via NordStar) of Torstar Corporation as of 2023. Today, Bitove’s NordStar is the parent company, and Torstar no longer has public shareholders. (Torstar also holds a one-third stake in the Canadian Press newswire – see below.) Since going private, Torstar’s internal governance is less transparent. Jordan Bitove serves as Publisher of the Toronto Star and Torstar’s co-owner. Neil Oliver is noted as Torstar’s CEO as of 2022. Torstar’s governance thus centers on Bitove’s control; any board members are likely Bitove family or NordStar appointees. Other daily news brands under Torstar include: The Hamilton Spectator, Waterloo Region Record, Niagara Falls Review, St. Catharines Standard, Welland Tribune, and Peterborough Examiner. All are in Ontario. Through Metroland Media Group, Torstar owns dozens of local weekly newspapers and community news sites across Ontario. (Metroland covers many small-town papers and community flyers.) Torstar also owns digital assets like the news site Torstar Syndication Services, and until recently had stakes in non-news businesses (it launched an online casino venture NorthStar Gaming in 2022, which was later spun off). Torstar additionally maintains a 33% ownership of The Canadian Press (CP), jointly with the Globe and La Presse. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **THE GLOBE AND MAIL** The Globe and Mail is privately owned by The Woodbridge Company Limited, the investment holding firm of Canada’s Thomson family. The Thomson family (Canada’s wealthiest) have been majority owners since 1980. Thus, as of today, the Globe is entirely Canadian-owned, with the Thomson family (Woodbridge) in full control. Woodbridge’s chairman is David Thomson, who is also the chair of The Globe and Mail. Notably, Woodbridge also owns a majority stake in Thomson Reuters Corp., but the Globe and Mail is run independently of Thomson Reuters. The Globe and Mail’s board is tightly aligned with its ownership. David Thomson serves as Chairman of The Globe and Mail Inc., representing the Thomson family’s interests. Other board members are not publicly listed, as the company is private, but typically include senior Woodbridge executives and Globe executives. The publisher and CEO of the Globe (Phillip Crawley – publisher, and David Walmsley – Editor-in-Chief) manage day-to-day operations, likely reporting to the board. The Thomson family’s commitment to the Globe’s editorial independence is well-known. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **QUEBECOR** Quebecor is a diversified media and telecom conglomerate based in Montreal. Through its subsidiary Quebecor Media, it is the dominant player in French-language print media and a major broadcaster in Quebec. Relevant to “written media,” Quebecor publishes the popular tabloids Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, which are the highest-circulation French dailies in Quebec. It also operates the QMI Agency newswire and formerly the free commuter paper 24 Heures (Montreal). Quebecor’s media holdings extend to magazines (through TVA Publications) and numerous websites (e.g. Canoe.ca). The company was founded by Pierre Péladeau in 1965 and remains run by the Péladeau family. In 2015, Quebecor sold its English-language Sun newspapers to Postmedia, focusing on its francophone market. Today, Quebecor Media’s news division centers on its two Journal dailies, the TVA News network, and various digital news platforms. Quebecor Inc. is a publicly traded company (TSX: QBR) but is tightly controlled by the Péladeau family. Founder Pierre Péladeau’s son, Pierre Karl Péladeau (PKP), is the controlling shareholder, primarily via Les Placements Péladeau Inc.. The family’s holding company owns about 74% of Quebecor’s voting shares, giving PKP effective majority control. (As of recent data, Placements Péladeau held \~74.1%, public shareholders about 25% of equity.) PKP is President and CEO, and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Quebecor Media. Quebecor’s board is composed of business leaders, many from Quebec, with PKP at the helm. Pierre Karl Péladeau serves as Chairman and CEO. The board’s independent members have included figures like Françoise Bertrand (former CRTC chair, who has served as Chair of the Board of Quebecor Inc.) and others from Quebec’s corporate sphere. According to company disclosures, recent board members of Quebecor Inc. include Sylvie Lalande (who has served as board chair in the past), Françoise Bertrand, Pierre Laurin, Michel Lavigne, Jean La Couture, Geneviève Marcon, Normand Provost, and Érik Péladeau (PKP’s brother). The board oversees both Quebecor’s media and telecom operations (Videotron, etc.), so it has committees for governance, audit, etc. Importantly, Quebecor Media (the subsidiary) also has its own board/executives; for example, PKP chairs Quebecor Media and its TV network TVA’s board, and media operations are managed by Quebecor EVP Lyne Robitaille (for news content). Overall, governance is tightly held, with the Péladeau family’s interests dominant and independent directors largely drawn from Quebec’s business establishment. The Péladeau family’s political ties (PKP briefly served as leader of the Parti Québécois in 2015) also brought scrutiny to Quebecor’s newsroom independence. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Punk Rock to Fixing Montreal's Chronic Illnesses URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/punk-rock-to-fixing-montreals-chronic/ Last updated: 2025-09-05T10:03:29.000Z Punk Rock to Fixing Montreal's Chronic Illnesses 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### [CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSQDwTLh%5FdQ&ref=onthetrail.info) Sergio, a beloved Montreal venue owner, is here believing that he might be able to shift the city of Montreal away from the creeping police violence, growing homelessness and unaffordability of the city. Criticising the failed policies of Mayor Valerie Plante's 20/20/20 rules, and coming off of decades in music and running a venue, Sergio has thrown his hat into the ring to become the city counselor of Ville Marie. A bilingual, well known individual, he believes that there might be something good coming for the city, so Isaac grills him on what ideas he claims to have. This is the first in a series about the Municipal Elections in Montreal. ### Full Time Work No Longer Pays the Rent URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/full-time-work-no-longer-pays-the/ Last updated: 2025-09-04T09:01:00.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In most Canadian cities, working full-time at minimum wage is not enough to pay rent. A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) analyzed 62 cities across the country and found only eight where a full-time minimum wage job makes rent affordable. Six of those cities are in Quebec. The study uses the common measure that rent should consume no more than 30 per cent of income. By that standard, Toronto and Vancouver are the epicenters of unaffordability: minimum wage would need to be $38 an hour, or roughly $79,000 a year, to afford a one-bedroom apartment, more than two times the current minimum wage. Montreal, once a bastion of affordability, has seen rents climb 42 per cent since 2018\. Minimum wage workers there now devote about half their take-home pay to rent—about two weeks’ earnings each month. Advocates have long argued for more off-market housing, but Canada’s entrenched view of homes as financial assets complicates reform. Eve-Lyne Couturier, researcher at the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques, calls this approach flawed. “If we want to take housing off the market, perhaps we should focus on a universal pension framework– a system that provides adequate income once retired,” she said. For decades, retirement has been treated as an individual investment. If someone can’t afford to live after retiring, it’s seen as a personal failure. Marie-José Houle, the federal housing advocate, says Canada’s approach is wrong. “Reframe housing as infrastructure,” she said. “So that they’ve got long, amortized mortgages around them with the best rates possible– so that they’re not financialized.” [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) “Governments have favored individual pension plans, defined contribution plans, over defined benefit plans, or universal plans that support retirement income. Retirement income is not sufficient. So, people find themselves in unrestricted jobs, or jobs with a plan that doesn't meet their retirement needs,” Couturier said. Marc Lee, senior economist with the CCPA, says Canada’s focus on housing crowds out other investments. “We’ve been investing so much into housing instead of machinery, equipment, or intellectual property. You know, the real capital in capitalism that leads to higher levels of income over time.” Canada’s dependence on housing as a source of wealth has left younger generations shut out. In 2011, 44 per cent of Canadians aged 25–29 owned their homes. Today, only 36 per cent do. Affordability gaps are stark. The CCPA calculates that in Vancouver, it would take 2.2 people working full-time at minimum wage to afford a one-bedroom apartment. A two-bedroom requires more than three minimum wage jobs worked full time. The pattern extends beyond the major population hubs as well. In Halifax—once considered affordable—it now takes 1.8 minimum wage jobs to rent a one-bedroom apartment. Even in Saskatchewan, it takes 1.5. Couturier says that’s because “minimum wage is not based on what we need to pay for our goods, our services, it is not based on what people need to survive, but on the strength of the economy up to a certain point.” Arguments against raising the minimum wage often hinge on fears of higher consumer prices. But, as Couturier explains, that logic is “based on a lot of theory, not practice.” Only a minority of workers earn minimum wage, meaning most businesses wouldn’t see their bottom line affected. Housing unaffordability also stifles economic mobility. Jobs may exist in certain regions, but workers can’t take them if housing is out of reach. In Vancouver and Toronto, the wage needed to afford a home sits at about $38 an hour. Calgary comes next at $30\. These jumps leave workers with few options. The jump between needing $30 an hour and $38 is astronomical for most. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Vancouver and Toronto’s job density pulls in workers, but that inflow drives prices higher. “It’s a function of being larger metropolises, where there is a lot of diversity and opportunity,” Lee said. But, he added, “People can’t afford to get on to that first rung of the housing ladder,” noting that most young people must lean on parents unless they land “extremely well-paying work.” For Houle, the answer is to “reframe” housing policy through a human rights lens. “With this lens, the government could transform the market in Canada to prioritize people as opposed to speculative investment.” But she flagged a persistent obstacle: “lack of coordination between governments.” Nonetheless, the Trudeau government’s historic investments are finally paying off, and certainly over the next five years as more investments are made, and the previous government’s investments are made more apparent, Carney & friends will get the credit for the state of the housing market. The housing market is currently beginning to suffer, with some speculators saying that there are too many homes that have been built which could decrease costs. Immigration levels have been capped, which will flatten population growth even as new housing is built. Hypothetically that will ease prices, to the chagrin of these speculators, but Lee warns the market is “tending to be sticky in the short term.” With tariffs, slowing growth, and stagnant wages, he predicts that downward pressure on housing prices is inevitable. But a rapid drop would bring its own dangers. Housing deflation could trigger an economic crisis—a risk that has hung over Canada for years now. With U.S. instability and the Canadian economy contracting 1.6 per cent this quarter, the threat is sharper. Deflation is usually the sign of an economic crisis. Couturier points out that crises always hit the most vulnerable first. “The people touched by an economic crisis are never those who are able to withstand it… It’s people who live paycheque to paycheque. If businesses are cutting prices, it isn’t to help people out, it’s because of loss of employment, poor living conditions, and services being cut.” She added: “We have a social crisis, we have an environmental crisis, we have extremists, we have a genocide in Gaza. We no longer know how to tackle it in order to change it. But clearly, the political system we have, the economic system we have, is not giving us the necessary leverage to tackle these problems. The political and economic system we have seems to feed off this type of crisis rather than trying to resolve it.” Whether Canada’s housing crisis can be solved before conditions worsen for working people remains uncertain. But as it stands, in much of the country, a full-time job at minimum wage is no longer enough to keep a roof overhead and the future of wages across the country is uncertain. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Media's Ineffective, the States are Fascist, Journalists in Palestine, and Quebec is Banning Prayer URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/medias-ineffective-the-states-are/ Last updated: 2025-09-02T10:03:04.000Z Media's Ineffective, the States are Fascist, Journalists in Palestine, and Quebec is Banning Prayer 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![praying woman inside church](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517487133746-b0887b3efc2c?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5fHxwcmF5aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Njc4MzY0N3ww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080) Photo by [Naassom Azevedo](https://unsplash.com/@naassomz1?ref=onthetrail.info) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) Enjoy the third edition of the Gab & Isaac Show, where we dive deep into the media, the states, journalists, and Quebec. Not in that order. As always, we go right into the hardest questions possible that have no possible answer with no qualms or fear for the consequences. Hopefully Quebec Solidaire is listening, cause we give them some good advice. Enjoy this third episode of the Gab & Isaac Show! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Media Blackout September 1st URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/media-blackout-september-1st/ Last updated: 2025-08-31T22:24:40.000Z ## At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed. The International Federation of Journalists, Reporters without border and Avaaz have called for a media blackout on September first. By the numbers, the ongoing genocide in Gaza “has killed 232 journalists – an average of 13 per month – making it the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded, according to a report by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs’ Costs of War project. More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in both world wars, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia and the United States war in Afghanistan combined, the report published on Tuesday found.” This was in April. It is now 242. 200 newsrooms and press freedom groups in a global blackout. For 24 hours, beginning now, we are going to remain silent on social media so that the world hears this louder: ## **Palestinian journalists must be protected, and foreign press must be granted immediate, unrestricted access to Gaza.** ### Journalists Need to Get Back Outside URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/journalists-need-to-get-back-outside/ Last updated: 2025-08-30T22:28:30.000Z # Français plus bas Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours is one of the best known journalists in Quebec, with a masters degree in international journalism. She has worked with Radio-Canada, founded Pivot, Ricochet, and was the president of the Association of Independent Journalists of Quebec. Her voice is necessary in 2025. Enjoy this short piece by her in French and English. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) --- ### Nothing Beats the Field In an age of instant information—where data is a click away and social media never sleeps—it’s tempting to think we can understand everything from a screen. The relentless pace of news production, and the culture of “doing more with less,” has pushed many journalists to travel less and rely more on secondhand sources. But nothing can replace direct experience in the field. Being there—meeting people, walking the streets, seeing the dynamics at play—allows us to move beyond statistics and press releases. It’s also what cuts through misinformation spread by those who weren’t present to see events for themselves. Take RadPride. Isaac was virtually the only journalist on the ground. While most outlets repeated the police version—that demonstrators provoked the charges—anyone present could see the opposite was true. Numbers show that homelessness is rising; but only by listening to people living on the streets can we understand how and why. For our housing crisis investigation, we conducted nearly 30 interviews, almost all in person. Those encounters gave the work a depth that no virtual call could replicate. ## “Lockdown journalism” My colleague Hugo Meunier, now editor-in-chief at *Urbania*, called this trend “lockdown journalism.” Writing in *Le Trente* in 2020, he warned that the pandemic’s pivot to Zoom reporting risked entrenching a long-standing shift away from the field. “Yes, it’s nice to post photos of makeshift setups and dalgona coffees,” he wrote. “But I fear this buzz will only deepen the distance between journalists and their true place: on the ground.” Five years later, his fears have largely come true. Behind our screens, we risk recycling official discourse and mistaking social media noise for reality. Only fieldwork can separate rumor from truth. ## Why it matters Fieldwork takes time, resources, and humility. It means recognizing that truth doesn’t live only in numbers or elite statements, but in streets, villages, and communities where life unfolds daily. It also breaks stereotypes. Many voices cannot issue press releases or hire spokespersons. Their realities only surface when we go to meet them. Presence builds trust. Entering a neighborhood with respect, listening before asking, and investing time turns testimonies into deeper insight. It acknowledges that lived expertise matters as much as any expert panel. In an era where decision-makers drift ever farther from everyday realities, being in the field has never been more crucial. Journalism’s essence is still found in that simple act: leaving the office and bearing witness. That is where stories take shape, contradictions appear, and the invisible becomes visible. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ## **Rien comme le terrain** À l’ère de l’information instantanée et en continue, des données accessibles en un clic et des réseaux sociaux, la tentation est grande de croire que tout peut être compris depuis un écran. Le rythme effréné de production de nouvelles exigé des journalistes dans certaines salles de nouvelles mène aussi à se déplacer de moins en moins, dans une culture de « faire toujours plus avec moins ». Mais rien ne remplace l’expérience directe du terrain. Aller à la rencontre des personnes concernées, voir les lieux, ressentir les ambiances, observer les dynamiques sociales et économiques en action : voilà ce qui permet de dépasser les statistiques et les communiqués de presse. Et de défaire une certaine désinformation qui circule de la part de personnes qui ne sont pas sur place pour constater les faits par eux-mêmes. L’exemple récent d’Isaac, pratiquement le seul journaliste [à avoir couvert la RadPride](https://www.isaacpeltz.ca/p/police-brutality-at-radpride-unprovoked?ref=onthetrail.info) en est un bon. La très grande majorité des médias, qui n’étaient pas présents sur place, se sont contentés de rapporter le point de vue des policiers, lesquels expliquaient qu’ils avaient chargé la foule parce qu’ils ont été provoqué par les manifestants. Mais toutes les personnes présentes ont bien vu que c’est le contraire qui s’est passé. Les chiffres peuvent révéler une tendance, mais ils n’expliquent pas toujours les nuances. Par exemple, savoir que le taux d’itinérance augmente est une information brute ; discuter avec ceux qui vivent dans la rue, comprendre leurs parcours et entendre leurs récits, c’est donner un visage et une profondeur humaine à ce constat. C’est ce qu’Isaac et moi avons faire pour notre grande enquête sur la crise du logement. Nous avons réalisé près d’une trentaine d’entrevues, dont seulement deux en trois virtuellement. Le fait d’aller sur le terrain et de faire des entrevues en personne ont donné une substance incomparable à nos contenus. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ## **Le journalisme de confinement** Ce terme vient de mon estimé collègue Hugo Meunier, qui parlait lui aussi de l’importance du terrain [dans un billet d’humeur](https://www.fpjq.org/fr/tous-les-billets/journalisme-de-confinement?ref=onthetrail.info) en 2020 dans le magazine des journaliste du Québec, Le Trente. Il parlait alors du fait qu’il a fallu se réinventer en temps de pandémie pour faire du journalisme à distance, rendu possible par divers outils technologique comme Zoom et autre. Mais il dénonçait, avec raison, que cette tendance existe depuis bien plus longtemps que la pandémie. Il écrivait « Oui, c’est joli de publier sur les réseaux sociaux des photos de nos installations de fortune et de nos visages rieurs en train de flatter un chat ou siroter un café dalgona lors d’une réunion sur Zoom, mais je redoute qu’à terme, ce *buzz* exacerbe davantage cette tendance au confinement et n’éloigne encore un peu plus le journaliste du terrain, sa véritable place. » Cinq ans plus tard, j’ai bien peu que son doute ne soit confirmé. En restant derrière nos écrans, nous, journalistes, risquons de reproduire les discours officiels et de manquer ce qui fait la véritable richesse d’un sujet : l’expérience humaine. Les réseaux sociaux bruissent de rumeurs et d’indignations instantanées, mais seule la présence sur le terrain permet de distinguer le bruit de l’essentiel. Bien sûr, le terrain demande du temps, des ressources et de l’écoute. Mais c’est aussi une posture d’humilité : accepter que la vérité ne se trouve pas uniquement dans les chiffres ni dans les paroles des élites, mais dans les rues, les villages et les communautés où elle se vit au quotidien. ## **Les yeux du cœur** Le terrain permet aussi de déjouer les idées reçues. Combien de stéréotypes s’effondrent lorsqu’on prend le temps d’écouter réellement les acteurs d’une situation ? Et surtout, les acteurs moins « officiels ». Ceux qui n’ont pas les moyens de faire paraître des communiqués de presse. Ceux qui n’ont pas de porte-parole officiel pour les représenter, et dont les numéros de téléphone ne sont pas publics, pour de bonnes raisons. Aucune autre façon que d’aller à leur rencontre en personne ne peut faire entendre leur voix. La présence sur le terrain crée une relation de confiance. On n’aborde pas un quartier, une communauté ou un groupe social uniquement avec un questionnaire ou une caméra : on y entre en respectant les codes, en prenant le temps d’échanger. Cette proximité rend les témoignages plus riches, les analyses plus solides et les décisions plus éclairées. On ne détient pas toutes les réponses depuis son bureau. Ce sont les personnes concernées qui savent le mieux ce qu’elles vivent. Être présent physiquement, c’est reconnaître cette expertise vécue et lui donner la place qu’elle mérite. Dans un monde où la distance est de plus en plus grande entre les centres de décision et la réalité quotidienne des citoyens, l’importance d’aller sur le terrain n’a jamais été aussi cruciale. C’est là, dans les rues, les foyers, les écoles, les hôpitaux ou les lieux de travail, que se trouvent les clés pour comprendre et agir de manière juste et pertinente. C’est là, loin des déclarations officielles et de communiqués bien ficelés, que le journalisme trouve encore son essence dans un geste simple, mais essentiel : aller sur le terrain. C’est là, au cœur des réalités vécues, que les histoires prennent forme, que les contradictions apparaissent et que l’on découvre ce qui serait autrement invisible. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### État des lieux- Isaac Peltz Real and Raw URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/etat-des-lieux-isaac-peltz-real-and/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:39.000Z There will be no call to subscribe on this post, other than the automatic header and footer that are always there in the email. Today is the launch of my first *état des lieux,* a monthly newsletter I will send to inform everyone on the substack of what’s going on, how I am doing, and the goals that I am trying to fulfill in the next month. It is, as always, part of my goal in being completely transparent as a journalist. This month On the Trail grew substantially. I want to say thank you to everyone– this is still the beginning phase of my plans. I hope to significantly expand operations over the next six months. I think it’s possible. Hopefully we can grow this into something particularly exceptional without ever paywalling. I never want to prevent people from accessing this or sharing it. Here is where I am at, and my vision for the future. Fuck finances for a minute, let’s talk about vision and mental health. I’m tired. Four days of filming with the great William Wilson, my respected friend and colleague, and I’m exhausted. I walked 64.7km according to my fitbit, I believe William walked a little less, amounting to around 50km over these few days, but that’s because he’s weak. Sometimes he would take the train to our meeting spot, and I would walk, so… Meanwhile, mentally, I’m doing well. Feeling inspired by you folks, and positive about the future. My future that is, not the state of the world. Stuff’s bad out there. Actually, I have hope for the future. My hope is indelible. When you see me laughing about things that are absolutely batshit insane, that’s because I find the absurdity of life to be highly entertaining. I laughed when I saw the video of me getting assaulted by the cops. I laughed when I got yelled at by a psychopath millionaire dog-whistling anti semitic language at me. I’m having a great time. The only thing standing in my way right now is my corporeality, one day I hope I can have a team (Gabrielle, Will, Aedan) but for the moment I don’t have the type of cash to pay these geniuses. One day I will. A couple months ago I finished what is [**probably the largest investigation into the housing crisis ever done**](https://therover.ca/building-the-crisis-podcast/?ref=onthetrail.info)[ ](https://therover.ca/building-the-crisis-podcast/?ref=onthetrail.info)in [French](https://pivot.quebec/2025/05/21/bande-annonce-batir-la-crise-du-logement/?ref=onthetrail.info) & English. I am extremely happy with the project. If you haven’t listened to the podcast, you should. Episode one and two start a bit slow, but 3-6 are the best podcast you’ll have ever heard. During this summer, I slowed down my online presence for a little while to reflect and consider what my next steps were. I came to several conclusions during my 6 week “break”. 1. I am not good at making op-eds and I do not believe that they are useful or healthy for our society, nor journalism. If this opinion frustrates you, it proves my point. I find op-eds to be divisive, inciting people’s emotions and feelings, and are a manipulative way to force people into engagement, without leaving them with appropriate amounts of substance to benefit their lives. Gabrielle is good at op-eds. When she writes them, they’re intelligent, fact based, and are more or less news with a goal. I will not be giving you any more op-eds that are written by me, however I may publish other op-eds if they come up. This will not be the goal or production of either my social media content or my publication. 2. Similar to the last point– I am not a daily. Legacy media is pretty good at daily news. In fact, I like dailies for their information, and like them less for their political and global coverage. I want to create pieces that have a point, whether it be in video, written, or podcast form. I want to do long form content. This also goes for explainer videos that I have previously done on social media– in fact what prompted my self reflection this summer was my distaste with my own explainer videos. I’m not the person to give you hot takes, viewpoints, and deliver context. I am, however, excited to be on site, showing up, and making something cool. Thus, I will devote all my energy to that. 3. I want to do various types of news-presentation to help people. I am trying to diversify so that there’s some of everything for everyone. Interviews, podcasts, videos and written. I hope this works for everyone. If I look through my stats and see that one is more engaged with, I will focus my efforts there. So far, y’all don’t seem to care about interviews. I will likely stop making those if those numbers don’t go up. Y’all seem to like my written work the most. 4. I will post when I will post. If it’s interesting and I believe that you will enjoy it, I’ll post. If there are major things going on, I will post more. If there is less going on, I will post less. This has to do with socials and with substack. These past two weeks I posted eight things total. I would have posted more, but I felt you were all tired of seeing my name pop up so I tried to hold back a bit. This week I have less, and have been working on the Toronto investigation, so I’m doing a bit less. I hope the quality and consistency of what I do will be more important than the speed at which I make things. My plans are currently to move towards more on the field work, which means less ‘every day’ output, and more sporadic, on the ground coverage. I hope you’ll all be satisfied with that type of coverage, as this is the work that needs to be done in my view. I don’t think many others are doing this sort of journalism, and those that impress me greatly. [When Christopher Curtis is out there and a dude has a shotgun in the car with him](https://therover.ca/riding-shotgun-a-tour-of-kanesatakes-secret-dumpsites/?ref=onthetrail.info), that’s the kind of story that gets my blood boiling. Being at a protest and covering the real stories on the ground are the direction that calls to me. William Wilson has been a fantastic partner, and I’m hoping to continue developing a partnership with him. I’m also working on a project with Aedan Burnett, which I don’t want to disclose yet. It’s a risky one, which could have some serious blowback. I'm not nervous about it, I just know that some people who follow me will react poorly. I hope you all won’t mind, but next week will be entirely devoted to this project, and possibly a bit longer. There is no doubt in my mind that this project will be important to many people, and I hope you will all give me a bit of patience with it, because I don’t want to get it out unfinished like I did with my MP investment list, I wish I had waited a bit longer on that before throwing that one out there. That being said, [Aedan has been hard at work on the site, ](https://www.ismympalandlord.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info)and we are currently waiting on the federal disclosure under Carney’s government. Most of the provinces are in there, although a couple of them have some problems. The website should be updated in perpetuity. I will have a full analysis of each individual province over the next months. I want to consider the data deeply, and report back on the state of each province, and where they ideally should go. That’s it. Reach out if you have questions or concerns, or something that you think would be news-breaking. I’m always listening. Isaac ### The Gab & Isaac Show Ep. 2 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-gab-and-isaac-show-ep-2/ Last updated: 2025-08-26T04:42:41.000Z The Gab & Isaac Show Ep. 2 0:00 /200 1× This week in our headlining show, Isaac breaks some big news this week that hasn’t yet been disclosed about both the Air Canada employees and the Conservative Party of Canada. When you hear it here, it’ll come out soon. Gab takes legacy media to task. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this! Each week Gab and Isaac will be breaking down the major headlines of the week across Canada and Quebec, and giving you the news that matters. If you like it, sign up now! [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### From Controversial Activist to Potential NDP Leader URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/from-controversial-activist-to-potential/ Last updated: 2025-08-22T10:02:39.000Z From Controversial Activist to Potential NDP Leader 0:00 /200 1× Isaac Peltz interviews Yves Engler, a controversial and important political figure in the leftist scene in Canada. Many people have criticized Engler and decried his aggressive, in your face style, but is it well deserved? Isaac dives right into Engler's life, they talk about growing up in a labour family, political awakening, and approaching a bid at leadership for Canada's left wing party, the NDP. In this highly engaging conversation, Engler doesn't hold back, and talks about an establishment campaign being tallied together to prevent him from having the impact he wants to, whether it be for Palestine, or for socialism in Canada. How complicit is Canada in violent displacement of world leaders? Let's find out today, on the trail. Do you like these interviews? They come out most Fridays, so subscribe now to On the Trail at https://isaacpeltz.ca Please go peruse Yves' books at https://yvesengler.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Yves Engler and His Activism 06:31 Canada's Role in the 2004 Haiti Coup 13:41 Yves Engler's NDP Leadership Bid and Political Vision 22:04 Political Dynamics and Campaign Challenges 27:10 NDP's Stance on Palestine and Internal Conflicts 35:32 The Future of Leftist Politics in Canada ### Police Brutality at RadPride Unprovoked, and Relentless - Investigations for the Illiterate URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/police-brutality-at-radpride-unprovoked/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:39.000Z The first “Investigation for the Illiterate”! I will continue putting these out— investigations that I don’t put in written form, only visual formats. Now you, an illiterate goofball, can see the work I put into my written stuff! Here is the 20 minute video I promised you on RadPride. I think you will love it. I’m incredibly proud of what we made here. One of my favourite pieces I’ve ever made, to be honest. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In it I tried to make violence simultaneously horrifying and funny, keeping the challenging and intense subject matter watchable while not pulling punches. I made a few mistakes in the filming, specifically I had my gain settings too high on my Zoom Microphone, BOTH AT PRIDE AND IN THE POST FILM and that’s infuriating to me, so the microphone is peaking consistently. I regret this. Will do better next time. We also could improve our production set up, but when it’s two dudes and a camera it’s not exactly easy. Thank you William Wilson for this exceptional work. ### THE ROVER x ISAAC PELTZ: Union Reaches Deal With Air Canada, Potentially Changing the Future of Strikes Across the Country URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-rover-x-isaac-peltz-labour-unions/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:40.000Z ### “Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement, radically transforming our industry after a historic struggle to assert our Charter rights. ### We have ended unpaid work. ### We have regained our voice and our power.” ### \-A spokesperson for CUPE [**Thank you to the Rover for collaborating on this post. Please consider subscribing to them at their website.**](https://therover.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) A tentative deal was reached between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The details of the deal have not been disclosed, as it needs to be ratified by the membership first. This strike is the first since 2011 to ignore a federal use of Section 107 of the labour code, which grants the minister of labour, Patty Hajdu, the power to intervene where she “deems it expedient” to “secure industrial peace.” The deal is intended to fix what a spokesperson at CUPE called “miserable working conditions”. Many of the 10,000 flight attendants had become so desperate that some were forced to steal food to survive. In response, CUPE established food banks specifically for airline employees. Others, unable to afford housing, have been living out of their cars in airport parking garages. “Their salaries are starvation wages,” the spokesperson said. “Enough. Enough of making money off the backs of workers. Enough of miserable pay. Enough of unpaid labour.” [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Within 24 hours of the strike beginning, federal Labour Minister Patty Hajdu and the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) invoked Section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code, ordering flight attendants back to work. “The speed at which the federal government intervened is surprising,” said Robert Boyd, partner and workers’ rights lawyer at Cain Lamarre. “Large employers won’t negotiate seriously if the minister is going to intervene so quickly. It removes the pressure (that unions) can apply.” He explained that Section 107, despite being federal law since the 1980s, hadn't been used until 2011\. Its rapid usage in this strike has begun a discussion among workers' rights advocates as well as lawyers about whether it is lawful or not, seeing as it bypasses a fundamental right in Canada. By resisting the back-to-work order, each union member faced fines of up to $1,000 a day. Since a tentative deal has been reached, this could tilt the scales towards unions who disregard federal use of Section 107. Yesterday, Mark Hancock, CUPE’s national president, stood in front of dozens of reporters outside Toronto-Pearson airport, undeterred. “If it means folks like me going to jail, so be it. If it means our union being fined, then so be it,” he said. Hancock insisted he does not believe the government’s order will survive a court challenge, which could take up to 10 years to go through the legal system — and now that a tentative deal has been made it is unclear whether charges will be pursued. Twenty-seven Air Canada employees spoke to us on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals. CUPE has also instructed its members not to speak publicly. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Every single one of these workers, expressed a common belief that Air Canada had been in contact with the CIRB before the strike was declared, and that the government was prepared to intervene prior to the strike commencing. The union itself has not endorsed this view, noting it remains unverified. That suspicion is fueled in part by the fact that the current CIRB chair previously served as Senior Legal Counsel for Air Canada for seven years. Employees also point to the federal government’s six per cent ownership stake in Air Canada as further reason for mistrust. Negotiations between CUPE and Air Canada went on for nine months, and as far as the union is concerned, seemed to be in good faith until the strike was called. “We were waiting at the negotiation table,” a spokesperson for CUPE said. “We were shocked that they didn’t respond.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/da6eec7d-72bd-45c9-a6bd-059a52beaa1f_1600x528.png) Taken from the CIRB website Michael Rousseau, the CEO of Air Canada seemed to be completely blindsided. “We thought, obviously, Section 107 would be enforced, and that they wouldn’t illegally avoid (it),” [he said in an interview with Bloomberg](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/shows/trading-day/2025/08/18/we-played-by-rule-cupe-acting-against-law-air-canada-ceo/?ref=onthetrail.info). In the interview, he admitted that he had made no provisions for the passengers who are currently stranded. He hadn’t expected there to be resistance to the legislation by the union. [Canadian law provides](https://airpassengerrights.ca/en/blog/air-canada-strike-2025-what-are-my-rights?ref=onthetrail.info) that any individuals who are stranded in the event of a strike are owed a fully paid flight back on another airline, **regardless of whether they have an inter-airline agreement or not.** It is encouraged by experts [to refuse any offer of a refund](https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/article/if-air-canada-cancels-your-flight-dont-accept-a-refund-passenger-rights-expert-says/?ref=onthetrail.info), since other airlines have exponentially [increased their prices ](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/flight-prices-surge-at-competing-airlines-as-air-canada-strike-looms/ar-AA1KBugS?ref=onthetrail.info)to take advantage of consumers who don’t know their legal rights. [Flights will resume on Tuesday](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-air-canada-set-to-resume-operations-after-flight-attendants-strike/?ref=onthetrail.info). Despite passengers being stranded and the media [portraying](https://www.thestar.com/business/travellers-stranded-despite-federal-intervention-into-air-canada-labour-strife/article%5F40c209aa-9a3f-559c-88b5-d3682eaf67a6.html?ref=onthetrail.info) this strike as a [broadly](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/air-canada-strike-illegal-1.7611447?ref=onthetrail.info) [negative](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/air-canada-strike-update-thousands-stranded-as-flights-grounded-if-you-have-a-ticket-this-is-what-you-need-to-do/articleshow/123333748.cms?ref=onthetrail.info) event, [polls say](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/yahoo-polls-who-do-you-support-in-the-air-canada-strike-dispute-yahoo-canada-readers-have-their-say-173308009.html?ref=onthetrail.info) nearly 75 per cent of Canadians supported the action. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/8e3c2fae-4bec-459b-94ee-4ba91b9f646a_1600x1066-jpeg.jpg) More protestors outside Montreal's Airport Flight attendants are asked to work shifts upwards of twelve to sixteen hours, and are unpaid for any hours where they are landed. These layovers often get delayed due to conditions out of their control, such as weather and air traffic control, problems with airplanes, pilots being unavailable, or more. For those working with Air Canada, these unpaid hours add up to, on average, 35-40 hours a month, a spokesperson for the CUPE said. Air Canada and low-cost subsidiary brand, Air Canada Rouge, are paid wages well below Quebec’s minimum wage when factoring in the hours worked and possible delays. Starting wages at Air Canada are netting employees between $2,800-2,900 a month before taxes, the union told us. This is because despite working full time hours, employees are paid for only an estimated 75 hours a month in the air. Meanwhile, Air Canada Rouge employees who start are taking home only $1,952 a month before taxes. Several Air Canada employees shared their T4 with us and confirmed these wages. By comparison, someone working full time in Montreal making minimum wage would make $2,790 a month before taxes. The details of the tentative deal announced Tuesday morning have not been given publicly, as it must be voted on by the union first. The spokesperson explained that the job was originally 100 per cent women, and therefore it is a job that has much lower wages. Seventy per cent of the labour force of flight attendants are women, and 10 per cent are LGBTQ+ folk. This gender gap in pay is common across Canada, according [to stats Can.](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230921/dq230921b-eng.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/1022408b-1d66-43c9-aab7-a5776a71de2c_1572x594.png) Taken from statistics Canada Pilots, a male dominated profession, start at around [$50,000 and can reach upwards of $190,000](https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/03/13/air-canada-pilot-salary/?ref=onthetrail.info) before taxes, based on seniority. Meanwhile, the highest paid attendants have been in the job 10+ years, and are being paid around $70,000 before taxes. “We feel proud,” the spokesperson said. The feeling across the union is one of hope, and joy. She explained that across all of CUPE, their goal is to bring back power to unions, and to stand for their charter rights. “When our rights were taken away, we stood strong, we fought back - and we reached a tentative agreement that our members can endorse,” they said. [**Thank you to the Rover for collaborating on this post. Please consider subscribing to them at their website.**](https://therover.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### The Gab & Isaac Show Episode 1 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-gab-and-isaac-show-episode-1/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:40.000Z The Gab & Isaac Show Episode 1 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Gabrielle is back! Once a week (and sometimes with an article!) The two of us break down some of the biggest news once a week, talking about a wide variety of stuff— This week there was a by-election in Arthabaska, Quebec. It has some shocking implications in the political realm of Quebec. After that we discuss the militarization of Canada, and Carney’s elbows up mandate that may have been slightly misunderstood. We discuss the fascist turn of the United States, as they decide to reanalyse the Smithsonian museums displays to better suit the interpretation of Trump’s administration, and finally we discuss Wildfire safety. This show will be replacing the former news roundup, with a bit more love and personality, and as an excuse to drag Gab eternally back into the substack. It is completely exclusive on Substack for all subscribers, so that’s exciting! ### QUEER, GAY AND TRANS PEOPLE VIOLENTLY BEATEN BY POLICE URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/queer-gay-and-trans-people-violently/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:41.000Z QUEER, GAY AND TRANS PEOPLE VIOLENTLY BEATEN BY POLICE 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Today Isaac Peltz interviews the great Celeste Trianon, a brilliant woman, a lawyer, and an activist for queer and trans people. In this conversation, Isaac Peltz speaks with activist Celeste Trianon about the evolution of pride protests in Montreal, particularly focusing on the rise of Rad Pride as a response to police brutality and corporate influence in mainstream pride events. They discuss the experiences of activists at these protests, the media's portrayal of events, and the community's reactions to ongoing violence against LGBTQ individuals. Celeste emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the need for continued activism in the face of rising anti-trans rhetoric and hate crimes. The conversation concludes with reflections on the future of LGBTQ rights in Canada and the necessity of fighting back against oppressive forces. Please look at Celeste's work here: https://celeste.lgbt on socials @celestetrianon Please sign up for the substack COMPLETELY FREE HERE [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Sound Bites "People have hope for the future." "It's spineless, in a way." "It's all about human dignity at the end of the day." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Activism and Education 02:08 Rad Pride: A Protest Against Corporatization 04:44 Experiences of Police Brutality at Pride Events 07:23 Media Coverage and Its Impact on Activism 10:16 Community Reactions and Alternative Pride Events 12:34 The Intersection of Politics and Pride 15:33 Future of LGBTQ Rights in Canada 18:10 The Role of Corporations in Pride 20:24 Denouncing Hate and Promoting Acceptance 23:09 The Importance of Human Dignity 25:29 Conclusion and Call to Action ### "No pride in genocide" - Montreal's first-ever 'Wild Pride' draws a crowd of 10,000 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/no-pride-in-genocide-montreals-first/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:45.000Z Photo by William Wilson ### Queer people fed up with corporate pride flooded the streets Aug. 10 for the first-ever [Wild Pride](https://wildpride.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) march. Many members of the 2SLGBTQ+ are disillusioned by [Fierté Montréal'](https://fiertemontreal.com/fr?ref=onthetrail.info)s corporatization, the organization's mistreatment lesbo-queer organizations, their continued partnership with Montreal Police (SPVM), and Fierté's lack of solidarity with Palestine. In just a few months, grassroots queer organizations came together under the banner of Wild Pride to deliver an alternative pride festival from July 30 - Aug. 18: explicitly political, sapphic- and trans-led, and funded by the community. Raves, family-friendly events, panels and workshops were all part of their programming - and a pride march held the same day as Fierté's. As the Wild Pride marchers assembled at Place Des Arts, their messages were clear from their homemade signs, banners and flags: "Capitalists are oppressors," "Be gay free Palestine," "Tapettes en feu contre le fascisme," (Fags on fire against fascism) "Liberate Judaism from Zionism.” Palestinian flags peppered the crowd and organizers of Wild Pride helmed the march with the largest one of all. Meanwhile, two openly Zionist groups who have denied that a genocide is occuring in Palestine marched in Fierté Montréal's parade: the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and Ga'ava. This is despite Fierté's [recent statement](https://fiertemontreal.com/en/news/fierte-montreal-precise-sa-position-sur-le-conflit-israelo-palestinien?ref=onthetrail.info) publically acknowledging the Palestinian genocide. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Ga'ava, which calls itself "Canada’s oldest and most important LGBTQ+ Jewish group," was initially uninvited due to Ga’ava president Carlos A. Godoy's public and private comments against Palestinians and their allies. [He called pro-Palestine](https://therover.ca/on-the-eve-of-montreal-pride-lgbtq-advocate-faces-backlash-over-gaza-comments/?ref=onthetrail.info) demonstrators and people opposing Ga'ava's inclusion in the pride march "pro-terror" and "pro-Hamas" and denied the famine happening in Palestine. Godoy, [who is not Jewish](https://x.com/CarlosAGodoyL?ref=onthetrail.info) (he calls himself a "Friend of ✡️" on X), called Fierté Montreal's exclusion of Ga'ava "anti-semetic." Marleau said they received feedback from the Jewish community that the exclusion of Ga'ava and CIJA amounted to faith-based discrimination. "We really make the distinction between the State of Israel and Jewish people, especially 2SLGBTQIA+ people living in Montreal who wanted to march," said Marleau. "We have to be able to recognize that Jewish people in Montreal, especially in our (2SLGBTQ+) communities, have less impact than one might think on the politics of Israel… As for our mission, it's to amplify the voice of 2SLGBTQIA+ people that include Jewish people, but people of all faiths.” Zev Satiel, member of Independent Jewish Voices Montreal and one of Wild Pride's co-organizers, said that reinviting these groups is antithetical to Pride Montreal's posited mission. "When hospitals are bombed and people are starving and aid isn't let in, this means queer people won't get the healthcare they've fought tooth and nail for," said Satiel. Many Zionist groups have insisted that Israel is the only "safe" place for queer people in the Middle East. Satiel calls this tactic "pinkwashing": weaponizing queer identity to justify violence. Satiel says Fierté's minute of silence for victims and survivors of the AIDS crisis is hypocritical without advocating for HIV+ Palestinians, who no longer have access to live-saving care due to the genocide. ""How can we say that we don't believe in taking a geopolitical stance? (The genocide) does impact us. That impacts all of us," Satiel said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e98ec67b-e0b9-4058-9ded-f8ba6741249e_6000x4000-jpeg.jpg) Photo by William Wilson [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Wild Pride's march took off around 10,000 strong. People wore matching shirts representing community groups, not corporations. Instead of Rupaul and Lady Gaga tracks, the truck leading the parade blasted Palestinian music. Trans people, sapphic groups, BIPOC queer organizations and proud lesbians took up space in the march instead of being crowded out by cis gay men. While drummers kept the rhythm, marchers carried a parachute-sized trans flag at the parade's head. Anti-establishment chants echoed across downtown Montreal as the marchers made their way through the streets: *"Free, free Palestine!"* *"No pride in genocide!"* *"No justice, no peace, fuck the police!"* *"Pride is a riot!"* *"Pas d'assimilation, on veut la libération!" (No assimilation, we want liberation)* Despite the 40 degree heat, the energy stayed positive throughout the afternoon. Everyone I approached for an interview greeted me with a smile and was happy to share why they were marching. Sam was starting a "No cops at Pride!" chant with her fellow members of Université de Montréal’s Alternative queer group when I approached her. "The major sponsors and the people at the centre of Fierté's events are not queer people – they're banks," said Sam. "It's the same banks that are contributing to gentrification, that are driving poor and gay people out of the Village, that are impoverishing them. It's the same ones that are investing in the genocide." Kelly was marching dressed in hot pink jumpsuit, cowboy hat, and Chappell Roan hair, wearing the pansexual flag as a cape. They’ve marched in Fierté's parade for eight years, but were happy to have an alternative this year. "I think Pride began as a protest and it still is," they said. It shouldn't stay out of (what's happening in Palestine) because we know what it's like to be discriminated against. And so we should first and foremost be the ones supporting Palestine." Beaming, Kelly told me how good it felt to connect with queer people at Wild Pride. "I think we're fighting for something serious, but there's still room for joy. There's always room for joy and there's always room for some sort of positivity and hope," they added. Gabriel brought his parents to the Wild Pride march. "I found this to be an interesting initiative; an alternative to Fierte or simply refusing to attend.. It's a more active form of boycott. We're re-appropriating this moment," said Gabriel. Shannon Thompson, a Wild Pride organizer who works with the Coalition of LGBTQ+ Youth Groups, was overwhelmed by the support for the festival. "I think it's incredible that we're able to pull this off in three months. I can only imagine what people can pull off within six months to a year," Thompson said. Wild Pride ran entirely on donations, small ticket sales and unpaid labour. Any extra money was donated to Palestinian and Indigenous mutual aid funds and the [Prisoner Correspondence Project](https://prisonercorrespondenceproject.com/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/0dbddab9-3499-47fe-89ce-6e041b226184_6000x4000-jpeg.jpg) Photo by William Wilson ### 'Wild Pride is for the people, Fierté Montreal is for the money' Back in early June, Aisha Smith and Yara Coussa were in the early stages of organizing Wild Pride. Both are members of Montreal's sapphic community and members of the South West Asia and North Africa diaspora. Their frustrations with Fierté Montreal had been mounting for months. Coussa is a member of [Helem Montreal](https://www.montrealhelem.org/en/home/?ref=onthetrail.info), an Arab 2SLGBTQ+ organization. Last year, they were [among the queer organizers](https://www.instagram.com/p/C-YA0Xkx-Wk/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink) who demanded that Fierté Montréal show solidarity with Palestine by cutting ties with their main sponsor, TD Bank ([a major investor in Israeli weapon manufacturing](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/30/wall-street-morgan-stanley-td-bank-ukraine-israel-hamas-war?ref=onthetrail.info)) and by publically denouncing the genocide. These demands were not met. "Wild Pride is for the people, Fierté Montreal is for the money," added Smith. "I think Fierté is blind to what is happening to queer people everywhere, especially in the city. They forget to mention the brutality that we face from the police, from right-wingers, from transphobes,” Instead, she said, they just want to throw a party and ignore the real issues. In [April 2025](https://www.instagram.com/p/DIB0F0UR6yP/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink), several lesbo-queer organizations said they would no longer be working with Fierté Montreal after experiencing "problematic and exploitative behaviours" from the organization. This includes a lack of transparency, dismissing concerns, going back on financial commitments, even [forcing an organizer to work with their abuser](https://www.instagram.com/p/DIy-x9Bsizt/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink). [After having raised these concerns in a Zoom meeting with Fierté's leadership, Coussa felt defeated and dismissed by the board - which further galvanized her to do this event.](https://www.instagram.com/p/DIB0F0UR6yP/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink) "For us to be queer, it can't be dissociated from politics," said Coussa. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/7b1c12ce-6bce-4a76-a1bd-8fe7bace5732_6000x4000-jpeg.jpg) Photo by William Wilson ### NO COPS AT PRIDE Satiel was frustrated that police were insisting on escorting Wild Pride's march. Many of Wild Pride's organizers and supporters have faced police violence at pro-Palestine protests and alternative pride demonstrations, so they were trying to avoid having police at their march. "I truly have lost count of the amount of times I've been assaulted by the police or been pepper sprayed and tear gassed since October 2023," he said. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Last year, pro-Palestine protesters were repeatedly met with tear gas and riot police. This year alone, riot cops deployed tear gas and beat attendees at the [anti-police brutality protest](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/tear-gas-used-and-six-arrested-in-annual-anti-police-brutality-protest-in-montreal/?ref=onthetrail.info) (March 15), the [Trans Day of Vengence protest](https://thelinknewspaper.ca/article/trans-day-of-vengeance-demonstration-ends-in-irritant-spray-and-arrests?ref=onthetrail.info) (March 31), and others. "It’s unbelievable and this primarily happens at rallies where it's queer-led or queer-focused. There is a link (between queer led rallies and violence towards these communities by the police). So why are they here pretending to protect us?" Satiel said. Wild Pride had originally planned to use Dur à Queer, a queer motorcycle group, as their security and traffic control. They allege the SPVM initially said they would allow Wild Pride to run their own security, but on Sunday, they refused to allow the bikers to ride with them. In an emailed statement, the SPVM said: “The group of motorcyclists was refused because these vehicles and pedestrians at this type of event posed a safety hazard.” "That right there shows that they also don't allow us to keep ourselves safe because they want to have closer access to us, which is the exact reason we asked the motorcyclists to come to begin with," Satiel said. Shannon, who is Black, said that she is tired of people expecting dialogue with the police. She asserted that the police pretend they’re safe, that they’re guardians but “They're not safe for people who look like us," she said."If you want to partner with the SPVM, it means that you only care about one type of person, who is the ‘Jean-Francois’ type – like a white dude. And money. That's not what pride is about. It's a riot, it’s about getting together with a little bit of money and asking people for help," she added. The police escort at Wild Pride did not result in violence, but that has not been the case at other pride events. At Rad Pride's annual march on the night of Aug. 9, the eve of Wild Pride, protestors were almost immediately met with police brutality. [Isaac Peltz](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNKX5nyOd1D/?ref=onthetrail.info) and [William Wilson](https://open.substack.com/pub/williamwilsonphotography/p/a-weekend-of-extreme-spvm-violence?r=erqtu&utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false) were on the scene, documenting the brutality. A police officer used his bike to beat Peltz, and Wilson suffered severe bruising to his head and knee. [The police denied starting violence at the protest, despite being shown video evidence filmed by Isaac and photos by William.](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNRJAdgpJ2m/?ref=onthetrail.info) “Crowd-dispersal tactics were used during this event, following violent and criminal behavior,” They said. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Gabriel, one of the marchers at Wild Pride, held up a poster with Wilson's photos from the evening. "I think there's a huge double standard that Rad Pride was attacked before it even began," Gabriel said. "Then today, as soon as we're in something more family-friendly, more festive, we have a different police response.” Gabriel criticized the police for assaulting one group and pretending to care for the next, despite both having the same reasons for protesting. As Wild Pride marched on, queer organization Faction Anti Génocidaire et Solidaire (La Fags) expressed their voices in a more disruptive approach. According to [William Wilson's reporting](https://substack.com/home/post/p-170727953?ref=onthetrail.info), about [30 La Fags protestors ](https://la-fags.net/reportback-on-the-pride-disruption/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWWJENWhPdVRRVHlvSFB4aAEexsqJTqeeT-Cf42m0mhn0PsL%5FgXSG%5FWAJ9BhSve14AzNhlK2XVyMNsAqNaUE%5Faem%5FKfWVtGfMWY3uc80QqX8S8g&ref=onthetrail.info)interrupted Pride Montreal's march, stepping out in front of Ga'ava and CIJA's contingent. Their chants of "Free, free Palestine!" were quickly met with riot police ordering them to move out and shoving protestors. According to Rebecca Lavoie, one of the counter-protestors, no one was seriously injured, but one person was violently tackled to the ground and arrested. She says this violence reminded of the police response to[ last year's counter demonstration at Fierté.](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-faits-divers/2024-08-11/rad-pride/deux-arrestations-apres-une-manifestation-pour-les-droits-lgbtq.php?ref=onthetrail.info) "In collaborating with police, Fierté Montréal is complicit in not only the Palestinian genocide, but also the oppression of queer people and marginalized people everywhere," said Lavoie. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/4e8b2014-2a0f-4203-9f1b-49d3919c1e7c_6000x4000-jpeg.jpg) Photo by William Wilson ### “We took back our pride” Wild Pride's march slowly made its way through the downtown streets, drawing the attention of downtown terrasse-goers. They paused at the site of the [Truxx raids](https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/blogs/personal/perspectives/places-of-pride-truxx/?ref=onthetrail.info) where a Gay Archives volunteer highlighted the history of 2SGLBTQ+ resistance in Montreal. They stopped near Dorchester Square, to hold a moment of silence for queer people who died not just of HIV, but of violence and genocide across the globe. At the front, people began to raise a fist, the historic Black power symbol of resistance. A wave of fists raised all along the wide downtown streets. Once it was over, the crowd erupted in cheers of rage, of sadness, of joy in being together. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) They eventually settled in Dorchester Square, and the whole park filled with queer people. Some volunteers set up tables offering iced tea, water and food. I caught up with Yara Coussa at the end of the march, sitting on the grass as people came up to them to thank them. Despite spending all day leading people through the hot sun, chanting, and managing the crowd, they were already thinking about making next year's Wild Pride even bigger and better. "We achieved something where we took back our pride. We successfully boycotted a corporate mockery of our pride. So, now I'm feeling fucking great, amazing." Despite Marlot Marleau's promises to consult with the queer community to figure out how Fierté can be more inclusive, Coussa said the future of pride lies in the hands of community organizations. "Fierté Montréal does not represent the queer community," they said. "They only represent the privileged few. And unfortunately for them, their end is near." ### CANADA EXPOSED: Supporting a Genocide in Palestine URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/canada-exposed-supporting-a-genocide/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:45.000Z CANADA EXPOSED: Supporting a Genocide in Palestine 0:00 /200 1× [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In this conversation, Isaac Peltz interviews Samira Mohieddin, a journalist and former CBC producer, about her life journey from Iran to Canada, her career in journalism, and her perspectives on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. Samira discusses her experiences as a queer woman in journalism, her resignation from CBC following the October 7th attacks, and her views on media bias, genocide, and the identity and nationalism in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. How is biblical language being employed to create fervour ? "Israel does not like history." "This is a theater of the absurd." "Canada rewards terror." Samira was gracious enough to have an interview with Isaac despite her incredibly busy schedule. Isaac's audio got totally wack, and we're sorry about that. Please check out her work here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheLineMedia 00:00 Introduction to Samira Mohieddin 02:23 Samira's Journey: From Iran to Canada 04:38 The Path to Performing Arts and Journalism 07:19 Resignation from CBC: A Turning Point 09:55 Understanding the October 7th Attacks 12:22 The Nature of Genocide: A Critical Perspective 14:22 The Role of Religion in Conflict 15:23 Navigating Criticism: Anti-Semitism and Journalism 17:50 Media Narratives: Shifts in Public Perception 18:44 Media Narratives and Historical Context 23:11 The Role of Social Media in Shaping Perspectives 26:46 Canada's Policy and International Complicity 29:36 The Future of Gaza and Palestinian Rights ### The Names of Palestinian Children - 17,930 Gazan Children Dead - Montreal URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-names-of-palestinian-children/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:45.000Z On Saturday August 2nd, people in Montreal came together to read out the names of the 17,930 Gazan children who were killed between October 7th until March. Although there was little media who showed up, William Wilson and Isaac Peltz came out to document the occasion. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) WHO HAS DECLARED IT A GENOCIDE? A TON OF PEOPLE. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/03/global-firms-profiting-israel-genocide-gaza-united-nations-rapporteur https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/14/israels-warfare-methods-in-gaza-consistent-with-genocide-un-committee https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/19/israels-crime-extermination-acts-genocide-gaza https://msf.org.uk/issues/gaza-genocide https://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-443/ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/28/israeli-human-rights-group-israel-is-committing-genocide-in-gaza https://twailr.com/public-statement-scholars-warn-of-potential-genocide-in-gaza/ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/26/icj-fails-to-order-ceasefire-but-says-israel-must-prevent-genocide-in-gaza ### McGill University is Complicit in the Genocide URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mcgill-university-is-complicit-in/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:45.000Z Today Netanyahu announced he would be expanding his country’s genocidal operations in Gaza to completely flush out the last remaining Palestinians in the region. The world is condemning this. Yet the same international people who are condemning this are the people who funded this. Many have decried the “woke, liberal university” atmosphere of places like McGill. And yet they fund the Israeli war machine. Watch this documentary. It’s exceptionally well researched by my colleagues Savannah Stewart and Christopher Curtis. More to come tomorrow. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Emily Lowan - Running for BC Green Leadership; Can Leftism Work in Canada - On the Trail URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/emily-lowan-running-for-bc-green/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:46.000Z Emily Lowan - Running for BC Green Leadership; Can Leftism Work in Canada - On the Trail 0:00 /200 1× WATCH OR LISTEN In this engaging conversation, Isaac Peltz interviews Emily Lowan, a candidate for the leadership of the BC Green Party. They discuss Lowan's political awakening, her activism, and the challenges she faces in the current political landscape. The conversation delves into the disillusionment with the NDP, the potential for leftist politics in Canada, and the importance of grassroots movements. Lowan shares her vision for the Green Party and the urgency of engaging young voters in the political process. Check out Isaac's Substack- https://isaacpeltz.ca Go look at Emily's site: https://emilyforbcgreens.ca/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Interview Series 01:16 Emily Lowan: A New Voice in BC Politics 02:42 Activism and Political Awakening 08:48 Disillusionment with the Political System 13:19 The Role of the Greens in BC Politics 17:37 The Viability of Leftist Politics in Canada 25:52 Coping with Political Pressure 27:27 The Shift of the NDP to the Right 33:07 Public Dissatisfaction with the NDP 37:55 Challenges within the Left 43:30 Membership Drive and Future Aspirations ### Adapt or Choke: The Urgent Need for a National Strategy on Wildfires URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/adapt-or-choke-the-urgent-need-for/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:46.000Z [*If you haven’t read yesterday’s piece on the wildfires, it can be found here. This piece is strongly enhanced as the second part of the investigation.*](https://www.isaacpeltz.ca/p/choked-out-by-wildfires-who-lit-the?ref=onthetrail.info) Recently, an American politician wrote a letter to the Manitoban government that said "we would like to know how your government plans on mitigating wildfire and the smoke that makes its way south." They complained that their "constituents have been limited in their ability to go outside and safely breathe due to the dangerous air quality the wildfire smoke has created. It is unclear what their goal in sending this letter was, and it proved to exacerbate tensions that are already at a breaking point between the two countries. Online, it led many people to ask why Canada does not use controlled burns to stop wildfires, an indigenous practice that is well reputed. But asking why Canada doesn’t use these controlled burns is missing the forest for the trees. There are approximately 400 million hectares of forest in Canada. Most of it is uninhabited. Much of it is inaccessible. “I believe it was a leader in the United States who said we should rake the forest to get rid of the woody material,” Timothy Lynham, a fire ecologist and expert on forest fire behaviour said. “You want us to rake 400 million hectares of Canadian forest?” “It’s just laughable to suggest we have any control over that,” David Lapp, an engineer specializing in climate change, said. “It’s so arrogant. When I saw that I laughed out loud, it’s quite humorous really– it’s all I could do to just laugh at it.” “Three per cent of our fires burn 97 per cent of the area burned,” Mike Flannigan, who is the BC Innovation Research Chair in Predictive Services, and [whose credentials are too long to list in an article,](https://www.mikeflannigan.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) said. Although predictive equations by experts are impressive, predicting those 3 percent of fires that will cause so much damage is near impossible. Without their predictive algorithms, Canada would be in far worse shape. Many solutions are being thrown around in colloquial settings, and there’s enough of a political pressure that the Prime Minister is discussing ideas that Canada could use. Mark Carney used carbon capture technology as the capstone of his environmental proposals during the election in 2025\. His faith in the tech may not be warranted. “I don’t think he appreciates the limited impact or the massive cost.” David Lapp said. In his view, Carney is overestimating the potential of this technology. Implementing it is not commercially viable and would quickly cost in the hundreds of millions, if not more. “There’s no magic bullet. Anyone who tells you that this can be solved even in a matter of years lives in lala land. Especially politicians.” Lapp explained that carbon capture technology captures the carbon from the air, separates it, and then stores it underground; but it isn’t yet viable as a solution to our woes. “The scale at which you’d have to capture carbon to have any effect is prohibitive,” he said. Not only that, but “if you were able to stop every single greenhouse gas emission right now you’d still see an increase in temperature.” Currently, if all greenhouse gas emissions immediately stopped, the temperature would rise further, and it would take “hundreds of years to return to normal.” Lapp explained that the only option is to adapt and play the long game by fighting climate change in a sustained and coordinated effort. Lapp stressed that it is necessary to educate people on forest fires and wildfire preparedness, and then to build appropriate infrastructure that protects populated areas from the worst scenarios. With out-of-control wildfires now being a part of Canadian life, it’s important that people understand how fires start, how smoke affects health, and to pay attention to scientists and researchers, keeping up to date with current conditions when you go camping, hiking, or live in a more fire-susceptible area. Infrastructure, especially in BC or northern parts of provinces, need to have large barriers of space between housing and forests in order to hopefully prevent wildfires from spreading to the city, but also to enable evacuations. People living in rural areas or smaller cities should have go-bags ready, with all the necessary supplies ready to be thrown in the car in case of an evacuation order. Resources are a large problem with the fires, Timothy Lynham said. “Normally we have problems in one part of the country at one time. It’s easier to share resources,” he said. Now there are fires everywhere, and resources are spread thin. Canada has even helped the United States with their forest fires many times over, despite them not reciprocating. Mike Flannigan, well known across the country, has been pushing for new innovations. “I’ve been calling for a national emergency management agency and a national firefighting force to deal with this,” he said. “Every year we’re calling on the military, calling on firefighters from all over the world.” In his view, money spent preventing these national disasters would save money long term. He’s had consistent pushback on this, with people 'informing him' that land management is exclusively a provincial responsibility. Flannigan pushes back every time, saying that the health and safety of Canadians is also a federal responsibility. Factually speaking, it isn’t quite true to say that only the provinces deal with wildfires, considering that the feds consistently wire the provinces cash whenever there’s an emergency. People also complain to Flannigan that it would cost money. “Yeah, absolutely it’s going to cost money,” he said. But considering that there’s already a Canadian disaster fund, and 30 per cent of it is due to wildfires, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure. You spend money in advance and prevent serious disasters such as Lytton. “The bottom line is that prevention and mitigation saves money,” he said. One of the major resources every province shares and uses are water bombers. Again, there is a great misunderstanding at how water bombers work. They do not put out fires. They buy a short window to decrease energy output of a fire that has reached upwards of 1200 degrees Celsius. Although there are less wildfires in Canada than there used to be, the wildfires are more severe. They burn hotter, and are harder to contend with– this is what makes them out of control. When the water bomber drops its load on an out of control fire, it allows on the ground teams to get to work creating barriers that lead to the fire to die off. The more rapidly these resources can be deployed, the better off everyone in the country will be— but in the end, no matter what we do, Canadians are going to have to live with wildfires for the long term– so how do we protect ourselves from the smoke? “Masks are very effective,” Dr. Christopher Carlsten, director of the Centre for Lung Health, a professor and head of the Respiratory Medicine Division at the University of British Columbia (UBC) said. Younger people are in more danger because they have to live with more particulate matter that affects air quality. Smoke, particularly in smokers, causes inflammation in the lungs which increases the likelihood of lung cancer, heart cancer and respiratory problems. Smokers are able to recover because the inflammation goes down after they stop smoking. “That inflammation, just like if your arm was inflamed from a sunburn or something like that, that’ll eventually go down when you remove the insult,” Carlsten said. In order for people to protect themselves, HEPA filters need to be invested in, windows need to be tightly shut, and N95 masks should be worn outside. Everything possible to prevent breathing in the particulate matter caused from wildfire smoke. The new reality that Canadians find themselves in means adaptation while pushing for more innovative solutions on climate change, and better coordination between government agencies. On a light pole facing north on Berri street in 2024 there was a poem that was called “La Belle Saison,” (The Beautiful Season.) A stranger had stuck a sticker where they wrote a short poem about the loss of their childhood. On Berri street in the summer of 2024, despite there being fewer fires, someone lamented the loss of their summers. That poem is gone now, painted over by Montreal, and forgotten about forever into the vapid memories of another piece of graffiti that was placed somewhere in a city with so much other, more interesting art. Nonetheless, the poem recognized something that the people in power have yet to– summers in Canada will never be the same. Now we must ask what we are going to do in response. ### Choked Out by Wildfires- Who Lit the Match? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/choked-out-by-wildfires-who-lit-the/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:46.000Z #### #### *This is part one of a two part piece on wildfires in Canada, intended to lay the stage on the problem so that we can understand what’s being done to prevent and help the country with wildfires.* [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) On a light pole facing north on Berri street in 2024 there was a poem that was called “La Belle Saison,” (The Beautiful Season.) A stranger had stuck a sticker where they wrote a short poem about the loss of their childhood. For them, there would no longer be a summer season, the season that they believed was, at one point, beautiful. The short poem lamented how hot the summer had become, and how much the smoke had ruined much of the nostalgic attachment they had for the three months a year which were intended for park lounging and camping trips. The person who wrote the poem is somewhere out there, probably still mourning the loss of their summers; they’re probably reminded of it weekly when we have smoke such as the last week of July 2025, and once again on the first weekend of August. The internet was aflame with memes and photos, people shouting into their screens that “Montreal has the worst air quality of any major city on earth,” sending each other screenshots of headlines, of AQI ratings in their weather apps. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/2af0a29a-291f-4967-be44-a7589e6450ec_1600x982.png) This isn’t the first time this has happened. [In 2023, Canada had its worst wildfire season on record](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/world-on-fire-canada-s-worst-wildfire-season-on-record-1.6946472?ref=onthetrail.info). In 2025, we’re on track to have the second worst. Even to the naked eye, it’s fairly clear that the summers are hotter, the winters don’t require the long-suffering of yore, and that there’s been a distinct change in the Canadian climate. Even climate change deniers would struggle to argue that nothing has changed. If we are not prepared as a country for the way it will continue to change, we will see millions affected in the decades to come, and spend vastly more on repairing the damages caused from these fires as well as fighting them than we could if we invested in prevention. “We’ve always been able to guarantee protection (from forest fires.) Safety. We can’t do that anymore,” Tim Lynham, a fire ecologist and expert on forest fire behaviour said. He graciously spoke to us on the record, despite being retired from his post with the Canadian Forest Service. “The problem is becoming overwhelming.” [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Lynham explained that there are fewer fires than there were before, but they are more severe– they burn significantly hotter, and rapidly become out of control. Thus fewer fires, more area burn. Although there have been disasters recently, destroying populated hubs such as Lytton or Jasper, it is relatively uncommon for fires to be started by humans in Canada, contrary to popular belief. “You get ignition two ways,” Lynham said. “You get lightning, or you get an accident… or it could be arson, but arson’s not an issue in Canada.” “Lightning is responsible for about 90 per cent of area burn,” Mike Flannigan, who is the BC Innovation Research Chair in Predictive Services, and [whose credentials are too long to list in an article,](https://www.mikeflannigan.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) said. “Area burn has quadrupled since the early 1970s.” Flannigan and his colleagues attribute this to human-caused climate change. Specifically industrial emissions. “Climate change was caused by industrial emissions,” Lynham said. “Now forest fires are trapped in a cycle.” Many people claim that Canada is “carbon-neutral” because of the vast forests that spread across the mostly uninhabited land in the north. This has been debunked repeatedly, and [the forests are no longer a carbon sink](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canada-forests-carbon-sink-or-source-1.5011490?ref=onthetrail.info). The cycle begins because of industrialization, consumerism, and a heating globe. It is then perpetuated by the forest fires, which contribute significantly to climate change, and then the globe heats more. No solution is currently apparent. “You can’t stop the cycle instantly because you can’t turn back the temperature, we don’t know how to do it,” Lynham said. He then corrected himself. “Well, we know how to do it. We would have to get rid of burning fossil fuels and then do a lot of remediation.” Of course, this isn’t going to happen, as there is no political will in Canada or the globe to change our consumeristic habits. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) On the other hand, current carbon capture technology isn’t sophisticated enough to turn down the heat, and is often a misnomer to what the tech is actually doing. What most industrial emitters use is something known as “oil recovery.” [It has in fact led to more carbon emissions](https://thebulletin.org/2022/09/plagued-by-failures-carbon-capture-is-no-climate-solution/?ref=onthetrail.info) than before we used these technologies. Interestingly, there is enough technology globally that [we could turn the planet green very quickly and power the globe with a singular source of electricity in the Saharan desert](https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/09/22/we-could-power-the-entire-world-by-harnessing-solar-energy-from-1-of-the-sahara/?ref=onthetrail.info), but that would take an amazing amount of cooperation between countries, and is not realistic to expect considering global geopolitics. Not only that, but the real-world effects of the smoke goes beyond climate change. It is dangerous and could lead to long term health effects to those who are young, and those who are pre-disposed to respiratory problems. “Everyone’s lungs are somewhere on a spectrum,” Dr. Christopher Carlsten, director of the Centre for Lung Health, a professor and head of the Respiratory Medicine Division at the University of British Columbia (UBC) said. He explained that people are sent on a lifelong trajectory that is positive or negative. “If you have asthma, your airways are compromised, and smoke will compromise them further… this gets them closer to the crisis point,” he said. Obviously those with pre-existing conditions are in more severe danger than those with healthy lungs, but the danger is there for everyone. Carlsten explained that everyone will degrade as they grow older, but the smoke will speed up the degradation. So what should we do? The dangers of the wildfires are ever present in Canada now. The season is now from February to October, and is unprecedented. In the next article, we will address the solutions to the crisis, common discussion points, and discuss what can be done, from a governmental level all the way through to a personal level. ### The 2026 Quebec Election Looks SPICY URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-2026-quebec-election-looks-spicy/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:46.000Z ###### `Image taken from the Wikimedia commons.` Who are the Parti Quebecois? No really, who are they? In the previous election, the PQ had what most of us would call a ‘social democratic platform’. It was obviously left, and was quite radical in certain ways, sometimes more left than even Quebec Solidaire. Wild propositions were floated in their platform– making a unified Quebec public transport and making it one dollar a day for all Quebecois; to ban private healthcare; to stop building highways because of the environmental impact, and much more. Their least left-leaning policy was that they wanted to limit immigration to 35,000 a year (this is arguably a feature of democratic socialism around the world, considering the number of left leaning governments around the world that have a tendency to be xenophobic), but overall, they emphasised a social democratic view of the province. That was three years ago, and it’s hard to say what they believe now– the only leftover from that time seems to be that they don’t like immigrants. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (PSPP) doesn’t talk much about policy, instead he has two strategies: first, he talks about immigration. This has long been a sticking point with Quebec, and despite the Quebec charter of values losing Pauline Marois the election in 2014, these anti-immigrant feelings are now commonplace around the whole of Canada, Quebec included. The Second talking point of PSPP are his confrontational videos about current problems in the government. This strategy, of hitting hard and focusing on these wedge issues, has gained support for the party across Quebec. Alex Boissoneault, the candidate for this by-election in Arthabaska, was recently in a mild controversy. It was uncovered that he had been arrested when he was 24 years old while working with a leftist activist group. In their response, PSPP and Boissoneault repeated over and over that they were “center-right” politicians, and that they were fundamentally conservative. If they hold to the policies they proposed last election, that would not match up with the idea that they are “centre-right.” History and the present don’t seem to line up or make any sense. So: Who are the Parti Quebecois? The first government of René Lévesque was that of a social democratic party, a party that was obviously pro-union, and who tended to nationalize institutions, have higher taxation, and provide services. The second mandate of the PQ was closer to the center, with Lévesque forcing [Unions back to work after a long strike](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/aujourd-hui-l-histoire/segments/entrevue/119844/rene-levesque-parti-quebecois-pq-1981-1985-crise-1982-pierre-marc-johnson?ref=onthetrail.info) during an economic crisis. The challenge with running this party is that it’s only unified on one front; separation. Within the party are those on the left and the right, and bringing them together is always challenging. Their solution might be to have pro-white Quebecer policies that help one demographic, while demonizing another. “I think they’ll be ethno-nationalist, social welfareism,” Dónal Gill, PhD in Political Science, and assistant professor at Concordia University said. He might be right, but there might be no confirmations about that until the writ drops next year. Even on old PQ staples such as environmentalism, they’ve swung the opposite direction. Several months ago, [Ruba Ghazal and François Legault took PSPP to task over his waffling on the carbon tax](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKRzPNjvHBi/?ref=onthetrail.info).Could PSPP be smelling blood in the water for a more conservative government? Or maybe the right wing of their coalition is winning the ideological debate. Currently, 338 Canada is predicting the PQ to take a majority in 2026\. However, there is no guarantee of that. The Liberal party of Quebec recently elected a new leader, Pablo Rodriguez, and the topwinds seem to be shifting somewhat. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Philippe Fournier, polling analyst and creator of 338 Canada and 125 Quebec, explained that all the polls are showing the same thing. “With Rodriguez, the Liberals take a huge bite out of the CAQ– and the PQ has hit a ceiling,” he said. He explained that the PQ sitting at 32 per cent is enough to win an election when there are five parties all performing fairly well, but you’re not receiving a strong mandate from that. Philippe Fournier said that regardless of who will win in the next election, it seems that the CAQ might win no seats whatsoever. The internal numbers of the party are the same as Fournier’s. The Liberals are well poised to make waves in Quebec, considering the Federal election that just occurred, and considering that the PQ won’t stop talking about a referendum to separate, which is fairly unpopular at the moment. [Most polls indicate](https://338canada.com/quebec/polls-indy.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) that 60 per cent of the province would vote ‘no’ to separation, and 10 per cent are indifferent to the idea. Only somewhere around 30 per cent would vote ‘yes.’ If you were to peruse the Liberal party website, they have made no noise since Rodriguez took power. This makes sense, seeing as the National Assembly isn’t in session until the fall. When the fall rolls around and people see Rodriguez in action, what will happen to voting intentions? “Rodriguez is a game changer in the short term for the Liberals,” Gill said. “But he has to deliver now.” As much as the fortunes of the Liberal party of Quebec are changing, it would seem that without strong leadership they are in danger of losing momentum. Gill believes that Rodriguez needs to get into the National Assembly, and start throwing punches against the Parti Quebecois. For now, Quebecers will have to bide their time until next year, and they have the dis/pleasure of watching the CAQ flounder some more. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### It's Unserious To Believe That Mainstream Media Isn't Relevant URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/its-unserious-to-believe-that-mainstreem/ Last updated: 2025-07-29T10:01:15.000Z **“Mainstream media is on its way out.”** **“Mainstream media is dead.”** I hear this a lot in the independent Journalist world. Over and over I’ve had this discussion with indies. Meanwhile, many of my colleagues in the mainstream world don’t take us seriously in the indie world, despite the fact that more and more money is being concentrated in the hands of indies, and more stories are coming from indies that are deep, and often better researched than what you’ll find in the mainstream. There’s a cold war– maybe a guerilla war– between the two camps. Some people are able to work within both worlds with the utmost respect such as my good friend and colleague Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours, whom you all know. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) After the chaos at the federal leadership debate at Radio-Canada’s Montreal headquarters (I was there), many mainstream people went on the record saying that militant independent media were destroying the foundations of good journalism because they were akin to activists. Recently, a piece came out [on the CBC](https://www.cbc.ca/news/editorsblog/cbc-news-platforming-1.7580219?ref=onthetrail.info) about who gets platformed on CBC and why, arguing that platforming people who might be considered problematic is a way to ensure good journalism and balance. Then Gilbert Rozon, the founder of Just For Laughs, a man who is in court on sexual assault allegations and rape allegations, asked LaPresse to publish him. Instead of making the obvious correct choice, they published his article, which claimed that he was “not that guy,” resulting in a widespread criticism of LaPresse for platforming someone who seems to have committed sexual assault and rape. Then Patrick Légacé said that it was justified because of the right to rebuttal which all neutral and balanced newspapers believe in, that’s why they platformed this disgraced man. Marie-Elaine Guay published a piece in the Rover [responding to Légacé](https://therover.ca/lettre-de-rozon-dans-la-presse-a-qui-profite-cette-fausse-neutralite/?ref=onthetrail.info), and confronting this false equivalency and for claiming neutrality and balance when they only published the rich predator, and not the women who are fighting in court for their dignity and justice. This sort of misfire on the part of a major company such as LaPresse is fuel in the fire that the old ways of journalism are dead, and we need to move on. However, It’s perhaps somewhat reductive– but the mainstream constantly berates indies for having thoughts and independent ideas; for not being balanced enough. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) A couple months ago [I was invited on every Radio-Canada](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-reveil-nouvelle-ecosse-et-t-n/segments/rattrapage/2075574/actualite-jour?ref=onthetrail.info) station across the country (except Montreal?) and they fundamentally misunderstood what was going on with indies– they were interested in picking my brain in response to one of their own, Alexane Drolet, striking out to make a career on her own terms. In our French interview, the interviewer, a great journalist, asked me if it was appropriate that indies sometimes mix opinion with factual work. Of course, my response was simple. I asked her where mainstream news gets all of its money from. Their biggest articles are never the news– it’s almost always op-eds and personal essays. It’s why most papers now have tons of guest writers every day as opinion writers. They make all their money from these op-eds. Some people have full time jobs or major contracts as opinion writers, and so long as you work for a mainstream media company you’re considered to be a “legit journalist” by mainstream outlets. (By the way, I’m trying to pressure Noovo to let me write a weekly column this fall, so if you think they should let me write for them, email them. Go, email them. I’ll write stuff like this.) If you express an opinion as an indie, you’re a militant activist. Of course, I personally prefer good old investigations, and although I’m open about my views, I try not to shove them down everyone’s throats. I do my best, and sometimes fall below the threshold, to give people excellent news. Occasionally I try to write an opinion piece that will be engaging and thought provoking. I wish I could be on the field constantly. Currently this isn’t possible because I don't have the resources. For resources to grow for people like Gabrielle, Christopher Curtis and whomever else, we need to work with the communication networks of mainstream media, and for them to partner with people like myself. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) I think we should keep calling the mainstream out when they’re full of it, but we need to build bridges, not decry their work. I’m not saying we need to lie down and pretend they’re perfect, and that journalism is simple and easy, I’m saying that we need to work together, because indies are rad. They’ll have to be way less prideful and start noticing that we’re doing something really damn cool over here. The bad news for the media (this is a pun) is that their work isn’t always the deepest. But information doesn’t always need to be insanely deep; a daily paper such as CTV or CBC needs to fulfill a social contract with the citizens of the country; it needs to provide a large quantity of information that is accessible to people at all times. It is a major ingredient in a robust democracy; to remove as many barriers for people to access information as possible. Independent journalists tend to be making the deepest think pieces, the largest investigations into particular subjects– it’s the bread and butter of independents that they make these types of investigations and they nail it, time after time after time. But also they rely on the mainstream media to do research. Media structures tend to be so utterly disinterested in working together because of the way that the corporate structures within media. A byline is the way to get to the top– I do it all the time. Who is the ideal byline to achieve my goals? How can I be the most well known journalist? What prestige will allow me to push my career forward? We are in an economic crisis, and have been for a long time. People all over are suffering. The rich are growing richer, and democracy is being splintered away by bad actors and billion dollar donor classes that want to line their pockets. Look at Carney. So let’s make a new media ecosystem, where we’re building things together and not constantly trying to one up each other. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Join the new subscriber chat URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/join-the-new-subscriber-chat/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:46.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Today we’re announcing a brand new addition to the Substack: Duo subscriber chat. This is a conversation space exclusively for subscribers—kind of like a group chat or live hangout. What I would like for it to be is a place where you can all pressure me to research various topics. Gab and I after a thousand conversations finally have a direction (because Gabrielle is an actual genius.) This is going to be investigations and interviews, a place where we produce news. And I want to hear from you all what is concerning each of you. We’re hopeful that this will work, because we’re interested to change how journalism is done. Often it seems that media is out of touch and doesn’t respond to real needs of people until it’s much too late. Here you can pressure us, and we might do it. No guarantees though. But we’ll do our best. [Join chat](https://open.substack.com/pub/duoduet/chat) --- ## How to get started 1. **Get the Substack app by clicking** [**this link**](https://substack.com/app/app-store-redirect?ref=onthetrail.info) **or the button below.** New chat threads won’t be sent sent via email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens. You can also access chat [on the web](https://open.substack.com/pub/duoduet/chat). [Get app](https://substack.com/app/app-store-redirect?ref=onthetrail.info) 1. **Open the app and tap the Chat icon.** It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e0f63c9a-2296-4c96-a2f9-52648999bb00_2000x1000-jpeg.jpg) 1. **That’s it!** Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out [Substack’s FAQ](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/sections/360007461791-Frequently-Asked-Questions). ### What happens if Poilievre loses again? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-happens-if-poilievre-loses-again/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:47.000Z [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) #### “You can’t just ‘own the libs’ or ‘own the cons’ while your representative is literally voting against your best interests,” Bonnie Critchley’s amazing interview on CBC’s *Power & Politics* was something to behold. Critchley declared that she intends to win Battle River–Crowfoot’s August 18th byelection because, in her words, her riding of deep, rural Alberta is tired of being used. In her view, Poilievre is using the riding as a free ticket back into Parliament. Critchley portrays herself as “right‑of‑centre,” but stresses that Canadian politics do not mirror the United States. She rejects the notion of a two‑party system as “leak‑over” from south of the border and warns that “team politics are very damaging.” Perhaps her views are a sign of change to come. The conservatives would have won two of the last three elections if Canada had a multiple member constituency, or a proportional based system. Dónal Gill, PhD in Political Science, and assistant professor at Concordia University thinks that Poilievre is safe for now, but that “he’s on slightly less stable ground in the last few weeks. “The Carney government has been more right wing than what any of us expected, and Poilievre has had trouble adjusting to that.” Gill believes that many people want a “public addressing” of what could have been done differently, but that Poilievre is hoping his actions *demonstrate* his change of heart, such as his appearance on CBC recently. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Critchley, a military veteran, was only the second woman to serve as an armoured crewman in her unit and she joined her father as a gunnery team in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps– the first father-daughter team in Canada. Today she is criss-crossing the nearly 53,000‑square‑kilometre riding, knocking on doors and shaking hands. She insists that if Poilievre beats her, “it won’t be by much.” Asked whether her goal is to dethrone the Conservative leader, she didn’t back down. She’s planning to win. “He is not going to be our voice in Parliament. What I’m hoping to accomplish is keeping a voice for Battle River–Crowfoot in Battle River–Crowfoot,” she said. #### “Bonnie Critchley is going to get lost amongst the 199 other people on that ballot who are not Pierre Poilievre,” Gill said. The riding—known simply as Crowfoot before 2015—has been held by one conservative banner or another since 1997\. Damien Kurek captured 82.8 per cent of the vote in 2025 before resigning to give Poilievre a seat. Considering the idea that she could possibly win, even when there are 200 names on the ballot, is virtually untenable. “I dunno what it would take for Poilievre to lose. It’s unfathomable,” Philippe J. Fournier, [the writer of 338 Canada](https://substack.com/@338canada?ref=onthetrail.info), and polling expert said. He noted that the media diet of those who live in Battle River-Crowfoot are not the types who watch CBC’s Power & Politics. As much as Ms. Critchley is making waves, he said it would be “tremendous” if she got 10 per cent of the vote. In his view (and probably for the conservatives as well) a win is a win. However, the National Post and Calgary Herald have written articles about her as well, so it’s not necessarily accurate to say that none of their media diet has spoken about her. Nonetheless, it would take what is tantamount to a miracle for her to win. As for what happens to Poilievre afterwards, Fournier questions whether we’ll talk about the byelection percentages again after it's over. It’s more likely that when Parliament starts up again in September, the news cycle will move on and the subject won’t come up again until Poilievre’s leadership review in January. The bigger problem is that his personal numbers are dragging the Conservative party down. “He was so toxic to non-conservative voters that Mark Carney, himself a progressive conservative, killed the NDP and (much of) the Bloc.” This seems to be leaving many people in the political world wondering– if Poilievre is so toxic to non-conservatives, is it smart to leave him as leader of the party? “If you look at polling, he is in decline amongst the Canadian electorate in general, but he remains popular amongst the conservative die-hards,” Gill said. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) It’s somewhat shocking that someone who had the potential to win the largest majority in Canadian history, who went on to lose to a tired, old, and somewhat reviled government, stayed on as leader. In any other world, the Conservative party would have thrown the person who did that out the window. When Erin O'Toole won the popular vote but lost the seat count in 2021, he was thrown out with a propulsive vigour. Poilievre lost both the popular vote and the seat count, and yet has spent the past three months purporting this as a great victory. No one since Mulroney has achieved such a great polling result, he loves to tout. However, in 1988, Mulroney won a majority and the Liberals were left in his proverbial dust. Ironically, within four years of that overwhelming victory, Mulroney was so mired in controversy that he didn’t finish his mandate. It turned out that history would vindicate John Turner when he railed against free trade, saying “With one signature of a pen… you’ve thrown us into the north-south influence of the United States and will reduce us to a colony of the United States, because when the economic levers go, the political independence is sure to follow.” He followed this by saying that the Canadian leader will become the governor of the 51st state. Comparing yourself to Mulroney, disgraced and tossed out of Parliament, might not be the image you want to summon while attempting to keep your leadership. Mulroney’s disgrace was so much that it ruptured the conservative party in two, and birthed the Reformers. #### Maybe we’ll see a repeat of history soon. So what is Poilievre thinking? What are the conservatives thinking? The space they occupy has been subsumed by a highly charismatic and extremely skilled Liberal party, who have pivoted to the right of center, causing confusion within their own ranks. The *unpopularity* of Poilievre is pulling the Conservatives downwards. But what choice do they have? Who else is waiting in the wings? Who is the leader supposed to be if not Poilievre? Doug Ford, premier of Ontario, and Tim Houston, the premier of Nova Scotia are clearly both hoping it’s going to be them. Poilievre will likely win, but if he doesn’t it is likely because of exactly what Bonnie Critchley said on Power & Politics. “He didn’t show up for his constituents, so they fired him. He assumes we’re gonna vote him in… We’re 3000 kilometers west, you think he’s gonna show up here ever? “We are being used, and myself and my neighbours are upset about this.” We’ll find out on August 18th how upset they really are. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Carney's First Huge Failure URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/carneys-first-huge-failure/ Last updated: 2025-07-19T10:30:14.000Z This week the Liberal government held a two day summit to discuss partnerships with the Indigenous peoples of Canada from many different places. Chiefs and leaders from all over the country were invited to come to the summit in Gatineau in order to discuss the new bill C-5 and the implications that it hold within it. It went terribly for Carney and his cabinet. Bill C‑5, also known as the “One Canadian Economy Act”—simultaneously enacts the **Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act** (which recognizes equivalent provincial standards so goods, services and workers certified in one province automatically meet comparable federal requirements) and the **Building Canada Act**, which lets Cabinet declare projects “in the national interest” and subject them to a streamlined, two‑year approval process—together dismantling interprovincial trade barriers, boosting labour mobility and fast‑tracking nation‑building infrastructure. Bill C-5, along with Bill 5 in Ontario, is a bill that was rushed through Parliament in an unprecedented way. It was pushed through during mass protests by First Nations groups on Parliament hill, and is now facing several more challenges from First Nations. First Nations groups have called Bill 5 and Bill C-5 a “clear and present danger”[ and nine groups have demanded and injunction against the bills.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/first-nations-legal-challenge-against-ontario-bill-five-1.7585361?ref=onthetrail.info) At this week’s Summit, the meeting ended in walk‑outs and a constitutional lawsuit. The Carney government discovered that three marquee statutes passed under Justin Trudeau now form a legal mine‑field around its new “national‑interest” building agenda. Bill 69, which the conservatives have called an “anti pipeline bill,” raises requirements for large resource development projects and obliges Ottawa to run full, participatory environmental reviews whenever federal lands, species‑at‑risk or Indigenous rights are touched; even Bill C‑5’s new two‑year “Building Canada” timeline cannot short‑circuit those mandatory triggers, so key projects still face the same open‑ended hearings, court‑proofing and potential injunctions that industry has railed against for years. Second, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP) made it a part of federal law that indigenous peoples must have “free, prior, and informed consent.”[ Christopher Curtis and I wrote an article about this around Nuclear waste.](https://therover.ca/anishinaabe-lead-fight-against-nuclear-dump/?ref=onthetrail.info) It requires that all future laws align with UNDRIP and gives First Nations a type of veto power. **Essentially, without the consent of Indigenous groups, there will be no resource development.** This is important, because the game has now changed. Yesterday, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Cody Diabo walked out of the summit and was quoted by the Canadian Press saying ““I don’t even know what this is, but this is not engagement. This is definitely not consultation. I’m speechless.” Yesterday, Indigenous minister Gull-Masty was asked what the government would do if First Nations groups said “no” to a project, not giving their consent. Her reply was lacking, and she repeated several times that they will focus on projects that have more consensus. She did not rule out that the government would force through projects against the will of First Nations. Assembly of First Nations Chief Woodhouse Nepinak said “First Nation consent for major projects is not optional.” Kehewin Cree Nation Chief Vernon Watchmaker called this “is not modernization, it is colonization in 2025.” All of these were talked about yesterday on the Power & Politics show with David Cochrane. I reached out to several contacts who were there, who did not agree to have their names used on the record. I was told that the summit was disorganized, scripted and controlled and that it was a “shit show.” My contacts in several First Nations groups did not think that the organization or format had any viable path forward. Not only that, but the media who were invited to the summit were left outside, and disallowed within the summit. They were not allowed in to fill their water bottles, or use the washroom, until the thunderstorms started, minimizing the ability to cover the event and reporting the facts to the public. It seems that the First Nations groups are also disappointed that the Prime Minister did not follow protocol by approaching them and building relationships with them first. Instead, he summoned them to Ottawa and is trying to force through what they want and not building long term relationships. This will not bode well for them in the future. I will keep you updated as more comes from this, but the fallout is not looking good. It seems that this may have been a large miscalculation from Carney. However, it is unlikely to drop him in the polls, considering most indigenous rights issues do not move the dial for the general Canadian public, and the media has mostly moved on already. With that in mind, it is unlikely to cause long term repercussions to Carney’s honeymoon period with the Canadian public. ### Your News Curation/Votre curation d'actualités URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curationvotre-curation-9b1/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T14:46:19.000Z #### ENGLISH BELOW ***French*** C’est la saison des festivals au Québec, dont le Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ), rendez-vous musical incontournable de la capitale. Ce festival, [créé en 1968](https://www.feq.ca/fr/a-propos/histoire-du-feq?ref=onthetrail.info), accueille des groupes et artistes de tous les horizons, d’ici et d’ailleurs, et des gros noms, comme les Rolling Stone, Lady Gaga, Neil Young, Kendrick Lamar et de nombreux autres. Mais voilà que le festival se retrouve cette année au coeur d’une polémique qui a fait les manchettes cette semaine. Le FEQ [est poursuivi ](https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/musique/2025-07-12/le-festival-d-ete-de-quebec-poursuivi-pour-defaut-de-paiement-de-redevances.php?ref=onthetrail.info)pour défaut de paiement de redevance. La poursuite vient de la Société canadienne des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique (SOCAN), responsable de l’octroi des licences et de la collecte des redevances sur la musique sous licence au Canada. Elle représente plus de 200 000 auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs canadiens, ainsi que des millions d’ayants droit à travers un réseau de plus de 100 sociétés de gestion dans plus de 200 pays. Parmi les 11 groupes et artistes cités dans la poursuite, on retrouve les groupes Les Trois Accords, Karkwa, Alexandra Streliski et le groupe rock montréalais Half Moon Run. « Ne pas verser de redevances aux créateurs et créatrices de musique et à leurs éditeurs et éditrices fragilise les fondements de l’industrie musicale et les prive des revenus qui leur reviennent légitimement pour leur travail », indique la SOCAN dans une déclaration écrite sur son site web. Le FEQ a aussi été critiqué pour [sa nouvelle image de marque](https://www.lesoleil.com/arts/festival-d-ete-de-quebec/2025/07/11/le-feq-une-image-qui-fait-jaser-7E5O242GJZFGJKESNHCPAXATHU/?ref=onthetrail.info), faite par [l’intelligence artificielle](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2177158/festival-ete-publicite-intelligence-artificielle?ref=onthetrail.info). [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **Québec** L’insécurité alimentaire touche de façon disproportionnée les locataires. Les problèmes de logements et d’insécurité alimentaire sont intimement liés, selon une analyse récemment publiée par l’Observatoire québécois des inégalités. Si d’autres facteurs entrent en ligne de compte, le fait d’être locataire, particulièrement si on habite un logement qui ne correspond pas à ses besoins, augmente significativement les chances qu’on souffre aussi d’insécurité alimentaire. Isaac et moi avons également abordé cet enjeu dans notre série d’articles sur la crise du logement [dans cet article](https://pivot.quebec/2025/06/18/quand-avoir-un-toit-devient-un-luxe/?ref=onthetrail.info). Profitez-en pour relire [tous les articles](https://pivot.quebec/dossier/batir-la-crise/?ref=onthetrail.info) de cette série, et écoutez notre balado [Bâtir la crise](https://pivot.quebec/balados/batir-la-crise-une-grande-enquete-sur-le-logement-au-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Lire l’article](https://pivot.quebec/2025/07/10/linsecurite-alimentaire-touche-de-facon-disproportionnee-les-locataires/?ref=onthetrail.info) Le ministre délégué à l’Économie, Christopher Skeete, en a fait l’annonce vendredi, du plan d’action gouvernemental en économie sociale qui passera de 136 millions $ pour le précédent plan à 142 millions $ sur cinq ans pour la période 2025-2030\. Québec espère ainsi donner le coup de pouce nécessaire à plusieurs entreprises d’économie sociale qui en ont bien besoin, qu’il s’agisse de soins aux aînés à domicile, de logement, de formation, d’alimentation ou autre. [Lire l’article](https://mabeauce.com/le-plan-daction-de-quebec-en-economie-sociale-renouvele-pour-2025-2030/?ref=onthetrail.info) La mère de la petite fille de 3 ans qui[ a été retrouvée en Ontario le 18 juin](https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/892462/recherches-poursuivent-tenter-retrouver-fillette-3-ans-disparue?utm%5Fsource=recirculation&utm%5Fmedium=hyperlien&utm%5Fcampaign=corps%5Ftexte) après avoir été portée disparue pendant trois jours sera soumise à une évaluation psychiatrique, à l’institut de psychiatrie légale Philippe-Pinel. Le juge considère qu’il existe un doute raisonnable sur sa responsabilité criminelle, au terme de l’enquête sur remise en liberté. [Lire l’article](https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/899791/cabinet-carney-robert-miller-mere-fillette-lasalle-trois-actus-jour?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **English** Austerity lovers rejoice! Mark Carney’s Liberals are interested in cutting at near record numbers [which haven’t been seen since](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/liberals-will-need-to-rethink-their-promised-budget-cuts/?ref=onthetrail.info) Jean Chretien and Paul Martin in the mid-nineties. The cabinet has been ordered to [find ambitious cuts this summer.](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canadian-government-seeks-billions-dollars-savings-over-next-three-years-2025-07-07/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) [Experts are thinking it’s possible](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-spending-review-cuts-1.7582889?ref=onthetrail.info). Except that the Liberals don’t want to cut spending on public service programs, which seems closer to black magic than it does to pragmatism. Can AI save their hopeful $150 billion dollars? Poilievre had an interview with the CBC wherein he said that he lost in his riding because he openly said he would cut government jobs, but [Carney won his seat right next door because he hid that fact.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-public-service-cuts-riding-loss-1.7583575?ref=onthetrail.info) Meanwhile, Donald Trump has done the exact same thing he’s done four or five separate times now, and is doing to countries across the world– [it’s tariff week!](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg819n954mo?ref=onthetrail.info) Again! In fact, Trump is so happy to tariff anyone that he is throwing tariffs on countries[ that are in the middle of a civil war.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-myanmars-military-ruler-has-welcomed-trumps-tariff-warning-letter/ar-AA1Ip8vL?ref=onthetrail.info) It is unclear what kind of deal he is trying to strike with them. [A huge court decision was reached this week](https://www.scc-csc.ca/judgments-jugements/cb/2025/40662/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) that may significantly speed up major trials. The supreme court of Canada decided that there can be more judge-alone trials (no jury) even if the crown does not consent as long as it is done on the grounds to protect an individual’s charter rights. Isaac will write a piece analysing this in the coming week, as this could have major implications. Manitoba has entered a state of emergency for the second time this year over wildfires. [Read Here](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-manitoba-prepares-to-house-thousands-of-evacuees-as-wildfires-burn-out/?ref=onthetrail.info) The MAGA world is in chaos and disarray, and infighting abounds between major figures and Trump. Why? Epstein. [Read Here](https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-dan-bongino-bondi-trump-fbi-0f02f67b6c97fc50e4d93bc4dbf4c4d0?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Big Thanks and Updates on Projects URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/big-thanks-and-updates-on-projects/ Last updated: 2025-07-08T20:21:34.000Z Hey folks, I just wanted to reach out and say thank you. This has been a very cool journey. I started in Journalism sort of on a whim, I was frustrated by music and didn’t know whether or not I wanted to continue pursuing it, and my friend Chris Curtis asked me for some work. I took the work, stumbled on some conspiracies, and suddenly was working in journalism. I’ve loved making stuff online, I think things like our public database on MPs being landlords has been a cool project, I think it’s amazing that this substack has grown from 200 followers in December to 2000, and although news is extremely slow during the summer, I’m having an incredible time. A big part of this substack is to be as transparent as possible with everyone— so here’s a few things I’m working on. I’m not able to get into specifics until the fall, but I’ve been talking to many people behind the scenes and prepping for what I think could be a TITANIC investigation (probably without the beautiful and perfect Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours since she is busy working with the Canadian Journalism Collective right now— thank God she’s still contributing on this substack.) I think that what I’m planning could shake up national politics. I’m also investigating what’s going on in certain federal parties (if you’ve been following on social media, you might have a hint,) and I have articles coming out on in Newfoundland Labrador that I think could have a big impact. Also, I’m working with my friend Emelia Fournier on an investigation into the Sex Work industry, we haven’t found a home for publication yet, no deals have been signed, but we’re talking to people. I think that it will be an important investigation that tells stories about real people who have been caricatured by the media, and so I hope that’ll work out. Finally, I’m also pressuring the feds to give me the updated information on conflict of interest disclosures for this current Parliament. I’ve had several conversations with them today, and hopefully will have the new info very soon. The fact is— I couldn’t do these highly ambitious projects without your support. There’s not a lot of journalists who are so fortunate, and I hope I can keep making you all proud. If anyone needs me, you can email me, text me on substack, or text me on Instagram. I’m available if there’s anything pressing! Endless love to all of you, and thank you so much for your constant support. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### What is Going on With Canada's Leaders? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-is-going-on-with-canadas-leaders/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:49.000Z Mark Carney was booed at the Calgary Stampede this week, while Pierre Poilievre notably remained hidden in his car, refusing to face Carney during the *annual pancake flip*. A crowd member teased Carney saying that Trudeau was better at flipping pancakes. Both party leaders are experiencing struggles, though the ideal path forward for each remains unclear. Let’s examine this more closely. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/e81b7f11-ce96-489e-b0b9-367dcd33a1b5_6240x4160-jpeg-1.jpg) Right-wing influencers have seized upon Carney's reception, arguing that the booing signals Alberta's appetite for separatism. Searching “Carney booed at Stampede” reveals a plethora of far-right commentary, but the reality appears more nuanced. In their excellent analysis of Alberta's recent by-elections, [Philippe Fournier and Eric Grenier ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJjc%5FUmgZSc&t=1489s&ref=onthetrail.info)noted that the Republican Party of Alberta delivered middling performances, with their leader securing around [18](https://thehub.ca/2025/06/24/a-win-a-warning-and-a-wobble-in-albertas-byelection-results/?ref=onthetrail.info)% of the vote in his riding. According to Fournier and Grenier, there's a significant difference between garnering over 20% versus less than 10%. One indicates robust separatist sentiment, while the other suggests minimal support. Achieving 18% leaves the Republican Party's future uncertain—but it's likely this represents their peak. As the federal election fades further into the past, Albertan grievances may diminish. Will Albertans continue disliking the Liberals? Undoubtedly. But sustained anger about the current state of affairs will likely ebb, as political dynamics shift rapidly. This brings us back to Carney: what exactly is his strategy? Does he have a strategy? Carney positioned himself as a decisive leader with a strong backbone; indeed, this was central to his campaign promise. However, in practice, he has adopted a quieter, managerial approach—acting as the nation's CEO, directing his ministers behind the scenes while remaining relatively hands-off publicly. Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne have [tasked other ministers with identifying substantial budget cuts](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/finance-minister-directs-cabinet-colleagues-to-find-billions-in-spending-cuts/ar-AA1I8SSr?ref=onthetrail.info). According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, these measures may result in the most significant federal budget reductions since [Paul Martin’s austerity measures of the mid-1990s.](https://ottawacitizen.com/public-service/worst-cuts-to-the-public-service-in-modern-history-could-be-on-the-horizon-says-report?ref=onthetrail.info) But do Canadians actually want these cuts? [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Canadians have indicated they desire responsible governance that either lowers the cost of living or increases wages to meet new economic realities. Carney promised swift action on housing but has yet to unveil substantial policies. Although his cabinet has removed federal barriers to interprovincial trade, the practical impact for many consumers remains limited. Meanwhile, the Carney government has [sacrificed significant revenue](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/average-family-savings-liberal-tax-cut-1.7565144?ref=onthetrail.info) through minimal tax cuts for the lowest income bracket and by [conceding to Donald Trump's](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-digital-services-tax-explained-1.7573099?ref=onthetrail.info) demands regarding the Digital Goods Tax shortly after vowing not to. Despite these issues, Carney maintains significant polling leads, though summer polls can be unreliable and sparse. This leaves us with real questions. If the government ran deficits that resulted in meaningful housing developments and quality of life changes that were affordable to Canadians, would it face harsh scrutiny? Poilievre successfully framed large government spending as inflationary, yet ten years ago, Canadians rejected austerity. Canadians[ elected Trudeau on promises of substantial deficit-financed investments](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-liberals-infrastructure-deficits-1.3205535?ref=onthetrail.info). The challenge with major national investments is their delayed impact; tangible results often take a decade or more. Even substantial federal housing investments, such as those initiated by Trudeau in 2019 and continued through today, only start showing effects after about seven to ten years. Hell, Carney may benefit from Trudeau’s investment cycles even if he takes no action. Why is Carney taking the path of austerity? Is he attempting to appeal to conservative voters? The strategy seems aimed at long-term conservative support, but Alberta remains uninterested, and eastern conservatives seem to like the progressive conservative styles of these blue liberals. Carney could champion the strongest oil industry in Canadian history, yet Alberta’s electorate would likely remain opposed due to historical grievances that go all the way back to Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Would Carney be better off governing without focusing on Alberta’s approval? Only time will tell. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) [Meanwhile, Poilievre’s refusal to exit his vehicle at the Stampede breakfast](https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/splat-prime-minister-carney-struggles-to-flip-perfect-pancake-at-calgary-stampede/?ref=onthetrail.info)—where both leaders were present—has drawn attention. CTV and CBC reported that Poilievre waited in his car until Carney left, raising questions about his strategy. Poilievre is relatively popular in Alberta, representing a right-wing populism reflective of the region. A Calgary native, Poilievre initially embodied the grassroots conservatism that defined early Western populism in Canada. Despite his current image as an Ottawa elite, his roots remain firmly planted in Alberta's conservative tradition. So why is Poilievre refusing to be around Carney? It’s a real question, considering the strong man politics that the man represented during the past several years of Canadian politics. Although much of the country is looking in horror at Trump, and saw Poilievre reflected in that, there seems to be less and less of an escape for Poilievre. [He’s falling in the polls across the country, ](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/canada/carney-dominates-national-polls-according-to-nanos-research-while-poilievre-fights-to-re-enter-parliament/articleshow/122174004.cms?ref=onthetrail.info)and is less popular in Canada than his very party. It seems that Canadians are happy with their choice, and Carney is the most popular Progressive Conservative to run the country since Mulroney. Poilievre is floundering and struggling to find any media attention. His leadership review is coming up, and it's unclear whether or not he can regain that energy that he enjoyed for so long. [He is currently falling further in the polls and is much less popular than the very party he leads](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/canada/carney-dominates-national-polls-according-to-nanos-research-while-poilievre-fights-to-re-enter-parliament/articleshow/122174004.cms?ref=onthetrail.info). Carney is by far the preferred man for the prime ministerial position. It is important to note that he will most likely easily win the byelection to get him back into parliament however, so the future is more dependent on his party and how the electorate feels around his leadership, going from being likely to win the largest majority in Canadian history, to losing quite handily. In the end, politics can change at any time, and we’ll have to wait and see how long this honeymoon and grace period Canadians have given to Carney will last, and if Poilievre will survive the cutthroat climate of the Canadian constituency. ### Housing differently: sustainable solutions to the housing crisis URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/housing-differently-sustainable-solutions/ Last updated: 2025-07-03T21:28:08.000Z **This is the fifth and final article in a five-part series. Read the other articles here, on our substack, or** [**in french on Pivot**](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) 1. **[The Housing Crisis: a Long Descent Into Hell](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-housing-crisis-a-long-descent/)** 2. **[The Political Labyrinths of the Housing Crisis](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-political-labyrinths-of-the-housing/)** 3. **[Landlords In Power](https://www.onthetrail.info/landlords-in-power/)** 4. **[When Having a Roof Over Your Head is Considered a Luxury](https://www.onthetrail.info/when-having-a-roof-over-your-head/)** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) #### As rents skyrocket and waiting lists for affordable housing lengthen, the crisis continues to hit millions of Canadians hard. But beyond this alarming reality, solutions are emerging—led by community stakeholders, bold municipalities, and even certain levels of government. Here's a brief overview of concrete avenues that could help break the impasse. The idea appears more and more often in debates: to rebalance the market, the share of housing outside the speculative private sector must increase. Every expert we interviewed named this measure as key to addressing the crisis. “We need to develop non-profit, off-market housing. That includes non-profit housing organizations, co-operatives and, of course, social housing, which is fundamental,” Julia Posca, an economist at the Institut de recherche et d’informations socio-économiques (IRIS), said. “As long as we stay within the logic of the private market, we are trapped in a speculative dynamic of profit-driven rent hikes.” She continued, highlighting that it can’t be a temporary fix. “Affordability also has to last. It is not enough to create affordable housing; it has to remain affordable over time. Non-profit housing allows that,” she said. According to Jean-Yves Duclos, the previous federal minister of Public Services and Procurement, co-operative and non-profit units currently make up only about five per cent of Canada’s rental stock. Experts agree that the share should at least quadruple to stabilize prices in the long term. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **Build—and buy—outside the private market** Transforming the rental market seems one of the most promising paths. What many solutions share is a long-term vision: the private market builds what is profitable, while mission-driven actors build what is necessary. In a crisis, that gap becomes crucial. That is what the Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE) tries to do. This social enterprise aims to “make housing a catalyst for student success.” But why focus only on students when many other groups are suffering? “Students never benefit from rent control because the population is constantly replaced. A new generation shows up every year and can only access units at current market prices,” UTILE executive director Laurent Levesque said. “Students are particularly vulnerable: they are highly concentrated geographically, they move often, and they know little about tenant rights,” he said, emphasizing that their transient nature means they don’t have an appropriate read on the specifics of law systems in any region they move to. UTILE acts both as a developer and as an owner. “As a non-profit owner, we want not only the lowest possible rent given the financing we can provide, but also a good residential experience: well-maintained units, community life, and activities in the buildings,” Levesque said. “Building one project after another lets us accumulate real-estate assets, which is part of our financial model. Those funds can be reinvested in our next projects, creating a circular economy.” But it isn’t simple. Their project is ambitious, and it means that finding money is not always simple. “Financing remains a challenge. Our first projects were completed without provincial funding. We now have political partners at every level and others in the private sector. We have to secure the necessary financing from public or private sources for each part of the capital process,” he said. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **Buying existing buildings** Another approach is gaining ground: purchasing existing rental buildings and converting them into community housing. Programs such as Toronto’s Affordable Housing Acquisition Initiative or purchases led by members of ACHAT (the Alliance des corporations d’habitation abordable du territoire) in Quebec aim to stop speculation by removing entire buildings from the market. In Toronto, community land trusts buy apartment blocks and houses to preserve affordability in their neighbourhoods. Though the initiative does not create new units, it protects the existing affordable supply. ACHAT brings together collective real-estate enterprises—non-profit owners, operators and developers, co-ops and para-public corporations. The group proposes, through a major acceleration, “to make achieving a minimum target of 20 per cent of the rental market sheltered from speculation a collective priority, mainly by consolidating the non-profit housing sector.” [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **Models elsewhere** Berliners voted in a 2021 referendum to expropriate large real-estate companies. Like other major cities, Berlin faces intense speculation, and nearly 85 per cent of residents are tenants. The citizens’ initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co. Enteignen still fights to turn units into common, public property. Posca, like many other experts, pointed to Vienna as a social-housing leader. “A large share of the population lives in such housing today, which keeps prices stable,” she said. “The state has invested heavily in public and community housing there for a century. The model shows that strong public commitment can guarantee the right to housing,” she said. ### **Build at any cost?** Governments often propose massive construction of all kinds of housing, usually private, to meet demand. The “filtering” or “cascade” theory holds that when new units are built—even expensive ones—the households that rent or buy them vacate cheaper units, allowing everyone to find a place. Over time, new units are expected to depreciate and become accessible to lower-income households. But a recent IRIS study highlights several problems, including major imbalances and reverse filtering. Units are appreciating over time. Without rent control, tenant turnover leads to steep hikes, limiting the share of affordable rentals. In attractive areas such as Montreal, prices tend to rise over time even without renovations. The study also says rental units depreciate only when landlords let them deteriorate. Low rents therefore lead to maintenance deficits, and affordable units are often unfit for habitation. **Regulate and plan** “We need stronger measures: rent control, taxes on vacant units, zoning reform to encourage density,” Véronique Laflamme, spokesperson for the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), said. The housing-rights group is calling on Ottawa and Quebec to set a target of 500,000 social-housing units over ten years and to fund at least 10,000 new units a year—whether new builds, building conversions or purchases of rental buildings—under non-profit, co-operative or public models. **A question of will** Solutions exist. They require ambition, targeted investment and, above all, a paradigm shift. Canada can draw on European models, strengthen its non-profit sector, protect tenants and build intelligently. But none of this will happen without political will. The ball is in the court of decision-makers—and of the citizens who elect them. Municipalities are the most determined to help, but their powers are limited. The new federal government promises impressive solutions, but reality may catch up with it quickly. Provincial governments say they want to act, but will they keep their promises? “Promises are made, but tenants keep losing their homes,” Laflamme said. In the end, only time will tell. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### When Having a Roof Over Your Head is Considered a Luxury URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/when-having-a-roof-over-your-head/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:49.000Z **This is the fourth article in a five-part series. Read the other articles here, on our substack.** 1. [The Housing Crisis: a Long Descent Into Hell](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-housing-crisis-a-long-descent/) 2. [The Political Labyrinths of the Housing Crisis](https://www.onthetrail.info/the-political-labyrinths-of-the-housing/) 3. [Landlords In Power](https://www.onthetrail.info/landlords-in-power/) #### We made everything free on our substack— if you want to support independant journalism this good, open, unpretentious, and willing to hold power accountable, consider supporting us for $5 a month! [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **From coast to coast**, the housing crisis is hitting hard. In large cities and small communities alike, the struggle to find affordable housing is upending thousands of lives. What was once a fundamental right is turning into a privilege. According to the latest figures from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the average rent in Canada topped $2,100 in 2025, with year-over-year increases nearing 10 percent in several urban centres. In Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver, lines to view an apartment stretch ever longer, and applicants must present increasingly competitive files—sometimes even offering more than the asking rent, a practice never seen before. Low-income households, seniors, recent immigrants and young adults are among the hardest hit. ### **A Hostile Street** **In Montréal, emergency shelters such as Resilience Montréal** are operating at full capacity—and at the mercy of the surrounding neighbourhood. “What’s hardest isn’t finding money. It isn’t finding a building. It’s dealing with homeowners next door. Every day, we expect to be sued by our neighbours and forced to move,” said David Chapman, executive director and founder of the organization, which has a deep focus on serving Indigenous people experiencing homelessness. Resilience is in downtown Montréal, on the edge of Westmount near Cabot Square, a gathering place for many Indigenous people. “The biggest obstacle we face at Resilience is our neighbours, who have plenty of resources yet want nothing to do with us,” Chapman said. In Vancouver, tent encampments are sprouting in city parks, sometimes even on the grounds of hospitals or schools. Whenever initiatives arise—such as woodworker Khaleel Seivwright’s tiny shelters built for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the winter of 2020—are torn down by municipalities, often under pressure from well-to-do residents, merely shifting the problem elsewhere. ### **Choosing Between Housing and Food** **The surge in housing costs is driving more and more people into poverty.** “Our food-bank clientele is diversifying. It’s no longer only people who are unhoused or on social assistance; we also see workers, students and newcomers,” said Éliane Larouche, communications lead at Moisson Montréal. #### She said that after paying rent and clothing costs, food becomes the expense people cut. Moisson Montréal’s latest “Hunger Report” notes that food banks have filled nearly one million requests each month—an increase of 10 percent since 2023\. The rising cost of living, including high inflation and soaring rents, is the main driver of these requests. “Over the past two years, some organizations have had to close waiting lists or shrink food baskets because they can’t meet demand. We had never seen that before,” Larouche said. “Geographically, the Montréal neighbourhoods hardest hit by food insecurity include Ville-Émard, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Côte-des-Neiges, Saint-Michel, Parc-Extension, the Sud-Ouest, Mercier and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Gentrification may be contributing to rising needs in areas such as Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.” Expanding the supply of affordable housing is one of Moisson Montréal’s key recommendations. A survey by Habitat for Humanity Canada found that 59 percent of Canadians—75 percent of renters—now sacrifice other necessities such as food, clothing, basic household goods and education in order to pay rent or a mortgage. Two-thirds of renters say their rent affects their mental health and well-being, and one-third of homeowners say the same of their mortgage. ### **A False Sense of Panic** “**Tenants know they have rights**, but the system is so unbalanced that fighting isn’t even worth it,” said Lynn O’Donnell, an advocate at the Verdun Citizens’ Action Committee. She condemned landlords’ unfair tactics. “We see more and more disguised evictions and harassment: holes drilled in roofs, fake evacuation notices, heating systems removed,” she said, describing what she encounters almost daily. “One landlord pretended the city was going to evacuate a building for soil contamination—even though the city knew nothing about it,” she said. “People need to stop signing anything under pressure. Landlords create a false sense of urgency. There is never an emergency to sign anything. Tenants are afraid to request repairs because they fear eviction or rent hikes. I’ve seen tenants wash at their kitchen sink for six months because they didn’t dare ask for repairs.” She is not confident in governing bodies such as the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL), Quebec’s government arm meant to rule in conflicts between landlords and renters, as well ass determining annual rental hikes. “The TAL is an eviction machine. It’s built for landlords. You can be in the right as a tenant and still wait forever to see a judge. And even when a landlord breaks the law, there are no criminal penalties,” she said. In an email, a TAL representative said the tribunal is “neutral and impartial in carrying out its mission.” “The mission of the Administrative Housing Tribunal is to resolve the disputes it is asked to hear and to inform citizens about the rights and responsibilities arising from a residential lease. Issues related to the housing crisis therefore fall outside our mission,” the statement said. *This investigation was made possible by a Québec Independent Journalists Association (AJIQ) excellence grant.* [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Your News Curation/Votre résumé de l’actualité URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curationvotre-resume-de-5ef/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:49.000Z This weekend we still have a deal of 15% off for a year subscription! Just go to this link to get one full year for $42.50\. Everything is completely free, and open to all of you— but if you want to support us because of the work we do, we’d love that! [LINK FOR DISCOUNT](https://duoduet.substack.com/fetenationale) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **The Week Summarized** [This week the United States bombed Iran](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg9r4q99g4o?ref=onthetrail.info), apparently to try and deescalate the war. The country responded by bombing a [United States base in Qatar](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iran-launches-missiles-and-drones-at-israel-in-the-wake-of-us-strikes-on-its-nuclear-targets/ar-AA1HejYJ?ref=onthetrail.info), although with ample warning. Prime Minister Mark Carney was so impressed by the response of Iran, [that in an interview with CNN, he complimented ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8gWyt4wZjc&ref=onthetrail.info)their response as de-escatory. Israel and Iran are currently holding a ceasefire, with many people assuming that both country’s[ missile stocks are the main reason why.](https://www.timesofisrael.com/its-missile-stock-is-depleted-but-irans-arsenal-may-still-be-a-threat/?ref=onthetrail.info) In the same CNN interview, Carney said some of the most unhinged opinions that have ever been uttered by a politician, saying that Palestinians need to be Zionists? It was an engaging interview that melted our brains sometimes. Canada also committed to the new NATO target of [5% spending of GDP on military](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/canada-commits-to-new-nato-defence-spending-pledge-to-hit-5-per-cent-of-gdp-by-2035/?ref=onthetrail.info), an extremely lofty goal and would cost upwards of $150 billion a year for Canada. However, it seems that Mark Carney is considering much of the resource development he has already put underway to equal military spending. Donald Trump cancelled the trade talks with Canada, citing a distaste for the digital sales tax. [Read Here](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-digital-services-tax-explained-1.7573099?ref=onthetrail.info) Bill C-5, a bill to rapidly speed up resource development, passed in the Senate this week, and has received royal assent. This bill will likely be taken to court. [Read Here](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-senate-passes-mark-carney-bill-c-5/?ref=onthetrail.info) Finally, Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist with more or less the same views as an NDP politician, won the Democratic primary for New York Mayor, causing the entire MAGA world to freak out, as well as the Democratic establishment. [Read Here](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bernie-sanders-warns-establishment-in-panic-after-zohran-mamdani-win/ar-AA1HyZBj?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ***Français*** Le procès de Gilbert Rozon, ex-magnat de l’humour condamné pour agressions sexuelles sur neuf femmes qui l’accusent de tels gestes [s’est poursuivi cette semaine](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2175950/gilbert-rozon-temoignage-proces-civil?ref=onthetrail.info). Il nie toutes allégations, racontant sa version des faits; principalement une suite de malentendus sans conséquences et des [« inventions »](https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/justice/895456/invente-toutes-pieces-dit-rozon-ce-on-lui-reproche?ref=onthetrail.info) de la part des demanderesses. **Québec** Le chanteur du légendaire groupe des années 70 Harmonium, Serge Fiori, est décédé le 24 juin dernier. Il aura droit à des funérailles nationales. [Lire l’article](https://www.journaldequebec.com/2025/06/27/deces-de-lex-harmonium-serge-fiori-aura-un-hommage-national?ref=onthetrail.info) C’est le cinéaste de chez nous Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Dune) qui réalisera le prochain James Bond. [Lire l’article](https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2025/06/25/denis-villeneuve-realisera-le-prochain-film-james-bond?ref=onthetrail.info) Grosse nouvelle dans le monde du sport; le Canadien de Montréal a recruté le joueur étoile et défenseur des Islanders de New York Noah Dobson. Beaucoup espèrent que cette acquisition aidera l’équipe à passer au niveau supérieur. [Lire l’article](https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/chroniques/2025-06-28/avec-dobson-le-ch-passe-a-la-vitesse-superieure.php?ref=onthetrail.info) *Are you enjoying the new format? We’ve been trying to condense the work better, and make it much more legible. Let us know what you think! We always want to improve.* ### The Final Episode URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-final-episode/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:50.000Z The series is done, the podcast finished. It’s basically a three hour documentary that we’ve been working on for nearly a year. We’re exhausted. It was way too ambitious. But we did it. If you haven’t listened yet, now is the time. You can binge it and have the full front to back experience with no waiting. Share it, tell everyone. On Tuesday is moving day in Quebec— A lot of people are going to be homeless as of Tuesday. This is the time to share with your friends to help them know what to do, how this is happening, and the hope for the future. [Listen in French or English](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) [Écoutez en français ou en anglais.](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) --- Who are the people suffering during this crisis? Yes, we've talked about statistics and seen the political world behind all this-- but practically. Who is it that is suffering? Well, it's just people like you and I. Beyond the stats, real people are going through hard times. We asked a couple. We investigated one incident. And we heard again from Dave Chapman. It's not just an idea that this is a tough time, people are genuinely suffering. So lets hear them speak in the final episode of the investigation. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### Episode 6 - Fallout URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-6-fallout-800/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:50.000Z Episode 6 - Fallout 0:00 /200 1× Who are the people suffering during this crisis? Yes, we've talked about statistics and seen the political world behind all this-- but practically. Who is it that is suffering? Well, it's just people like you and I. Beyond the stats, real people are going through hard times. We asked a couple. We investigated one incident. And we heard again from Dave Chapman. It's not just an idea that this is a tough time, people are genuinely suffering. So lets hear them speak in the final episode of the investigation. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### Landlords In Power URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/landlords-in-power/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:51.000Z **This is part three of a five part series Gabrielle and Isaac have written in French about the housing crisis, in conjunction with our podcast series. Please read the original** [**french articles and listen to the podcast here!**](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) #### [We are also running a promotion for 15% off on a year subscription to Duo/Duet— feel free to check it out at this link!](https://duoduet.substack.com/fetenationale) ![black and white cocnrete building low-angle photography](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/4ed0006f-8f00-4ad6-97ce-ee6853342e8a_1080x720-jpeg-1.jpg) --- **In this third article in a five-part series, we present our most striking findings: a large number of politicians have investments in real estate. Is it surprising, then, that housing policies favor homeowners over renters? But there's more– blatant conflicts of interest.** Several examples demonstrate that politicians can have conflicts of interest regarding housing, which could explain certain decisions. This was notably the case for Quebec's Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, who, in 2023, was close, both in business and in friendship, to a real estate entrepreneur and lobbyist, Annie Lemieux, who had an active mandate to lobby her ministry. A more questionable one is Longueuil Mayor, Catherine Fournier, who has long been interested in housing issues. She was notably responsible for housing in her early political career, when she was a Member of the National Assembly under the Parti Québécois banner, before becoming an independent Member of the National Assembly and then mayor. She has also been a member of the board of directors of the Union des municipalités du Québec since 2021. However, she opposed the establishment of a provincial rent register, refusing to sign an open letter sponsored by some fifteen mayors of Quebec's major cities in 2023\. "It's not an bad idea, but in my opinion, it's not a priority in the current context," she said. "Because I come back to the imbalance between supply and demand," she said. "Even if a registry is set up and we know how much the previous tenant paid, as long as the landlord gets the brunt of the problem– because (the landlord) knows you can't go anywhere else because there's no housing available– it's not much use. But in an ideal world, and if we were in a balanced situation, it would be a useful educational and information tool." But could other, less obvious reasons have influenced the mayor's logic? Catherine Fournier's partner, Charles Paiement, is president of Canora real estate agency, which operates primarily on the Island of Montreal. Sources who wish to remain anonymous have told us that they see this as a conflict of interest on the part of Mayor Fournier, given her involvement in the UMQ. To this, the Mayor of Longueuil's aide responded that "under no circumstances, directly or indirectly, has Ms. Fournier furthered her personal interests or those of another person, either as a director of the UMQ or as Mayor of Longueuil." This response also stated that "Ms. Fournier's husband does not own, in whole or in part, any building or real estate project in Longueuil, and all of his professional involvement and personal assets are recorded annually with the City in a declaration of interests pursuant to the \[...\] Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct." The aide noted that Catherine Fournier "was the first Member of the National Assembly to publicly sound the alarm about the current housing crisis and has taken numerous actions as Mayor since her election in 2021." [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Property Owners Well Represented Politically** [According to our review of publicly available data](https://ismympalandlord.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info), a significant proportion of our elected officials, both federal and provincial, have interests in real estate. (Please note that this database, with the exception of the section concerning federal MPs, who are from the previous parliament, is currently under construction.) From the outset, we noted that almost all elected officials own their own residence and therefore do not belong to the renter class. At the federal level, before the election of the new government, 47 per cent of MPs, across all parties, owned (or their spouses owned) rental properties. This is shown by a careful examination of the registry of the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, whose information was cross-referenced with the database produced by the independent media outlet The Maple. The proportion of MPs who owned rental properties remained close to half for the Liberal Party (47 per cent), the Conservative Party (52 per cent), and the Bloc Québécois (46 per cent), but fell to 21 per cent for the New Democratic Party. During the last election campaign, Mark Carney, now Prime Minister of Canada, refused to disclose his assets, unlike the other candidates in the race. Real estate may therefore be among his holdings. In Quebec, the proportion of homeowners in the Coalition Avenir Québec stands at 12 per cent, meaning that eleven out of 86 elected officials own one or more residences with the potential to generate income, according to the declarations of personal interests compiled by the Ethics Commissioner. In opposition, this proportion is 16 per cent for the Liberal Party (three out of sixteen), 17 per cent for Québec solidaire (two out of ten), and 25 per cent for the Parti Québécois (one out of four). At the municipal level, a 2023 survey conducted by Pivot and Ricochet showed that several elected officials responsible for housing in the City of Montreal also had interests in real estate. Overall, 33 per cent of Montreal's elected officials owned rental housing. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Lack of tenant-friendly policies** In addition to a high proportion of homeowners among politicians, there have also been policies unfavorable to tenants, such as a massive disinvestment in social housing, over many years. "There is \[...\] a reason for the composition of governments: they themselves come from an upper middle class that has a lesser understanding of the reality of renters," said Julia Posca, sociologist and researcher at the Institut de recherche et d'informations socio économiques (IRIS). "We saw this very clearly in Quebec with the Minister responsible for Housing \[France-Élaine Duranceau\] who had direct interests in real estate speculation. "I think that in North America, the importance of home ownership is very high, and therefore access to housing is largely linked to the spectrum of access to home ownership. This is the vision that has shaped all our policies since the Second World War," she said. While the Legault government blames immigration for the housing crisis, Québec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard—who does not own a rental property—replies that the immigration rate is low in Quebec cities like Gaspé and Rimouski, yet there is still a housing shortage. "It's not immigration's fault that our governments haven't invested in social housing for the past 30 years," he said. Among the political decisions unfavorable to tenants in Quebec, we can think of Bill 31, which was already heavily contested before its adoption in February 2024 and which imposes, among other things, the end of lease assignments, the facilitation of evictions, and the weakening of protections for social housing. We can also look at the end of the AccèsLogis program, abandoned by the CAQ in February 2023, which was designed to finance the development of social and community housing, i.e., outside the private market. AccèsLogis has been replaced by the Quebec Affordable Housing Program (PHAQ), which works to build "affordable" housing by opening subsidies to private developers – who do not seem to deliver the goods. For Virginie Dufour, Liberal MNA for Mille-Îles, Official Opposition housing critic, and owner of a residential rental building, the housing problem is a vicious circle that's difficult to resolve. "People don't have... can't find housing because nothing is being built, but nothing is being built because if units are put on the market, no one is willing to pay," she believes. Acknowledging in an interview that she is a homeowner herself, she laments that it's not ideal to ask landlords to lower rents, as it inevitably leads to a loss of income. "Nobody wants to lose money in their life," she said. She cited herself as an example, explaining that she lost several thousand dollars on a home. "I bought a condo in northern Montreal, for which I paid $340,000\. My mortgage is $290,000\. With variable interest rates, the monthly payments are $2,600, at cost. But when I rent out my condo, I can't rent it for more than $1,800, which is very high for most people, but still less than cost." She added that today, a new housing unit rarely comes off the ground for less than $400,000\. "Without subsidies, we can't expect these units to be put on the market for $1,000 rental. That's why we need subsidies to balance the cost," she believes. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Moving Forward on Housing** Although several major plans have been announced in recent years to address the housing crisis, such as the National Housing Strategy and the Canada Housing Plan, governments seem to be struggling to keep their promises. Organizations such as the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU) express disappointment with the initiatives implemented by the various federal programs, stating that they are "far too timid and came too late," adding that "the Strategy's main initiatives have largely served to build housing that doesn't even meet the government's affordability criteria." Several other recent announcements suggest a multi-pronged approach to tackling the housing crisis. Jean-Yves Duclos, federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec lieutenant before the last election—who, according to our data, has no real estate interests—supported a community housing project in Centre-du-Québec last April, as well as three new federal buildings in Quebec City made available to build "more housing, faster." In an interview, he explained that until 2015, housing was no longer a federal responsibility. "Several housing rights groups lobbied for federal investment in housing again," the politician confided. "But to resolve a crisis, you first have to admit there is one, and some governments have been slow to do so," he said, commenting that this applied to both Liberal and Conservative governments in Canada. For his part, Mark Carney, the day after his election as Prime Minister, announced his intention to double current housing construction in Canada to 500,000 homes per year, calling it "Canada's most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War." Among the housing measures announced by Mark Carney during his campaign were the creation of a new federal agency, Canada Homes, dedicated to the construction of new, more affordable housing, the investment of $25 billion in financing for prefabricated home builders, and the elimination of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for first-time buyers priced at $1 million or less. Many experts, however, doubt the feasibility of this project, given the current difficulty in building half of this target. "There is certainly a disconnect between the people who are skilled at designing housing policies and the people who are subject to them, when they should rather be the beneficiaries," Julia Posca said. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Everything is Now Free URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/everything-is-now-free/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:51.000Z I made all of the content on the substack free. After long consideration, I’d much rather have everyone completely able to engage with everything, no exceptions. If you want to support me you will, I’m certain of it. I’m trying to survive, I’m trying to make this work, and I know that you’ll like what I’m doing. I have the cost at 5$/month right now. And for the Fête Nationale today in Quebec, to celebrate, I made a discount for the full year. You can get a year subscription for 42.50$, which is about the cost of one espresso per month. If you feel like supporting me, great. If you don’t, well you’re already supporting my by being here. But for those who want to help this bilingual Quebecois Anglophone out, feel free to do a year subscription. #### [Here’s the link to the Saint Jean-Baptiste discount.](https://duoduet.substack.com/fetenationale) If I recommend any articles that were previously paywalled, I would say you should read these: ##### [Punk is Uniting Divided Generations](https://www.onthetrail.info/punk-is-uniting-divided-generationsle/) —> This one is my favourite piece I’ve written for the Substack. ##### [Why Poilievre’s Brand of Conservatism Will Never Win](https://www.onthetrail.info/why-poilievres-brand-of-conservatism/) ##### [Carney’s About to Have a Rude Awakening](https://www.onthetrail.info/carney-is-about-to-have-a-rude-awakening/) ### Isaac Peltz and the Search for Literally Any Fulfilment URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/isaac-peltz-and-the-search-for-literally/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:51.000Z I started making social media posts in 2020 when me and my bandmate, Blue Jay Walker, were building an audience for the specific purpose of making music. If you watch the early days of our work (please don’t, dear God I implore you not to ever look it up) it’s a novice attempt at figuring out the platform. Of course, it’s fun in retrospect, and it got us our start. Somewhere in Nova Scotia, while we were driving on Cabot Trail (we were homeless), Jay had the idea to create a series where you “asked a hobo” about anything, and we would impart the sage advice of a hobo to the viewer. It was for normal, everyday audiences that couldn’t possibly have the knowledge or wisdom of a couple of hobos in their mid twenties. It was fun for a time, until I became my disillusioned self and got tired of an arbitrary grind, which admittedly got us started, but didn’t seem to be progressing. Jay and I split up, he’s out there doing the best work of his life in my opinion, and I took a year off to work in a bar. Then I started in journalism by coincidence because Christopher Curtis, the editor and chief of the Rover, moved in upstairs. [A survey last year showed that 57% of Gen Z want to be influencers.](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/14/more-than-half-of-gen-z-want-to-be-influencers-but-its-constant.html?ref=onthetrail.info) I have now done it twice. The first time for music, my greatest passion; the second for journalism, inspired as a pragmatic approach to an industry that is struggling. I assumed that using my experience I could probably quickly create an audience and become well known. I didn’t want to create something divisive, although I also did not want to patronize my audience. I felt that people deserved information that they could engage with in a real practical sense– they could look at me and understand who I was, see that I was a human with flaws, and they could understand my bias. I hoped that I would bridge the gap between humans and information. I hoped that my presence could be a mild sedative to the constantly divisive society we live in. I’ve never cared if someone is left or right wing, I’ve only ever cared that they have humanity, and I will respect them. The biggest effect I wanted to have was that other, more experienced and smarter journalists got online. I’m not by any metric the best journalist– There are so many others who do a better job than me. A ton of other journalists in Canada are now making news content online. In French **and** English. I think I contributed significantly to that. That’s a good legacy, and if that’s the end of it for me, I’m content with what I’ve done; I moved the clock forward a bit for an industry that hates change. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) In that time, since beginning this journey of being a *newsfluencer*, I have received a hundred different death threats, I have been called ugly and stupid thousands of times.The internet is a hostile, no man’s land, and I’m saying this as a bilingual white person from Montreal. I don’t envy how hard women and people of colour have it. These messages don’t stress me out. However– they disappoint me. It doesn’t matter how well you can present something, the internet, and specifically social media, has damaged our society to a degree that I am still reckoning with. I don’t know how to fix the, seemingly, irreparable damage that I’ve watched occur to many people’s minds over the past ten years. I have watched Christians become angry and resentful to a degree that could be irredeemable, and is certainly irreconcilable with Jesus’ teachings. I have watched the right wing drag their views further and further, turning the United States into a neo-fascist state. I have watched left wingers abandon reason to give way to cynical rage directed more at other leftists than at the systems that cause injustice in our society. This is, in my view, entirely because of one minute clips on tik tok and social media, or 140 character tweets in reply to someone on twitter. People who take advantage of others by stimulating an emotional response that will garner fame for themselves at the expense of others' sanity. A big statement on social media that seems so grand, a hook that will make them seem impressive. [Did I do that exact same thing?](https://www.tiktok.com/@isaacapeltz/video/7458693103470300421?ref=onthetrail.info) Seeing these insane replies to my videos has been making me question the validity of what I have been doing. Am I, through *attempting* to communicate facts, causing further division? I’m critical of people who are doing news journalism on social media who court controversy, but by the very nature of being on there am I courting that same controversy? I also wonder about the nature of my participation in the social media economy. Gab and I had the idea of building this name for ourselves on social media and creating a unique little journalism team to do deep investigations. We went ahead to create videos for journalism partly as a promotion of our ideas and investigations, and to get national attention to the work that we were doing. Do I think we deserve national attention for our work? Yeah, definitely. Is that arrogant? I dunno; [our housing investigation](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) is some of the best work I feel I’ve ever done, thanks in large part to my partnership with Gabrielle. I couldn’t have done half of this without her. Yet my participation in the social media economy makes me question whether or not I’m doing the right thing. [Most people do not remember the reels they saw](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39111216/?ref=onthetrail.info)– and those who do [will not be able to withhold the information](https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.03714?ref=onthetrail.info) that was fed into their brain at an incredible tilt. The question is: **am I teaching, or am I people’s entertainment?** I am obviously both, yet significantly more of my most popular videos are big, bombastic things– me making fun of the crown and Donald Trump, me making a list tracking political investments [(The list is available here for every province and the feds. Although the new government hasn’t released their info yet.)](https://ismympalandlord.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) Every year, usually in the summer, I need to collect my mind and wonder what my motivations are. Am I serving people, or myself? Because if I’m serving myself, I’m not likely doing the right thing in my work. If my social media is all about my brand, it’s not what I’m interested in doing. What I want is to make investigations that matter, not make commentary. I want to master subjects, and build cases. I don’t think I’m the best analyst– I think people watch me and are charmed by a superficial, quick wit. What I want is to create something beautiful, with staying power. I could make endless short form content, I would probably get tons more work from that as well. Thanks to my presence online, I’ve been able to sustain a living off of journalism. It’s unbelievable, and I’m endlessly grateful. The incredible Christopher Curtis told me that my greatest strength is my writing skills. That’s insane– Christopher Curtis is one of the most well known writers in Quebec and he thinks my writing is my strongest skill. If that’s the case, I want to capitalize on that. I think understanding extremely complex topics and relaying that through simpler language to people who have less understanding– that’s my strength. Give me the hardest topic of all time, let me figure it out, and I’ll be able to communicate it in a way that a child could grasp, but without making someone feel patronized. Give me a research project, and I will learn every detail possible. I have felt an incredible pressure to create, to be exceptional, to be the fastest and best person online for every piece of information. I’ve accidentally broken news on social media several times without meaning to, simply because I’m quick on the draw. I found out about the High Speed Rail first; I was one of the first in the country to talk about Bill C-2’s privacy concerns and Bill C-5's environmental concerns. Truth is, I’m not interested in just “breaking news.” That’s useless– all it does it enable a competitive atmosphere that I don’t want to participate in. I’m also not interested in being perfect, or perceived as such, and I don’t think a single (sane) person wants me to put that pressure on myself. I don’t want to participate in an economy of work that polarizes and makes people hyper sensitive, angry, or divides the world. I love this world, and I love the people in this world. Now the question is whether I think that I can overcome this economy of fast-food-information, or whether I will be another voice drowned out in the noise of an endlessly forward flow of noise. Can I innovate again, and push myself further? So, except when I have an article to make or something like that, I won’t be posting on socials. Instead I’m going to be planning, and thinking, and writing on substack. Instead I’ll be trying to master film skills, writing for a script, and different creative skills. I’ll be here for those who want to find me. Don’t know where I’ll get my money from, but I’ll figure that out as I go. And if I get drowned out by the endless slew of new content, if people don’t remember that I ever made things on socials, it doesn’t matter anyway. This life and this work was never about getting a following, it was about informing people and engaging with people. If I’m forgotten, I hope I inspired a couple people to do better. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Your News Curation/Votre curation d'actualités URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curationvotre-curation-d93/ Last updated: 2025-06-22T00:41:52.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **English News** Most of us were caught off guard when the [G7 didn’t go ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/g7-summit-kananaskis-carney-trump-analysis-1.7564156?ref=onthetrail.info)[*that badly*](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/g7-summit-kananaskis-carney-trump-analysis-1.7564156?ref=onthetrail.info), although there was a bunch wrong with it. First, the G7 meeting was [overshadowed by the war](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canadians-in-iran-israel-1.7564774?ref=onthetrail.info) that has broken out in Iran, as [missiles land on both Iran and Israel](https://archive.ph/VTj2L?ref=onthetrail.info), with Iran suffering significantly more casualties than Israel, mostly due to the latter’s extremely robust technological advancements. [Iran has a population advantage, but](https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-militaries-mideast-us-613e71aff67f6e1701981583bf699bc6?ref=onthetrail.info) [the military advantage is clearly in favour of the US-backed, hyper advanced military in Israel.](https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-militaries-mideast-us-613e71aff67f6e1701981583bf699bc6?ref=onthetrail.info) Meanwhile, Carney seems to have gotten what he wanted done at the G7, claiming that there will be a[ tariff trade deal between](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-carney-trade-war-1.7562351?ref=onthetrail.info) Canada and the USA within thirty days. The G7 also issued a statement condemning [Iran and supporting Israel defending themselves](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-g7-countries-back-israels-right-to-defend-itself-condemn-iran-as/?ref=onthetrail.info), an absolutely insane posture to take considering that Israel is the aggressor. Finally, Carney’s government [passed the particularly controversial](https://globalnews.ca/news/11251166/house-of-commons-summer-break-bill-c5-vote/?ref=onthetrail.info) Resources bill, bill C-5\. There were some fixes to the bill that were important to make, the Conservatives having them amend some of the more problematic elements. The conservatives forced them to add a public registry that allows Canadians to keep track of the “national interest” projects that are being put through with the bill, if a project isn’t significantly underway within 5 years it gets sunsetted, a forced 180 day review on how all parties review the act. [Only 14 of their 70 proposed amendments were adopted](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/canada-playbook/2025/06/19/bill-c-5-after-dark-00414194?ref=onthetrail.info). It seems that they shifted Bill C-5 from an open-ended “blank-cheque” power toward a more conventional permitting tool, with fixed timelines, public disclosure, provincial buy-in and anti-corruption checks—changes the Liberals ultimately accepted to secure Conservative votes at third reading. **Pretty big Conservative W. (**You don’t hear me and Gab saying that very often.) This is a fantastic example of why people like Isaac believe that minority governments are almost always the better option. [The bill will probably still go to court, but what happens in the court is yet to be decided](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/elizabeth-may-carney-push-bill-c-5-commons-1.7562476?ref=onthetrail.info). It seems constitutional experts believe it will survive. Beyond that, the speaker of the house, Francis Scarpaleggia, split the bill in two and [forced two separate votes](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/liberals-conservatives-pass-major-projects-legislation-in-house-of-commons/?ref=onthetrail.info) for it since one half concerned Canadian internal trade, and the other half concerned resource development. **In other news…** [Time is running out to stop rising temperatures from blasting beyond unmanageable levels.](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4l927dj5zo?ref=onthetrail.info) [Rockfall in Banff kills 2, injures 3.](https://apnews.com/article/rockfall-banff-canada-5ebaee2636a29f1cac3ed495e3c368ce?ref=onthetrail.info) [National Indigenous day is celebrated from coast to coast.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/events-are-being-held-across-the-country-saturday-to-mark-indigenous-peoples-day/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **French Nouvelles** La disparition d’une petite fille de trois venant de LaSalle a monopolisé l’attention publique et des médias de tout le Québec pendant une bonne moitié de la semaine, jusqu’à ce qu’elle soit, par miracle, [retrouvée saine et sauve ](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/chroniques/2025-06-19/la-fillette-de-lasalle-retrouvee/maman-m-a-dit-de-l-attendre.php?lid=6qtgmfg3els7&oeid=eb84479ba446467c89ef87f7b6839c82c25ab5197a2a7c518fb8ffae0364ba95&utm%5Fsource=infolettre&utm%5Fmedium=bloc&utm%5Fcampaign=aujourdhuilinfo&utm%5Fcontent=palmares)mercredi en fin de jounrée, soit quatre jours après sa disparition. Des [moyens astronomiques](https://www.viva-media.ca/la-voix-regionale-beauharnois-salaberry-haut-saint-laurent/actualite-bshsl/faits-divers-bshsl/info-patrouille-bshsl/claire-bell-toujours-portee-disparue-une-operation-policiere-majeure-se-poursuit-entre-la-30-et-la-20/?ref=onthetrail.info) ont été déployés pour la retrouver, plusieurs services de police faisant alliance pour maximiser les efforts. La mère semblait confuse et n’était pas d’une grande aide. Elle a d’ailleurs été accusée d’abandon d’enfant. Il est incroyable [qu’elle ait pu survivre](https://www.24heures.ca/2025/06/19/comment-la-jeune-claire-bell-a-t-elle-pu-survivre?ref=onthetrail.info) aussi longtemps. Elle a notamment été retrouvée grâce à [l’aide d’une fermière ](https://www.journaldequebec.com/2025/06/18/disparition-de-claire-bell-une-mysterieuse-fermiere-recherchee?ref=onthetrail.info)qui était la dernière personne à avoir vu la mère et l’enfant avant la disparition de cette dernière. Cette témoin clé s’est manifestée tardivement auprès des autorités parce qu’elle ne suit pas vraiment l’actualité. D’autres se demandent pourquoi une alerte amber n’a-t-elle pas été déclenchée. **Québec** Juste avant la suspension pour l’été de la commission Gallant sur le scandale SAAQclic, nous avons appris que « des membres de la haute direction de la Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), dont l'ex-PDG Denis Marsolais, savaient que le projet de transformation numérique allait coûter au moins 45 % plus cher que prévu lorsqu'ils ont rencontré l'attaché politique du ministre des Transports, François Bonnardel, en juin 2022\. » La saga entourant ce malheureux projet n’arrête pas… [Lire l’article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2173476/saaqclic-commission-gallant-denis-marsolais?ref=onthetrail.info) Des courriels entre le député libéral fédéral Anthony Housefather et l’administration de McGill montrent que l’élu est intervenu auprès du ministère fédéral de la Sécurité publique pour que celui-ci enjoigne les autres paliers de gouvernement à assurer une plus forte répression des mobilisations en soutien à la Palestine sur le campus. Le député a aussi fait pression pour que la question soit abordée lors d’un forum national sur les crimes antisémites. [Lire l’article](https://pivot.quebec/2025/06/19/le-depute-housefather-a-demande-au-federal-dintervenir-pour-augmenter-la-presence-policiere-a-mcgill/?ref=onthetrail.info) L’ex-conseillère Cathy Wong tentera un retour en politique. Elle annoncera samedi sa candidature à la mairie du Plateau-Mont-Royal avec Projet Montréal, tentant ainsi de succéder à Luc Rabouin, qui se présente comme maire de la métropole. Elle avait été élu en 2017 sous Denis Coderre, pour ensuite rejoindre l’administration de Valérie Plante en 2019. [Lire l’article](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2025-06-21/plateau-mont-royal/l-ex-conseillere-cathy-wong-tentera-un-retour-en-politique.php?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Episode 5 - Those Who Fight URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-5-those-who-fight-bdd/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:51.000Z Episode 5 - Those Who Fight 0:00 /200 1× Today we dive into the types of people who are really, REALLY doing the lords work in the institutions which count. We have Catherine Fournier on (and mention Andres Fontecilla) and she's one of the rare people in power doing work in her city. And then we talk about the behind the scenes drama! Afterwards we have an interview with Util, a non-profit housing builder/management company that is working to improve the lives of Students in Montreal. Finally, we have Elaine Larouche from Moisson Montreal to talk about food banks and how bad the situation has become. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### The Death of Modern Democracy URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-death-of-modern-democracy/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:52.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/c67fad83-48a8-4b20-99b1-732163650b42_250x313.webp) The eight decades following the Second World War created the richest and most broadly prosperous societies in human history. That long post‑war boom has been dying for a long time. Yesterday spelt the end. [Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to leave the recent G7 summit early](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cx23e4jz2g0t?post=asset%3A21166854-88c5-4263-9e90-56b451bc6da2&ref=onthetrail.info)—ostensibly to address the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel—captures the moment’s instability. Israel, historically assertive and intent on regional dominance, launched what it claims was a pre‑emptive strike on Iran. Trump’s motives remain opaque, yet his premature departure signals more than impatience: it highlights a fracturing Western alliance and the probable end of a political epoch. Trump said publicly (so far) that it was a good meeting and he’s happy with the outcome, but the leader of America leaving to go start another middle eastern conflict [(if pizza purchases are any indication)](https://www.fastcompany.com/91352935/pentagon-pizza-index-the-theory-that-surging-pizza-orders-signal-global-crises?ref=onthetrail.info) is about as clear a sign as any that this era is over. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) For roughly forty years the West sat alone at the pinnacle of global power. Today that advantage is contested by India, China, Russia, and their BRICS partners. As autocratic states grow, Western supremacy can no longer be taken for granted. In the early 2000s China fielded a formidable military but was still treated as a secondary cultural and economic actor. Now it stands as a peer—and Western complacency is perilous. To understand the present crisis we have to revisit the origins of the modern welfare state. The immediate post‑war era—often called the “golden age” of capitalism—was shaped by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s pro‑worker reforms. High marginal tax rates on corporations ([often 70–90 percent)](https://www.factandmyth.com/taxes/eisenhower-tax-rates-90-percent?ref=onthetrail.info) funded expansive welfare programs across the West. For a time, ordinary people shared equitably in rising productivity. The “Greatest Generation,” having endured two global wars and the horrors of the Holocaust, resolved that humanity could not survive a third cataclysm. They demanded—and largely won—structural changes that channelled national wealth toward the common good. The leaders of the western world who came out of that era were often great men who believed in something, people with political will who would never have been able to imagine the system degrading to where it has today. Even Nixon, in his controversies, [created the environmental protection agency, expanded welfare and started food stamp systems.](https://ebrary.net/11471/history/nixons%5Fsocial%5Fprograms?ref=onthetrail.info) #### He was considered a very conservative republican. ![File:War Office Second World War Official Collection B11634.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/5a777809-da2c-4bc8-92af-56cbcc282a64_330x203-jpeg.jpg) That golden age ended in the 1970s with stagflation. As *World History Journal* explains, oil shocks, shifting monetary regimes, and escalating geopolitical tensions produced simultaneous inflation and stagnation—an economic malaise eerily familiar today. [A CNN retrospective](https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/14/living/seventies-crisis-ford-carter-time/?ref=onthetrail.info) likewise portrays the decade as one of near‑constant turbulence, a mood captured in the music of the Rolling Stones, The Who, and the nascent punk scene. From that turmoil emerged a new project: neoliberalism. This word has become the modern boogeyman of the left, but stripped of polemics, neoliberalism was an attempt to jolt economies back to life through tax cuts, deregulation, and privatisation. Its champions were Ronald Reagan in the United States, Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Brian Mulroney in Canada (who followed Pierre Trudeau’s economic nationalism). In Canada, state assets—from vaccine production to energy—were sold off; corporate taxes fell. Markets were set free. The model delivered short‑term growth but at a cost. Governments became junior partners to big business, professing solidarity with workers while hollowing out the middle class. Social services were pared back; once‑proud institutions like Canada’s public health‑care system began to weaken. [Six‑hour emergency‑room waits in the 2000s have stretched to twelve today.](https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-system-and-services/service-organization/quebec-health-system-and-its-services/situation-in-emergency-rooms-in-quebec?ref=onthetrail.info) Most citizens remained comfortable enough not to rebel—until now. Trump rode that simmering discontent to power, and his brand of right‑wing populism now haunts Australia, Canada, and much of Europe. His response to the protests in LA, broadly peaceful, were an overreach of a dying democracy. Most observers have started saying that democracy is unlikely to last in the USA, and articles abound on how this is the result of complacency from liberal thinkers. It is easy to see how the moderate, centrist moves of democrats and liberals have caused the rise in populism. Extremism is the only possible result of inequality. In Canada, voters turned to Mark Carney partly as an antidote to Trumpist attitudes and the obvious similarities of Poilievre. Yet Carney personifies the very order that produced Trump. His instinct is to press on with business as usual, even as the middle class erodes. That inertia could pave the way for angrier figures—perhaps further to the right of Pierre Poilievre, angrier men with no regard for Canada’s social structure or poor—to seize the Conservative leadership. We are hearing the death knell of a system that briefly worked and then exhausted itself. What follows may be better or far worse. Will Canada’s next leaders show genuine resolve, or cling to a failing status quo? We inhabit a new 1970s—an age of stagflation and social unrest. The eventual response is bound to be radical; the only question is whether it will uplift those at the bottom or drag us deeper into Trump‑style politics. ### Your news curation / Votre revue de l'actualité URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curation-votre-revue-de-799/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:52.000Z [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Widely discussed** As the[ G7](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-does-g7-do?ref=onthetrail.info), hosted in Alberta, is around the corner, starting this Sunday, June 15, it’s already time for Mark Carney to set his priorities straight, as he will be meeting with the biggest leaders around the globe. Between the tariffs fight with Trump and the many crucial international conflicts going on, he will have [a lot to talk about](https://globalnews.ca/news/11234110/g7-summit-canada-stakes-carney-trump/?ref=onthetrail.info). But he’s already been critiqued[ for inviting non G7 members](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6796119?ref=onthetrail.info), like the Indian Prime Minister and South Arabia and [Ukraine leaders](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-trump-carney-g7-kananaskis-gaza-ukraine-zelensky-merz-modi/?ref=onthetrail.info). At the forefront of G7 is global security, which encompasses everything from combating foreign interference and transnational crime to fighting forest fires and strengthening peace around the world. Canada will also focus on stimulating economic growth by improving energy security, strengthening supply chains for critical minerals, and accelerating the use of artificial intelligence. Let’s see if Carney comes out on top. **French** C’est la grève de la Société des transports de Montréal (STM) qui a monopolisé les conversations cette semaine au Québec, particulièrement à Montréal. La grève était annoncée depuis plusieurs semaines, mais les usagers l’ont vraiment ressentie [cette dernière semaine](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2170227/greve-stm-quoi-savoir-repercussions?ref=onthetrail.info), alors que les bus et les métros étaient très limités, ayant comme conséquences des retards au travail pour certains et des absences à des événements et pour d’importants déplacements pour d’autres. Le conflit de travail tourne essentiellement autour des salaires et des horaires de travail. La grève est suspendue ce week-end, le temps de la Formule 1, et reprendra lundi et mardi, se terminant le 17 juin, mais [le service a repris ](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2025-06-12/conflit-de-travail-a-la-stm/la-greve-se-poursuit-mais-ses-impacts-s-amoindrissent.php?ref=onthetrail.info)pendant les heures de pointe et à 50% en dehors de celles-ci. Les employés [n’excluent de refaire à nouveau la grève](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2025-06-12/stm/les-employes-d-entretien-n-excluent-pas-la-possibilite-de-poursuivre-la-greve-plus-tard-cet-ete.php?ref=onthetrail.info) cet été si une entente n’est pas satisfaisante. **Canada** The Crown has wrapped its closing arguments in the sexual assault trial of five former Team Canada junior hockey players. The case is now in the hands of Justice Maria Carroccia, whose ruling is expected on July 24. [Watch the report](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6797885?ref=onthetrail.info) Several Saskatchewan families have been able to go back to their home after the devastating forest fires, as crews continue to gain ground in the wildfires battle. [Read the article](https://www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/article/crews-continue-to-gain-ground-in-saskatchewan-wildfires-battle-with-evacuees-repatriating/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Québec** Après plus de deux ans, c’est aujourd’hui que sera nommé le nouveau chef du Parti Libéral du Québec. [Lire l’article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2171824/chefferie-parti-liberal-quebec-plq-course-congres?ref=onthetrail.info) Les témoignages de la commission SAAQclic révèlent que la SAAQa omis d’importants coûts liés à SAAQclic dans une présentation destinée aux ministres Éric Caire et François Bonnardel en juin 2022. [Lire l’article](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2025-06-12/commission-gallant/la-saaq-omettait-d-importants-couts-de-saaqclic-aupres-des-ministres.php?ref=onthetrail.info) Le rapport du Comité des sages sur l’identité de genre a été révélé cette semaine. On y dénonce le manque d’expertise scientifique des sages. [Lire l’article](https://pivot.quebec/2025/06/12/quels-risques-pose-le-rapport-du-comite-de-sages-sur-lidentite-de-genre/?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** Israel has begun an attack on Iran, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they would continue “as long as necessary”. The attack seems to be motivated by the nuclear weapons competition between the two countries. [Read the article](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/13/what-is-behind-israels-decision-to-attack-iran?ref=onthetrail.info) According to a recent poll, a majority of Canadians hold unfavourable views towards the US, their closest ally, as frustration over trade policy and threats to Canada’s sovereignty persist. [Read the article](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/11/canada-unfavourable-views-towards-us?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Episode 4 - Political Will/Volonté politique URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-4-political-willvolonte-politique/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:53.000Z ### [Écoute des maintenant!/Listen now!](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/13a991d3-aea5-45ab-a2ec-14411fa7556f_1616x1616-1.png) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Today we finally talk to the people in power. You have a comprehensive understanding of the problems, the successes, the people who are on the ground with their boots, activists who want to do better for the country. Now let's talk to the leaders in power, the people who wield the keys of change. Today we dive into the willingness to enact change on every level of government-- talking to Benoît Dorait, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, Virginie Dufour and Jean-Yves Duclos. This episode might make you feel exasperated... so strap in for a fun ride. Check out our written companion pieces on https://pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! --- Cette semaine, nous discutons enfin avec les personnes au pouvoir. Vous avez jusqu'ici une compréhension globale des problèmes, des réussites, des personnes qui sont sur le terrain, des militant-es qui veulent améliorer la situation. Mais discutons maintenant avec les personnes au pouvoir, celles qui détiennent les clés du changement. Nous nous penchons dans cet épisode sur la volonté de mettre en œuvre des changements à tous les niveaux du gouvernement, en discutant avec Benoît Dorais, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, Virginie Dufour et Jean-Yves Duclos. Cet épisode risque de vous exaspérer... alors accrochez-vous bien, le voyage promet d'être mouvementé. Consultez nos articles complémentaires sur , et abonnez-vous à et ! Isaac Peltz : @isaacapeltzGabrielle Brassard Lecours : @gabettebl Idéation et entrevue : Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours et Isaac Peltz Musique et montage : Isaac Peltz ### Episode 4 - Political Will URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-4-political-will-c19/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:53.000Z Episode 4 - Political Will 0:00 /200 1× Today we finally talk to the people in power. You have a comprehensive understanding of the problems, the successes, the people who are on the ground with their boots, activists who want to do better for the country. Now let's talk to the leaders in power, the people who wield the keys of change. Today we dive into the willingness to enact change on every level of government-- talking to Benoît Dorait, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, Virginie Dufour and Jean-Yves Duclos. This episode might make you feel exasperated... so strap in for a fun ride. Check out our written companion pieces on https://pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### Carney is About to Have a Rude Awakening URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/carney-is-about-to-have-a-rude-awakening/ Last updated: 2025-06-11T09:59:21.000Z Don’t be fooled by the calm demeanour and navy blue banker suit—Mark Carney’s government has already shown its hand. In just weeks, his Liberals have proposed legislation that would make Stephen Harper blush. The progressive brand may still be on the box, but inside there seems to be a growing appetite for control, surveillance, and deregulation dressed in technocratic language. Mark Carney is currently enjoying a honeymoon period as Prime Minister. [His government is experiencing the highest approval ratings the Liberals have seen in years](https://abacusdata.ca/abacus-data-poll-post-election-first-poll/?ref=onthetrail.info), possibly the highest since Justin Trudeau’s favorable handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Carney's approval rating [currently sits at 57%, slightly below Trudeau’s 63% post-election](https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/06/09/carney-trails-predecessors-in-initial-approval-ratings-but-angus-reid-says-its-a-good-start-six-months-ago-very-few-canadians-even-knew-who-he-was/462985/?ref=onthetrail.info) rating in 2015\. Despite this, the electorate seems to view Carney’s government as entirely new, even though the Liberal Party's composition remains largely unchanged from Trudeau’s era. Having won 169 seats, just nine more than the previous parliament's 160, most incumbents remain, with minor shifts—losses on the east coast balanced by gains on the west. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) The electorate's perception of change is understandable given the Liberal government's early actions clearly signaling a new direction. [A prime example is Bill C-2](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-strong-borders-act-law-enforcement-internet-information-access/?ref=onthetrail.info), recently introduced by the Liberals. Michael Geist told the Globe and Mail that this bill would likely go to court if it remained in its current form, and it is highly unlikely to make it through committee without significant changes. These violations are surprising to see from a Liberal Party that has billed itself as a “progressive party” for the past decade. Trudeau was certainly left of center, and his government, flawed as it was, had some values that it believed in– [a rarity to see in Canadian politics](https://politics.ubc.ca/publications/big-tent-politics-the-liberal-partys-long-mastery-of-canadas-public-life/?ref=onthetrail.info). In three months, the Liberal Party is completely reformed in the image of Mark Carney, who seems to be an old school progressive conservative in the guise of a modern Liberal. Historically, the Liberals excel at campaigning and have maintained power by skillfully adapting their image. Describing themselves as "Canada’s natural governing party," their dominance is punctuated by brief Conservative interludes. From Wilfrid Laurier’s lengthy tenure to Mackenzie King’s 22-year reign—with a brief intermission under R.B. Bennett—followed by Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, interrupted by Mulroney, and then Chrétien, and Martin; the Liberals have been Canada’s default choice for governance. Recent history, from Stephen Harper’s nine years to Trudeau’s decade in power, illustrates this ongoing cycle. Carney’s leadership, if sustained, will extend the Liberals' current rule to at least fourteen consecutive years, and who knows if they may win another election afterwards. Carney’s approach, though appearing novel, is actually a rebranding of ideas previously promoted by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, albeit presented with greater charisma and a calm, composed nature that appeals to Canadians, especially confronted with a collapsing American democracy. Carney’s ambitious plans to fast-track resource development face significant hurdles due to legal and Indigenous jurisdictional realities. Recent court decisions and Canada’s adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as highlighted in an [article by Christopher Curtis and myself ](https://therover.ca/anishinaabe-lead-fight-against-nuclear-dump/?ref=onthetrail.info)published in the Rover, suggest these efforts will encounter substantial resistance, especially on treaty lands across Alberta. Additionally, Carney’s government has introduced troubling privacy violations through bills C-2 and C-4\. Bill C-2, ostensibly to bolster border security, would empower authorities to intercept and r[etain mail, potentially expelling asylum seekers arbitrarily](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-conservatives-privacy-concerns-border-security-bill-c-2/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Bill C-4, promoted as a measure to enhance affordability, risks overriding provincial privacy laws](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-advocates-question-tax-cut-bills-plan-to-shield-federal-parties-from/?ref=onthetrail.info). These legislative moves demonstrate Carney’s centralized vision of governance—portraying himself as an economic and moral authority uniquely capable of steering Canada to prosperity. This overt centralization of control diverges from traditional Canadian political norms, typically marked by quiet but firm party discipline. It also shows a marked lack of understanding about the de-centralized nature of Canadian politics. We live in what is easily described as the most decentralized federation in the world, and Carney is interested in being a unitarian leader who centralized power within the mind of himself. While Carney’s authoritative style has initially resonated positively, his attempts to push controversial measures through Parliament will likely face intense scrutiny and resistance from courts and opposition parties, challenging his vision of strong, unilateral leadership. Ultimately, Carney may find himself confronting significant obstacles, potentially leading to a substantial reassessment by Canadians of his leadership style and goals. His ambition is soon to be faced with the reality of a decentralized union, and a highly independent and stable court. Reality may be harsher on this government than Carney realizes, as his promises have consistently been lofty, exaggerated, and possibly misinformed. ### Your news curation / Votre revue de l'actualité URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curation-votre-revue-de/ Last updated: 2025-06-07T08:34:20.000Z **Le français suit** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) **Widely discussed** The “bromance” between Elon Musk and Donald Trump was short-lived. After the post-election honeymoon period, during which Trump appointed the owner of Tesla and the X network as Minister of Innovation via the DOGE project, the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk[ left American administration](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23vkd57471o?ref=onthetrail.info) just over a week ago, stating that he would remain “an advisor to the president.” But now this change of guard has finally turned into open warfare in recent days. Musk opposes Trump's latest bill, the[ Big Beautiful Bill Act](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/taxes-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-repeal/story?id=122459896&ref=onthetrail.info), which aims to impose punitive taxes on individuals, investors, and companies from countries whose tax systems are contested by Congress. After Musk wrote on social media that the bill was “disgusting,” Trump was quick to answer and said he was very disappointed in his friend. This was followed by[ a bitter exchange](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-german-chancellor-merz-meeting-white-house-today-2025-06-05/?ref=onthetrail.info) on social media, until Musk dropped a bombshell: Donald Trump's name appears in the Epstein files, and that’s why they have not been made public. Trump refutes these accusations, but we're betting that this very public breakup isn't over yet. [Read this interesting reporting from Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/05/trump-musk-fight-online-00390885?ref=onthetrail.info) **Quebec** Former comedy leader and founder if Just For Laughs, Gilbert Rozon appeared in court this week for a civil trial on allegations of sexual assault. He said he reluctantly pleaded guilty to a sex offense in 1998 to “save the company,” but that the media uproar ultimately cost Just for Laughs a lot of money. Ultimately, he is the victim. [Read the article](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/gilbert-rozon-jfl-sexual-assualt-civil-trial-1.7554079?ref=onthetrail.info) As session wraps up for summer, Legault vows to lead CAQ into 2026 election. Facing criticism over reforms on everything from doctors’ salaries to the CAQ government’s energy policy and with Quebecers feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks, Premier François Legault vowed on Friday to soldier on and seek a new mandate in 2026. [Read the article](https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/provincial-news/provincial-politics/article970661.html?ref=onthetrail.info#storylink=cpy) **Canada** Smoke from wildfires ravaging the Canadian prairies is being felt as far away as Europe. [Read the article](https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/article/smoke-from-canadian-fires-reaches-europe-eu-climate-monitor/?ref=onthetrail.info) Mark Carney wants to unify the Canadian economy, in particular to counter tariffs imposed by the United States, but also to implement major infrastructure projects like a pipeline. But he will need a strong plan. [Read the article](https://www.aptnnews.ca/nation-to-nation/prof-says-carney-needs-to-provide-more-details-when-it-comes-to-plan-to-fast-track-energy-pipelines/?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** Gaza: Israel admits to arming a Palestinian clan opposed to Hamas. Israeli authorities have admitted to supporting and arming a Palestinian clan opposed to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, claiming that this serves their “war aims” and “saves the lives of soldiers” engaged in the offensive against the Islamist movement in the Palestinian territory. [Read the article](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/israel-activated-palestinian-clans-opposed-hamas-gaza-netanyahu-says-rcna211379?ref=onthetrail.info) Hungary has issued a decree banning the display of LGBTQ+ symbols on public buildings as Budapest's Pride festival begins on Friday. [Read the article](https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/06/03/budapest-police-deny-lgbtq-march-request-citing-hungarys-legislative-pride-ban/?ref=onthetrail.info) **FRANÇAIS** **La discussion de la semaine** La « bromance » entre Elon Musk et Donald Trump aura été de courte durée. Après la lune de miel post élection américaine où Trump avait nommé le propriétaire de Tesla et du réseau X ministre de l’innovation via le projet DOGE, le département de l’efficacité gouvernementale, ce dernier[ a quitté ses fonctions](https://www.lapresse.ca/international/etats-unis/2025-05-28/elon-musk-confirme-son-depart-de-l-administration-trump.php?ref=onthetrail.info) il y un peu plus d’une semaine en affirmant qu’il resterait « conseiller du président. » Mais voilà que ce changement de garde s’est finalement transformé en guerre ouverte dans les derniers jours. Musk s’oppose au plus récent projet de loi de Trump, le [Big Beautiful Bill Act](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2170159/big-beautiful-bill-act-projet-loi-budget-donald-trump?ref=onthetrail.info), qui vise notamment à imposer des taxes punitives aux particuliers, aux investisseurs et aux entreprises de pays dont la fiscalité est contestée par le Congrès. Après que Musk ait écrit sur ses réseaux sociaux que ce projet était « dégueulasse », Trump n’a pas tardé à répondre qu’il était très déçu de son ami. S’en est suivi [un échange acrimonieux](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/06/05/minute-par-minute--musk-et-trump-se-livrent-une-guerre-de-mots?ref=onthetrail.info) via les réseaux sociaux, jusqu’à ce que Musk lâche une bombe; le nom de Donald Trump figure dans les dossiers Epstein et que c’est pour cette raison qu’ils n’ont pas été rendus publiques. Trump réfute ces accusations, mais parions que cette rupture très publique n’est pas terminée. [Voir le reportage de Radio-Canada](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/tele/le-telejournal-18h/site/segments/reportage/2089464/divorce-acrimonieux-entre-donald-trump-et-elon-musk?ref=onthetrail.info) **Québec** L’ex magnat de l’humour Gilbert Rozon comparait ces jours-ci pour un procès civil pour des allégations d’agressions sexuelles. Il a dit avoir plaidé coupable à contre-coeur à un délit sexuel en 1998 pour « sauver l’entreprise » mais que le tollé médiatique a finalement fait perdre beaucoup d’argent à Juste pour rire. Dans le fond, c’est lui la victime. [Lire l’article](https://www.noovo.info/nouvelle/rozon-dit-avoir-plaide-coupable-a-contre-cur-a-un-delit-sexuel-en-1998.html?ref=onthetrail.info) Des personnes privées de permis de travail à cause d’une impasse bureaucratique. Pour accorder des permis de travail, le gouvernement fédéral exige que les candidat·es fournissent leurs empreintes digitales… mais refuse de les récolter. [Lire l’article](https://pivot.quebec/2025/06/04/des-personnes-privees-de-permis-de-travail-a-cause-dune-impasse-bureaucratique/?ref=onthetrail.info) Vous pouvez lire le deuxième article de notre série sur la crise du logement, que Isaac a publié en anglais plus tôt cette semaine ici. Les dédales politiques de la crise du logement;Quelles sont les compétences et les responsabilités des différents paliers de gouvernement en matière d’habitation? [Lire l’article](https://pivot.quebec/2025/06/02/les-dedales-politiques-de-la-crise-du-logement/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Canada** La fumée des feux de forêt qui ravagent les prairies canadiennes se fait ressentir jusqu’en Europe. [Lire l’article](https://www.meteomedia.com/fr/nouvelles/science/phenomenes-naturels/feux-de-forets-canada-manitoba-saskatchewan-fumee-europe?ref=onthetrail.info) Mark Carney souhaite unifier l’économie canadienne, notamment pour contrer les tarifs imposés par les États-Unis, mais aussi pour mettre en place de grands projets d’infrastructure comme un pipeline. Il assure par contre que toutes les provinces, ainsi que les peuple autochtones, devront s’entendre. [Lire l’article](https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2025/06/06/mark-carney-veut-unifier-leconomie-canadienne?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** Gaza: Israël reconnaît armer un clan palestinien opposé au Hamas.Les autorités israéliennes reconnaissent soutenir et armer un clan palestinien opposé au Hamas dans la bande de Gaza, affirmant que cela sert leurs « *buts de guerre* » et « *sauve des vies de soldats* » engagés dans l’offensive contre le mouvement islamiste dans le territoire palestinien. [Lire l’article](https://www.rfi.fr/fr/moyen-orient/20250606-gaza-isra%C3%ABl-reconna%C3%AEt-armer-un-clan-palestinien-oppos%C3%A9-au-hamas?ref=onthetrail.info) La Hongrie a publié un décret pour interdire l'affichage de symboles LGBTQ+ sur les bâtiments publics au moment où débute vendredi le festival des fiertés de Budapest. [Lire l’article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2170323/hongrie-interdit-symboles-lgbtq-publics-fierte-budapest?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Episode 3 URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-3/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:53.000Z ## [Listen in French or English Here](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) ## [Écoute en anglais ou en français ici](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- In episode one, we laid the groundwork for what's been going on in the housing crisis. In episode two we set up the solutions on a policy level, having Francis Cortellino and Marie José Houle on to discuss what they're doing *within* the system. However, policy and action take two kinds of folks-- policy makers, and people who work on the ground. Thinkers are important, theory is essential, but who works beside those living the *reality* of the housing crisis? This week we tell the story of how Isaac blew on online, and gained fifteen minutes of fame and we have two very well known people on to discuss the crisis. Lynn O'Donnel works from CACV, a group in Verdun, Montreal that helps people all over the city deal with landlords who choose to abuse their power. On the other side, we have Ricardo Tranjan, probably one of Canada's top thinkers around the housing crisis, and author of the book "the Tenant Class." These two dive straight into actionable solutions that are more practical on an individual level. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! --- Dans le premier épisode, nous avons posé les bases de la crise du logement. Dans le deuxième épisode, nous avons présenté des solutions politiques, avec Francis Cortellino et Marie José Houle, qui nous ont expliqué ce qu’ils font au sein du système. Cependant, les politiques et les actions nécessitent deux types de personnes : les décideurs politiques et celleux qui travaillent sur le terrain. Cette semaine, nous racontons comment Isaac est devenu célèbre sur Internet et a connu son quinze minutes de gloire. Nous discutons également avec deux personnes impliquées de près dans le domaine pour nous parle de la crise. Lynn O’Donnel travaille pour le CACV, le comité logement de Verdun, à Montréal, qui aide les habitant-es à faire face aux propriétaires qui choisissent d’abuser de leur pouvoir. Nous rencontrons aussi Ricardo Tranjan, économiste politique et chercheur principal au Centre canadien de politiques alternatives, et auteur du livre La classe locataire. Ces deux personnes se plongent directement dans des solutions concrètes. Consultez nos articles écrits complémentaires sur notre site web, et abonnez-vous à [The Rover](https://therover.ca/?ref=onthetrail.info) et [DuoDuet](https://duoduet.substack.com/). ### Episode 3 - Boots on the Ground URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-3-boots-on-the-ground-ed5/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:54.000Z Episode 3 - Boots on the Ground 0:00 /200 1× In episode one, we laid the groundwork for what's been going on in the housing crisis. In episode two we set up the solutions on a policy level, having Francis Cortellino and Marie José Houle on to discuss what they're doing *within* the system. However, policy and action take two kinds of folks-- policy makers, and people who work on the ground. Thinkers are important, theory is essential, but who works beside those living the *reality* of the housing crisis? This week we tell the story of how Isaac blew on online, and gained fifteen minutes of fame and we have two very well known people on to discuss the crisis. Lynn O'Donnel works from CACV, a group in Verdun, Montreal that helps people all over the city deal with landlords who choose to abuse their power. On the other side, we have Ricardo Tranjan, probably one of Canada's top thinkers around the housing crisis, and author of the book "the Tenant Class." These two dive straight into actionable solutions that are more practical on an individual level. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### The Political Labyrinths of the Housing Crisis URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-political-labyrinths-of-the-housing/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:54.000Z ###### Photo by Blue Jay Walker This originally appeared on [Pivot in French](https://pivot.quebec/2025/06/02/les-dedales-politiques-de-la-crise-du-logement/?ref=onthetrail.info), and has been translated by us for all those who are interested. #### Who is responsible for housing in Quebec and Canada? Nothing could be less clear. This explains why things have worked out in this way. What is clear is that the various political levels must cooperate if they want to resolve this housing deadlock. The housing crisis is complex and multi-factorial, involving several levels of government: federal, provincial, and municipal. Each plays a key role—sometimes complementary, sometimes in tension—in planning, funding, and regulating housing. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Francis Cortellino, an economist responsible for market analysis at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), explains that cohesion among the different levels could be more effective. “Housing is complex: there are three levels of government, the private industry, community groups, and non-profits. We must find ways for all these players in the ecosystem to work in the same direction, ideally prioritizing social housing,” he said. “In Quebec, there are provincial and federal agreements: the federal government provides funds to the Quebec government, which then manages its programs. But this isn't the case in every province.” He also highlighted the slowness of municipal initiatives, which struggle to build momentum due to either a lack of funding from higher levels or difficulties obtaining the necessary permits. #### **Federal government: Structuring programs** The federal government, though more distant from daily housing management, plays a central role in funding, coordination, and large-scale policy enactment. In 2017, Ottawa launched the National Housing Strategy, a “$115 billion investment plan to ensure more Canadians have a home,” spanning ten years. The federal government also manages several housing-related programs, such as the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF), the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)—offering capital contributions for quickly building new housing or acquiring existing buildings for renovation into permanent affordable housing—and the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA). (Under the Carney government they have announced Build Canada Homes, however we have yet to see what that will be.) The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a federal agency, collects essential data on the housing market and oversees several of these initiatives. However, in the 1990s, decisions by various federal governments, such as the Conservatives in 1990 and the Liberals in 1994, ended commitments made with provinces in the 1980s. For instance, the federal government stopped investing in public housing management; previously they absorbed part of the deficit of new social housing across Canada. Moreover, the federal housing cooperative program, the only program allowing income diversity, was abolished as of February 1992. #### **Provincial governments: Regulation and Divestments** Provinces have direct constitutional responsibility for housing and social welfare. They regulate residential tenancy laws, tenants' rights, housing assistance, and residential construction. For example, Ontario manages the Residential Tenancies Act, governing tenant-landlord relations. Quebec administers the *Tribunal administratif du logement* and develops its own social housing programs, such as the *Programme d’habitation abordable Québec* (PHAQ), and the *Société d’habitation du Québec* (SHQ), who manage various housing programs and services. British Columbia funds BC Housing, which manages thousands of subsidized housing units. Several provinces have been criticized for gradually withdrawing from social housing funding since the 1990s, increasingly shifting responsibility onto municipalities without providing adequate resources. **Municipalities: Between a rock and a hard place** The city of Longueuil is exemplary in terms of developing social housing. In December 2024, Longueuil's mayor, Catherine Fournier, announced nearly 474 social housing units that would open in 2025\. A first project worth over $17 million is under construction at the intersection of Bourassa Street and Chemin du Coteau-Rouge, benefiting around thirty people. The city anticipates approximately 2,247 new units within the next several years. However, Fournier stresses the need for political will to drive change. “All levels of government bear responsibility, but to what extent? When everyone is responsible, it feels as though nobody is. We pass the buck around, making it hard to identify leaders. Amidst the resulting confusion, significant leadership and political will are essential to succeed,” she said. Municipal governments are the closest to the ground but have the least financial means. Their roles include urban planning, issuing building permits, and zoning management. Yet several Canadian municipalities have been accused of fostering a “culture of refusal” regarding urban densification, under citizen pressure against high-rise or high-density housing developments. Restrictive zoning regulations (particularly regarding multifamily housing) further slow the construction of affordable housing, especially in major centers like Toronto and Vancouver. Cities have attempted various approaches: Montreal adopted the regulation for a mixed metropolis (20-20-20), promoting social, affordable, and family housing in new developments (though it faces limitations). Vancouver pushes for increased density around transit corridors with projects like TransLink. Benoit Dorais, mayor of Montreal's Southwest borough and housing lead for the city, believes the crisis will ease through initiatives like social diversity. He also emphasized not waiting for funds from other levels. “We consider this an interim period during which we invest,” he said. Montreal has committed one million dollars annually for three years to support housing non-profits, a project not funded by the province. “Of course, we prefer government funding, and we advocate for it. Many people have pressured Quebec, and we will assist,” Dorais said. Catherine Fournier said that cities like Longueuil and Montreal have more means than smaller municipalities to advance housing projects. Nevertheless, without strengthened financial support from higher governments, all municipalities, regardless of size, have limited manoeuvring room. The housing crisis in Canada highlights fragmented responsibilities and poor coordination among government levels. Each has a role, but policies can be incoherent, redundant, or inadequately integrated. “Everyone wants to contribute, but no one has the same game plan,” Francis Cortellino said. “Canada's housing crisis cannot be solved without an integrated, cooperative approach among government levels,” Marie-Josée Houle, Canada's federal housing advocate, said. “The challenge is to create governance frameworks where funding, regulation, planning, and social services align, with clear objectives, accountability mechanisms, and transparency.” The latter is sometimes lacking, as we'll explore in the next article. *This investigation was made possible through a grant of excellence from the Association des journalistes indépendants du Québec (AJIQ).* ### Week of May 26/Semaine de 26 mai URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/week-of-may-26semaine-de-26-mai/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:55.000Z ![File:Charles, Prince of Wales in 2021 (cropped) (2).jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/888118ba-1978-427f-ad71-a96b4bd1c57c_250x334-jpeg.jpg) ***Le français suit*** If you haven't yet seen it, our podcast on the housing crisis is out! We're excited to share the results of our work, which took us over a thousand hours. The second episode focuses on the economic aspects of the crisis and then directly addresses the complex political solutions! We hope you'll enjoy it and check it out. [Link to the podcast](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **Discussion of the Week** The King of Canada was present in the country. King Charles III [delivered the throne speech](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/speech-from-throne-king-charles-five-things-1.7544963?ref=onthetrail.info), affirming Canada's sovereignty and attempting to foster unity across Canada. Did it work? Polls conducted before the king’s arrival indicated that most Canadians were largely [uninterested](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/26/visite-de-charles-iii-la-monarchie-plus-impopulaire-que-jamais-au-quebec?ref=onthetrail.info). However, the government of [Quebec unanimously voted in favour of disavowing the Crown](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-legislature-votes-unanimously-to-cut-all-ties-with-the-monarchy/?ref=onthetrail.info). Meanwhile, the speech contained subtle hints indicating that Carney was reluctant to work with Donald Trump, particularly evident in the French portion of the address. Additionally, the monarchy is becoming increasingly costly, [now exceeding $70 million per year](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/26/la-monarchie-nous-coute-de-plus-en-plus-cher?ref=onthetrail.info). **Quebec** Legault proposes performance-based financial incentives for doctors. This proposal sparked controversy. [Read the article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2167638/remuneration-medecins-negociation-dube-baillon?ref=onthetrail.info) Polyamorous parents face legal challenges. [Read the article](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/29/quebec-soppose-a-la-pluriparentalite-jolin-barrette-defend-le-modele-quebecois-de-deux-parents-reconnus-pour-un-enfant?ref=onthetrail.info) **Canada** Alberta plans to ban a significant number of books from school libraries. [Read the article](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/5477d90c29ee51d80eded66e355e6799b8d8222e79f72fd653eeac2d1c6a2f2e/HZ5LNIRYLRAXNCTEXCQM3R2LJI?ref=onthetrail.info) Advocates for refugee rights are trying to modify refugee laws between Canada and the United States to allow these individuals to enter. [Read the article](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/5477d90c29ee51d80eded66e355e6799b8d8222e79f72fd653eeac2d1c6a2f2e/LFSSGDEQYFDAPDRBGUPUGKLDPE?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** Trump's tariffs were reduced, then reinstated. As usual, chaos and absurdity reign. [Read the article](https://globalnews.ca/news/11203002/donald-trump-tariffs-us-court-ruling/?ref=onthetrail.info) Israel is set to significantly expand its occupation of the West Bank. [Read the article](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j5954edlno?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- **FRANÇAIS** Si vous n’êtes pas encore au courant, notre balado sur la crise du logement est sorti! Nous sommes ravis de vous présenter le fruit de notre travail, qui nous a pris plus de mille heures. Le deuxième épisode se concentre sur les aspects économiques de la crise, puis aborde directement les solutions politiques complexes ! Nous espérons que vous l'apprécierez et que vous le découvrirez. ### [Lien Pour les balados](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- **La discussion de la semaine** Le roi Charles III était de passage au Canada cette semaine pour [prononçer le discours](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/28/les-7-messages-pas-tres-subtils-du-roi-a-trump?ref=onthetrail.info) du trône, affirmant la souveraineté du Canada et tentant de créer un Canada uni. Est-ce que cela a fonctionné? Les sondages effectués avant l'arrivée du roi indiquent que la population était, pour l'essentiel, [désintéressée](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/26/visite-de-charles-iii-la-monarchie-plus-impopulaire-que-jamais-au-quebec?ref=onthetrail.info) du roi. Plus encore, le gouvernement du Québec a proposé, dès le départ du roi, une motion adoptée à l’unanimité pour [couper tous les liens avec la monarchie.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2167994/quebec-assemblee-natinale-pspp-motion-contre-roi-charles?ref=onthetrail.info) Le discours contenait de nombreuses indications discrètes montrant que Carney ne voulait pas travailler avec Donald Trump, exprimées dans la partie en français du discours. La monarchie nous coûte de plus en plus cher aussi; [plus que 70 M$ par année.](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/26/la-monarchie-nous-coute-de-plus-en-plus-cher?ref=onthetrail.info) Isaac a fait un vidéo en anglais pour en parler un peu plus : ### **Québec** Les travailleurs de la construction résidentielle du Québec ont déclenché une grève cette semaine, retardant l’avancement de plusieurs chantiers. Le syndicat exige notamment une hausse des salaires, mais il ne s’entend pas avec l’employeur sur le chiffre. [Lire l’article](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/29/le-pire-moment-pour-une-greve-de-la-construction-residentielle-en-pleine-crise-du-logement?ref=onthetrail.info) La question des parents polyamoureux est portée en appel par Québec. Le gouvernement Legault conteste la cour d’appel pour son jugement qui reconnaît la pluriparentalité. [Lire l’article](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/29/quebec-soppose-a-la-pluriparentalite-jolin-barrette-defend-le-modele-quebecois-de-deux-parents-reconnus-pour-un-enfant?ref=onthetrail.info) ### **Canada** Pour accompagner notre podcast sur la crise du logement, une série d’articles écrits paraît dans Pivot tous les lundis. Le premier article aborde les origines de la crise, et pourquoi nous en sommes arrivés à ce point critique concernant le logement. Nous sommes assez fier-es du résultat. [Lire l’article.](https://pivot.quebec/2025/05/26/batir-la-crise-du-logement-une-longue-descente-aux-portes-de-lenfer/https://pivot.quebec/2025/05/26/batir-la-crise-du-logement-une-longue-descente-aux-portes-de-lenfer/?ref=onthetrail.info) L’Alberta prévoit interdire un nombre important de livres dans les bibliothèques scolaires. [Lire l’article](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/5477d90c29ee51d80eded66e355e6799b8d8222e79f72fd653eeac2d1c6a2f2e/LFSSGDEQYFDAPDRBGUPUGKLDPE?ref=onthetrail.info) ### **International** Les droits de douane de Trump ont été réduits, puis réappliqués. Comme d'habitude, c'est le chaos et l'absurdité. [Lire l’article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2147131/trump-menace-droits-douane-acier-aluminium?ref=onthetrail.info) Israël va étendre considérablement son occupation de la Cisjordanie. [Lire L’article](https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/moyen-orient/885190/israel-annonce-22-nouvelles-colonies-juives-cisjordanie?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Episode 2 - Political Mathematics/Les dédales politiques URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-2-political-mathematicsles/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:55.000Z ### [Episode 2 of the housing investigation is out!](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) ### [Episode 2 du balado est maintenant sortie!](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) This week Francis Cortellino breaks down the economics of the housing crisis, and Marie-Jose Houle explains the policies and ideas that would fix the housing if properly implemented, as well as how the government has introduced new ideas into our country to make sure the crisis doesn't get worse. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec , and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! --- Cette semaine, Francis Cortellino analyse les aspects économiques de la crise du logement, et Marie-José Houle explique les politiques et les idées qui, si elles étaient correctement mises en œuvre, permettraient de résoudre le problème du logement, ainsi que la manière dont le gouvernement a introduit de nouvelles idées au pays pour éviter que la crise ne s'aggrave. Consultez nos articles complémentaires sur https://Pivot.quebec et abonnez-vous à https://therover.ca et https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz : @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours : @gabettebl Le son a été mixé et masterisé par Isaac Peltz et Gabrielle Brassard Lecours. Toutes les entrevues ont été réalisées par Isaac Peltz et Gabrielle Brassard Lecours. Ceci a été rendu possible grâce à une subvention de l'AJIQ ! ### Episode 2 - Political Mathematics URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-2-political-mathematics-35e/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:55.000Z Episode 2 - Political Mathematics 0:00 /200 1× This week Francis Cortellino breaks down the economics of the housing crisis, and Marie-Jose Houle explains the policies and ideas that would fix the housing if properly implemented, as well as how the government has introduced new ideas into our country to make sure the crisis doesn't get worse. Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### The Housing Crisis: A Long Descent into Hell URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-housing-crisis-a-long-descent/ Last updated: 2025-05-29T20:20:28.000Z NOTE: [L'article original est paru en français sur Pivot ! Consultez-le maintenant si vous préférez le lire en français.](https://pivot.quebec/2025/05/26/batir-la-crise-du-logement-une-longue-descente-aux-portes-de-lenfer/?ref=onthetrail.info) THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE CAME OUT ON PIVOT.QUEBEC IN FRENCH. WE HAVE TRANSLATED THIS TO GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER EXPERIENCE THAN SIMPLY USING THE BROWSER’S TRANSLATORS. In this article, the first of our series on the housing crisis, we will lay out some fundamental elements to define this phenomenon. When did the crisis begin? What are its main causes? What responsibilities lie with different levels of government? These issues will be explored more thoroughly in subsequent articles. For several years now, housing in Quebec and most major Canadian cities has been discussed in terms of a "crisis." Some deny its existence, such as the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) (the ruling government of the province) did until recently. The numbers speak for themselves. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) As of July 1, 2024, according to data compiled by the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), 1,667 tenant households were without housing or actively searching, assisted by relocation services. On the same date, 9,519 tenant households in Quebec sought help from housing offices, fearing they would not find housing that year. Similar figures are expected by July 1, 2025. However, this phenomenon didn't occur overnight. It results from decades of political, economic, and social stagnation. ### **What exactly is this crisis?** "There is no crisis. The market is operating exactly as it was designed—to benefit investors and profit-making," says Ricardo Tranjan, political economist and senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), and author of the book "The Tenant Class." "What we've observed for at least 70 years is that the federal government and several provinces prioritize homeownership, seen as a path to financial security and housing stability," Tranjan said. "If you don't buy a home, you're left navigating the rental market." "We acknowledge that the current market won't meet the needs of the poorest, necessitating some form of social housing. But investments in social housing fluctuate over time. Sometimes they increase slightly, sometimes decrease, leaving us consistently far behind," Tranjan said. Francis Cortellino, housing market analyst at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), noted that the pandemic exacerbated the crisis, highlighting that property prices in Quebec rose by an average of 45% in two years—an increase typically spread over ten years under normal conditions. He also pointed out that the few thousand new housing units built recently in the province are 95% occupied but remain expensive and inaccessible to many. "Even though the newest housing is expensive, it’s still occupied… Adding supply is better than not doing so, but it must include diverse options because some households will always lack sufficient income to access homeownership or even suitable rental housing. Affordable or off-market options are necessary to accommodate these households," Cortellino said. Space requirements have also evolved considerably in recent decades; people desire larger homes, even as couples, said Jean-Philippe Meloche, professor at Université de Montréal's School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture. "In 1966, Plateau Mont-Royal had about 170,000 residents, compared to around 100,000 today," he said. "One might think things are bad on the Plateau since prices have never been higher. Yet it's simply demographic changes. In the 1960s, modest families occupied these homes with several people per unit, whereas today they house mostly couples," he said. ### **Housing Over Time** Quebec and Canada's housing policy history is marked by governmental interventions responding to housing needs, notably social housing and affordability. Here’s a brief overview: - **Before 1940: Private Housing and No Government Intervention** Housing was largely a private matter. The government did not intervene in the rental market, and housing supply was managed by private developers. Housing conditions were often precarious, particularly for the working classes in major cities like Montreal and Quebec. - **1940-1960: Initial Interventions and Rent Control** During WWII, the federal government implemented rent controls to fight inflation and speculation. In 1946, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation was established initially to help veterans and subsequently the broader population. However, Quebec lagged behind other provinces in social housing. - **1960-1980: Quiet Revolution and Social Housing Development** The Quebec government began actively engaging in housing during the Quiet Revolution. The Société d'habitation du Québec was created in 1967 to coordinate housing policy. Between 1974 and 1986, SHQ directly constructed thousands of low-income housing units (HLM). - **1980-1990: Reduced Federal Commitment and Increased Quebec Support** The federal government progressively cut social housing investments in the 1980s. Quebec responded by creating alternatives like the AccèsLogis program in 1997, funding housing cooperatives and non-profit housing. - **2000-2020: Housing Crisis and Accessibility Policies** Facing rising housing costs and regional crises, Quebec strengthened policies: \-Enhanced access program for quicker social housing construction. \-Introduced Rent Supplement Program, capping rent at 25% of income for some households. \-Increased funding for HLMs and housing cooperatives. - **2020-Present**: **Housing Shortage and New Measures** \-The affordable housing shortage and rising rents compelled governments to adopt new strategies: \-The National Housing Strategy (2017-2027), a federal commitment of over $115 billion for building and renovating affordable housing. \-Quebec's Bill 31 (2024), modifying housing provisions and criticized as regressive due to ending unlimited lease transfers. \-Bill 65 (June 2024) limiting eviction rights for elderly tenants. *Sources: FRAPRU, CMHC, OMHM, SHQ* ### **Rethinking Housing** "The issue is that housing is viewed purely financially, rather than as a fundamental human right," said Marie-Josée Houle, who was appointed Canada's first Federal Housing Advocate in 2022, tasked with addressing inadequate housing and homelessness. "Having a home is fundamental to functioning in society," she said. For Houle, financialization is the core problem. "As long as housing is treated solely as a financial investment aimed at profit, the crisis won't be resolved," she said. She was unequivocal about governmental responsibilities: "All government levels must address this issue. It’s not just a single government's responsibility." The gap between housing supply and demand remains vast in Canada. Experts recommend massive, rapid housing production, intelligent densification, and federal-provincial-municipal cooperation emphasizing transparency and accountability. *This investigation was made possible thanks to a grant from the Association des journalistes indépendants du Québec (AJIQ).* ### Your News Curation/Votre curation d'actualités URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curationvotre-curation-d6a/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:56.000Z ### FRANÇAIS CI-DESSOUS!!! **If you haven’t seen it yet, our podcast on the housing crisis is out!** We’re excited to present the fruit of our labour, which took us over a thousand hours to complete. We believe it’s timely, given the rising rents and poor decisions made at the start of the Carney administration. We strongly encourage you to listen to our podcast, available in both French and English! [**Link to the podcasts**](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) **For Francophones as well, Isaac appeared on the radio this week to talk about “info-influencers.”** [You can listen to the episode here.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-reveil-nouvelle-ecosse-et-t-n/segments/rattrapage/2075574/actualite-jour?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- **Discussion of the Week** In a surprising move, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom jointly [issued a letter demanding a ceasefire and threatening sanctions](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-gaza-aid-military-1.7538495?ref=onthetrail.info) in case of refusal. Throughout the week, Canada deemed it necessary to take a stance against the injustices committed by Israel. [The situation escalated when Netanyahu reacted angrily,](https://www.lapresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/2025-05-20/sanctions-ciblees-envers-israel/le-canada-offre-une-enorme-recompense-au-hamas-selon-netanyahou.php?ref=onthetrail.info) especially after an incident involving Canadians — shots fired near [Canadian diplomats by the Israeli Defense Forces.](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/four-canadians-on-diplomatic-tour-were-in-west-bank-as-idf-fired-warning-shots-nearby/?ref=onthetrail.info) Canadian pressure appears to be having an effect on the Israeli government. --- **Article of the Week** The Conservatives are unhappy with the election result and are c[alling for the campaign director’s resignation](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-byrne-conservative-caucus-1.7540215?ref=onthetrail.info). The party appears to be in turmoil, and Mr. Poilievre’s longevity as leader is now in question. Will he be able to unite his party, or will the task prove too great for him? [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- **Quebec** The number of women working in industrial sectors has dropped significantly due to harassment. [Link](https://lp.ca/mIVG41?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) There is uncertainty surrounding the planned October opening of the new REM train. [Link](https://lp.ca/pN7mTu?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) Quebec is grappling with a serious drunk driving problem and public opinion supports lowering the legal blood alcohol limit. [Link](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/22/alcool-au-volant--les-quebecois-favorables-a-abaisser-la-limite-a-005?ref=onthetrail.info) The Bloc Québécois is contesting the results in Terrebonne at the Supreme Court. [Link](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2167030/bloc-quebecois-contestation-resultat-election-terrebonne?ref=onthetrail.info) --- **Canada** The Canada Revenue Agency will eliminate up to 280 positions. [Link](https://globalnews.ca/news/11194161/canada-revenue-agency-layoffs/?ref=onthetrail.info) Canada is already in a recession, according to experts. [Link](https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/2025-05-24/guerre-commerciale/le-canada-est-deja-en-recession-selon-des-economistes.php?ref=onthetrail.info) Canada Post employees are refusing to work overtime, and the union is moving closer to calling a general strike. [Link](https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/article/canada-post-union-calls-for-halt-to-overtime-as-deadline-passes-with-no-agreement/?ref=onthetrail.info) --- **International** Donald Trump, without any evidence, accused the South African president of overseeing a white genocide. [Link](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-ramaphosa-meeting-south-africa-1.7540184?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- Si vous ne l’avez pas encore vu, notre balado sur la crise du logement est sorti! Nous sommes ravis de vous présenter le fruit de notre travail, qui nous a pris plus de mille heures. Nous pensons qu’il tombe à point nommé, étant donné la hausse des loyers et les mauvaises décisions prises au début de l’administration Carney. Nous vous encourageons vivement à écouter notre balado, disponible en français et en anglais! [Lien Pour les balados](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) Pour les francophones également, Isaac est passé à la radio cette semaine pour parler des info-influenceurs. [Vous pouvez écouter à l’émission ici.](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-reveil-nouvelle-ecosse-et-t-n/segments/rattrapage/2075574/actualite-jour?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **La discussion de la semaine** Dans un geste surprenant, [le Canada, la France et le Royaume-Uni ont rédigé une lettre](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2025-05-19/intensification-des-operations-militaires/le-canada-le-royaume-uni-et-la-france-condamnent-israel.php?ref=onthetrail.info) commune exigeant un cessez-le-feu et menaçant d’imposer des sanctions en cas de refus. Tout au long de la semaine, le Canada a jugé nécessaire de prendre position contre les injustices commises par Israël. La situation s’est tendue lorsque [Netanyahou a réagi ](https://www.lapresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/2025-05-20/sanctions-ciblees-envers-israel/le-canada-offre-une-enorme-recompense-au-hamas-selon-netanyahou.php?ref=onthetrail.info)avec colère, alors que des Canadiens ont été impliqués dans un incident–[ des tirs à proximité de diplomates canadiens](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2025-05-22/tirs-israeliens-pres-de-diplomates/la-reaction-est-exageree-dit-l-ambassadeur-d-israel-au-canada.php?ref=onthetrail.info) par les Forces de défense israéliennes. La pression canadienne semble se faire sentir sur le gouvernement israélien. **L’article de la semaine** Les conservateurs sont mécontents du résultat de l’élection et [demandent la démission de la directrice de campagne](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2166539/conservateurs-jenni-byrne-directrice-campagne-poilievre?ref=onthetrail.info). Le parti semble en plein chaos, et la longévité de M. Poilievre est désormais remise en question. Sera-t-il capable de réunir son parti ou l’effort sera-t-il trop important pour lui? **L’article de la semaine** Les conservateurs ne sont pas contents après l'élection. Ils sont en train de demander la tête de la directrice de la campagne. Le parti conservateur semble être en chaos, et la longévité de M. Poilievre est en question. Sera-t-il capable de réunir son parti, ou est ce que ça sera trop gros un effort pour lui? [Lire ici](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2166539/conservateurs-jenni-byrne-directrice-campagne-poilievre?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **Québec** Le nombre de femmes occupant des emplois dans le secteur ouvrier a considérablement diminué en raison du harcèlement. [Lire l’article](https://lp.ca/mIVG41?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) Nous ne sommes pas sûr que le nouveau train REM ouvre en Octobre. [Lire l’article](https://lp.ca/pN7mTu?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) Le Québec a un problème d'alcool au volant et est en faveur d'une réduction de la limite d'alcool au volant. [Lire l’article](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/22/alcool-au-volant--les-quebecois-favorables-a-abaisser-la-limite-a-005?ref=onthetrail.info) Le Bloc Québécois conteste les résultats en Terrebonne à la cour suprême. [Lire l’article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2167030/bloc-quebecois-contestation-resultat-election-terrebonne?ref=onthetrail.info) **Canada** ARC supprimera jusqu'à 280 postes. [Lire l’article](https://lp.ca/kJwPNX?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) Le Canada est déjà en récession, selon les experts. [Lire l’article](https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/2025-05-24/guerre-commerciale/le-canada-est-deja-en-recession-selon-des-economistes.php?ref=onthetrail.info) La Poste Canada ne travaille pas au fil du temps, et rapproche une grève générale. [Lire l’article](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-post-crisis-facts-1.7539354?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** Sans aucun fondement, Donald Trump a accusé le président sud-africain d'avoir présidé à un génocide blanc. [Lire l’article](https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-oval-office-drama-0080e7c7288860bd0511b8cc4efd06f6?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Episode 1: The Housing Crisis/La crise du logement URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-housing-crisisla-crise-du-logement/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:56.000Z # EPISODE 1 EPISODE 1 EPISODE 1 Here’s the link. ### [Enjoy, in French or English.](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) ### [En français et en anglais.](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) This week we set the stage-- preliminary explanations on how we got to this point in the housing crisis, and how the problem goes back forty years. What is gentrification? Is it the same in the big cities and the small towns? Well, through interviews and research, Isaac and Gab are gonna bring you to understand exactly where things went wrong before we can talk about how to fix it. Knowledge slaps! Cette semaine, Issac et Gabrielle partent de la base : explications préliminaires sur les raisons qui ont conduit à la crise du logement et sur les origines du problème, qui remontent à plusieurs décennies. Qu'est-ce que la gentrification ? Est-ce la même chose dans les grandes villes et dans les petites villes ? À travers entrevues et recherche, les deux journalistes vous aideront à comprendre exactement où le bât blesse avant de pouvoir parler des solutions possibles. Une bonne dose de connaissances pour mieux comprendre la suite. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Episode 1 - How Did We Get Here!? URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/episode-1-how-did-we-get-here-c37/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:56.000Z Episode 1 - How Did We Get Here!? 0:00 /200 1× This week we set the stage-- preliminary explanations on how we got to this point in the housing crisis, and how the problem goes back forty years. What is gentrification? Is it the same in the big cities and the small towns? Well, through interviews and research, Isaac and Gab are gonna bring you to understand exactly where things went wrong before we can talk about how to fix it. Knowledge slaps! Check out our written companion pieces on https://Pivot.quebec, and please subscribe to the https://therover.ca and https://duoduet.substack.com ! Isaac Peltz: @isaacapeltz Gabrielle Brassard Lecours: @gabettebl All sound was mixed and mastered by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours All interviews conducted by Isaac Peltz & Gabrielle Brassard Lecours This was made possible because of a grant by AJIQ! ### Punk Is Uniting Divided Generations/Le punk unit des générations fragmentées URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/punk-is-uniting-divided-generationsle/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:59.000Z *Au Pouzza Fest, un festival local de printemps, un large éventail de personnes se réunissent de tout le pays pour montrer ce que signifie l'unité et comment elle peut être réalisée.* #### **Le français suit ci-dessous** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/dcb8df8d-39ac-41a9-ac81-80a9cce3e760_6240x4160-jpeg-1.jpg) ###### Solids Play at Foufounes Photo by Isaac Peltz **At Pouzza Fest, Punk Unites Fragmented Generations** Every spring, hundreds of punks converge on Montreal to attend Pouzza Fest, a springtime festival in Quebec. For its thirteenth edition, the event once again was wild, fun, passionate, and full of a bunch of unknowns that even the concert attendees didn’t know. Despite the absence of mainstream headliners, downtown venues hosted emerging artists and fans from across the country for three days. “Punk fans will show up, even if they don’t know the bands,” said Guilhem Bénard, co-founder of Pouzza. On stage at Club Soda, the singer from the Toronto band *The OBGMs* addressed the crowd with a message: “I go to therapy every week, and I encourage you all to do the same,” he declared, before launching into a high-energy song. Seconds later, a chaotic mosh pit broke out in front of the stage — shoulder slams, shouting, bodies crashing into each other. A classic scene in the punk (or metal, or any aggressive genre) world, where physical intensity becomes a form of catharsis. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/dea2248f-85d0-4abe-a873-d61ccf25bb13_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) ###### Lead singer of the OBGMs Photo By Isaac Peltz [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) But beyond the exuberance of the mosh pit, it was the makeup of the crowd that stood out. Queer people, women, people of colour, both young and old — a diversity far removed from the more homogeneous punk scene of two decades ago. “In 2005, it was just white guys,” says Hugo Mudie, also a co-founder of Pouzza Fest. He noted how the crowd has changed even in the past ten years, and how bands have become more open and accepting. Overcome with emotion, he ended the interview, embarrassed that he started crying during an interview. For him, this shift reflects a deeper transformation within alternative music scenes: more inclusive, more compassionate, more political. The two co-founders noted that punk won’t systematically change politics, but the most significant change comes from how it welcomes people into a community without holding anything back. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/7a88a037-9008-4f4a-a6cd-b5ad0c41afd2_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) ###### Cofounders of Pouzza pose for the camera. Left, Hugo Mudie, Right Guilhem Bénard **A Culture Against the Grain** This diversity starkly contrasts with the growing political and social divisions seen elsewhere in the country. As public discourse becomes more polarized and identity-based tensions rise, Pouzza Fest offers a rare space for unity — a cultural microcosm where art brings people together instead of pushing them apart. Yet organizing such gatherings is increasingly difficult. Cuts to arts funding — notably the [$25 million recently slashed by the CAQ government](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/arts-community-rallies-to-call-for-increased-support-for-quebec-culture/?ref=onthetrail.info) — threaten the survival of festivals like Pouzza, which already operate on limited budgets. Experts argue that an additional $200 million is needed just to stabilize Quebec’s cultural sector. Meanwhile, artists’ living conditions continue to worsen. It’s now common for musicians to juggle full-time jobs, maintain a presence on social media, produce online content, and pursue their artistic careers all at once — a reality that forces many to give up. This cultural decline raises broader questions. What still unites Quebecers — and Canadians — today? The French language remains a core part of Quebec identity, but is it enough on its own to support a desire for sovereignty? According to some polls, support for separation has dropped to historic lows, hovering around 30%. In a context where even Alberta is discussing separation, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet recently remarked: “To separate, you need a culture of your own — and I’m not sure oil and gas qualify.” The message is clear: a national identity can’t be reduced to an industry. In this climate of political and cultural atomization, events like Pouzza Fest remind us that culture has always been a force for cohesion. Marginal, loud, and chaotic; punk still has the power to bring people together. And perhaps it’s here, in the heart of an underground festival in Montreal, that we’ll find the seeds of a cultural and collective renewal. --- ### ***À Pouzza Fest, le punk unit des générations fragmentées*** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/bc39dcd2-a6cd-487f-b02c-199772d5d6cd_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) Chaque printemps, des centaines de passionné.es de musique punk convergent vers Montréal pour participer à Pouzza Fest, un festival bien établi dans le paysage culturel québécois. Pour sa treizième édition, l’événement a été une fois de plus intense, amusant, passionné et rempli d’un tas d’inconnues que même les spectateurs du concert ne connaissaient pas. Malgré l’absence de têtes d’affiche grand public, les salles du centre-ville ont accueilli pendant trois jours des artistes émergents et des spectateurs venus des quatre coins du pays. « Les fans de punk seront là, même s’ils ne connaissent pas les groupes », dit Guilhem Bénard, cofondateur du festival Pouzza. Sur scène, au Club Soda, le chanteur du groupe torontois *The OBGMs* s’est adressé au public pour partager ses états d’âme . « Je vais en thérapie chaque semaine, et je vous encourage à en faire autant », a-t-il lancé, avant de plonger dans un morceau énergique. Quelques secondes plus tard, une mêlée chaotique s’est déclenchée devant la scène : coups d’épaules, cris, corps qui se projettent les uns contre les autres. Une scène typique dans l’univers punk, où la brutalité physique devient une forme de catharsis. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/fa42d227-be91-40be-b891-368a45704053_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) Mais au-delà de l’exubérance du *mosh pit*, c’est la composition du public qui attirait l’attention. Des personnes queer, des femmes, des personnes racisées, jeunes et moins jeunes — une diversité bien éloignée du portrait homogène de la scène punk d’il y a deux décennies. « En 2005, il n’y avait que des hommes blancs », affirme Hugo Mudie, cofondateur de Pouzza Fest. Il continue en remarquant à quel point la population a changé depuis dix ans, comment les groupes sont maintenant plus ouverts et inclusifs. Ému, il a mis fin à l'entrevue, timide pour avoir pleuré. Pour lui, cette évolution témoigne d’un changement profond des scènes musicales alternatives : plus inclusives, plus bienveillantes, plus politiques. Les deux cofondateurs ont commenté le fait que la scène punk ne changera pas la politique de manière systématique, mais que le plus grand changement vient de la façon dont elle accueille les gens dans une communauté sans rien attendre en retour. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/c6784edf-ceb7-49d8-96ab-ee32eee451eb_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) ### **Une culture à contre-courant** Cette diversité contraste fortement avec la montée des divisions politiques et sociales observée ailleurs au pays. Alors que le discours public se polarise et que les revendications identitaires se crispent, Pouzza Fest offre un rare espace de cohésion. Un microcosme culturel où l’art rassemble au lieu de séparer. Or, ce type de rassemblement devient de plus en plus difficile à organiser. Les coupes dans le financement des arts — [notamment les plus de 25 millions de dollars retranchés récemment par le gouvernement de la CAQ](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/arts-community-rallies-to-call-for-increased-support-for-quebec-culture/?ref=onthetrail.info) — mettent en péril des festivals comme Pouzza, qui reposent déjà sur des moyens limités. Selon des experts, il faudrait plutôt investir 200 millions de dollars supplémentaires pour stabiliser le secteur culturel québécois. Pendant ce temps, les conditions de vie des artistes se détériorent. Il est désormais courant pour les musiciens de devoir cumuler un emploi à temps plein, maintenir une présence sur les réseaux sociaux, produire du contenu en ligne, tout en poursuivant une carrière artistique. Une réalité qui en pousse plusieurs à abandonner. ### **La culture, fondement identitaire** Ce recul soulève des questions plus larges. Qu’est-ce qui unit encore les Québécois.es — et les Canadien.nes — aujourd’hui ? La langue française reste une composante centrale de l’identité québécoise, mais suffit-elle à elle seule à soutenir une volonté de souveraineté ? Selon les sondages, l’appui à la séparation atteint autour de 30 %. Dans un contexte où l’Alberta évoque elle aussi la séparation, le chef du Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, a récemment déclaré qu’il faut, pour atteindre la souveraineté, « une culture propre pour se séparer, et je ne suis pas certain que le pétrole et le gaz soient admissibles. » Le message est clair : une identité nationale ne peut pas se résumer à une industrie. Dans ce climat d’atomisation politique et culturelle, des événements comme Pouzza Fest rappellent que la culture a toujours été un vecteur de cohésion. Marginal, bruyant, chaotique; le punk peut encore rassembler. Et c’est peut-être là, au cœur d’un festival underground de Montréal, que se trouvent les germes d’un renouveau culturel et collectif. ### Your News Curation/Votre curation d'actualités URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curationvotre-curation-a5f/ Last updated: 2025-05-17T15:07:40.000Z #### **ENGLISH** **Widely discussed** Mark Carney’s swearing in of his cabinet was well discussed among the media this week, as he chose less ministers than Justin Trudeau, but then added in secretaries of state,[ who have less official power.](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-mark-carney-cabinet-what-is-secretary-of-state/?ref=onthetrail.info). Sadly, many of his choices are questionable, but [none more so than his minister of housing](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-former-vancouver-mayor-whose-housing-policies-made-him-unpopular-now/?ref=onthetrail.info). Gregor Robertson (Or Robinson as Isaac accidentally called him in a video, and will never live down) was the mayor of Vancouver during a time when the housing prices in the city doubled, and became what we could categorically call “a crisis.” The questionability of the decision to put Robertson in charge was immediately [proven to be true when he said “housing prices do not need to go down.”](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/we-need-to-deliver-more-supply-canadas-new-housing-minister-doesnt-think-prices-need-to-come-down/?ref=onthetrail.info) High housing prices don’t just hurt renters, it hurts homeowners too– they have no leeway to barter with banks and get low prices on their mortgages, and renovations are challenging. Not only that, but the 40% of Canadians who are interested in getting into the housing market are stuck with an inability to enter the market, frustrated because down payments have become completely outlandish. Robertson has expressed an unwillingness to lower housing costs, and this could result in a continuation of the housing crisis. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **In more news…** Mark Carney’s Liberal government is not releasing a budget this year, raising huge concerns among analysts and experts. It has drawn significant criticism. Instead they’re proposing to release a budgetary statement, basically a receipt, in the fall. [Read it here](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165231/mark-carney-budget-transparence-gerald-fillion?partageApp=rcca%5Fappmobile%5Fappinfo%5Fandroid&ref=onthetrail.info) Wildfire season started, and Manitoba is suffering the first wave this year. [Read the article](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/lac-du-bonnet-evacuees-1.7536620?ref=onthetrail.info) **Quebec** Isaac is one of them, like others before him, but it seems that info-influencers are becoming increasingly popular; these people are active on social networks who explain and/or comment on current events. Isaac also did a series of interviews on this subject yesterday on various Radio-Canada stations across the country. We will post the links. We are talking about it especially at the moment following the recent announcement of a journalist very active on social networks, employed by Radio-Canada until recently, who has just announced her departure to act independently via her YouTube channel. A phenomenon that is interesting to discuss, and which testifies to profound changes around the sharing of information. [Read the article](https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/medias/880405/montee-info-influenceurs?ref=onthetrail.info) Northvolt leaked contaminants into the Richelieu River. In addition to the economic and social fiasco of this project, which ultimately will not see the light of day, it has now been revealed that it harmed the environment by "leaking contaminants, including carcinogenic substances, into the water flowing from the site into the Richelieu River \[...\]" [Read the article](https://www.ledevoir.com/environnement/878386/northvolt-laisse-fuir-contaminants-vers-riviere-richelieu?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** There is no asylum system in the United States anymore, as Donald Trump has moved to remove it. [Read the article ](https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-asylum-lawsuit-courts-d325740dd73f425309c66f89e670fd8f?ref=onthetrail.info)Donald Trump plans to move 1 million Gazans to Libya, a country with no government. New ceasefire talks are in the works, meanwhile Israel continues their bombing. [Read the article](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/17/israel-gaza-war-new-offensive-netanyahu-hamas-trump-latest-news-updates?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **La discussion de la semaine** L’animateur de Radio-Canada à Québec Alex Boissonneault a annoncé qu’il faisait le saut en politique sous la bannière du Parti québécois (PQ) de Paul St-Pierre Plamondon en vue de l'élection complémentaire qui aura bientôt lieu dans Arthabaska. Il n’est pas le premier journaliste à quitter le milieu pour la politique; [de nombreux autres l’ont fait avant lui](https://www.journaldequebec.com/2018/04/03/15-journalistes-qui-ont-fait-le-saut-en-politique-a-quebec?ref=onthetrail.info), tels que Bernard Drainville, Nathalie Roy et Vincent Marrissal, pour n’en nommer que quelques-uns. Ce qui fait jaser, c’est plutôt son[ passé](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/chroniques/2025-05-14/alex-boissonneault/erreur-de-jeunesse.php?ref=onthetrail.info) de « militant d’extrême gauche ». Il a été arrêté par la police en 2001, alors qu’il avait 22 ans, parce qu’il faisait partie d’un groupe militant qui avait prévu faire de la casse au fameux Sommet des Amériques. Les militants ont été arrêtés deux jours avant le sommet, parce que surveillé depuis des mois par les forces de l'ordre. Il n’y a donc pas eu d’attaque de la part du groupe duquel faisait partie Boissonneault. Les militants ont néanmoins été reconnus coupables, et Boissonneault a obtenu son pardon en 2011\. Il est entré à l’Assemblée Nationale comme journaliste en 2015 et a un parcours exemplaire dans le milieu médiatique. C’est Éric Duhaime qui a ressorti le « passé violent » de Boissonneault au lendemain de l’annonce de son saut en politique, [affirmant](https://www.noovo.info/video/passe-dalex-boissonneault-eric-duhaime-affirme-quil-naurait-jamais-pris-un-candidat-condamne-au-criminel.html?ref=onthetrail.info) que « Les standards du Parti québécois ont baissé. Moi, je ne prendrais pas un candidat qui aurait un passé d’extrême droite et qui aurait été condamné au criminel dans mes rangs ». Ironique, venant de la part d’un politicien, lui aussi ancien animateur de radio, dont [plusieurs activités de son passé](https://pivot.quebec/2022/09/28/eric-duhaime-etait-sur-le-ca-dune-organisation-antisyndicale/?ref=onthetrail.info) laisse [douter](https://pivot.quebec/2022/03/24/eric-duhaime-a-t-il-profite-dun-soutien-illegal-de-lindustrie-petroliere/?ref=onthetrail.info) des [idées](https://pivot.quebec/2022/09/03/eric-duhaime-le-libertarien-du-reseau-liberte-quebec-au-pcq/?ref=onthetrail.info) qu’il défend aujourd’hui… [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **L’article de la semaine** Petite exception cette semaine; il ne s’agit pas d’un article comme tel, mais plutôt d’une lettre ouverte, et oui, je l’avoue, je prêche pour ma paroisse ici puisqu’elle est parue dans Pivot. Je trouve important d’en parler vue l’ampleur qu’elle a prise. Au moment de la publier, il y avait déjà 500 signatures. Depuis sa parution, les signatures ont augmenté à plus de 1500, et ce chiffre continue d’augmenter. Il s’agit d’une lettre intitulée « Il faut qu’on parle de Québécor » et qui dénonce le fait que son patron, Pierre-Karl Péladeau, demande plus de financement pour son empire alors que certains chroniqueurs au sein de ses médias harcèlent, diffament et propagent la haine. J’en profite pour « pluguer » que je ferai paraître un essai à l’automne sur la liberté d’expression qui s’attaquera notamment à cet exemple. [Lire la lettre d’opinion](https://pivot.quebec/2025/05/15/il-faut-quon-parle-de-quebecor/?ref=onthetrail.info) **Québec** Northvolt a laissé fuir des contaminants vers la rivière Richelieu. En plus du fiasco économique et social de ce projet qui ne verra finalement pas le jour, il est maintenant révélé qu’il a nuit à l’environnement en « laissant fuir des contaminants, y compris des substances cancérigènes, dans les eaux qui s’écoulent du terrain vers la rivière Richelieu \[...\] » [Lire l’article](https://www.ledevoir.com/environnement/878386/northvolt-laisse-fuir-contaminants-vers-riviere-richelieu?ref=onthetrail.info) Isaac en fait partie, comme d’autre avant iel, mais il semble que les info-influenceurs deviennent de plus en plus populaire; ces personnes actives sur les réseaux sociaux qui expliquent et/ou commentent l’actualité. Isaac a d’ailleurs fait une série d’entrevue à ce propos hier dans différentes antennes de Radio-Canada à travers le pays. Nous posterons les liens. On en parle surtout en ce moment suite à l’annonce récente d’une journaliste très présente sur les réseaux sociaux, à l’emploi de Radio-Canada jusqu’à récemment, alors qu’elle vient d’en annoncer son départ pour agir à titre indépendant via sa chaîne Youtube. Un phénomène dont il est intéressant de discuter, et qui témoigne de changements profonds autour du partage de l’information. [Lire l’article](https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/medias/880405/montee-info-influenceurs?ref=onthetrail.info) **Canada** C’est mardi dernier que Mark Carney annonçait son nouveau cabinet. Quelques surprises quand même, notamment le départ de Mélanie Joly des Affaires étrangères pour se consacrer au ministère de l’Industrie et du Développement économique. Steven Guilbeault ne retrouvera pas l’environnement, mais restera à Patrimoine Canada, qui s’appelle maintenant Identité et Culture canadiennes, en plus des langues officielles. L’ancien maire de Vancouver Gregor Robertson devient ministre du Logement et de l'Infrastructure. À noter que le ministère des Femmes et de l’Égalité, supprimé par son prédécesseur, est ramené au cabinet par Carney. 7 ministres, soit le quart, sont Québécois. On nous doit bien ça non? [Lire l’article](https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2025-05-13/assermentation-du-cabinet-de-mark-carney/relisez-notre-couverture-en-direct.php?ref=onthetrail.info) Ces jours-ci se déroule le procès de cinq joueurs de l’équipe canadienne de hockey junior accusés d’agressions sexuelles à l’endroit d’une femme. Les événements seraient survenus dans une chambre d’hôtel de London, en Ontario, le 19 juin 2018\. Le procès devait avoir lieu avec jury, mais voilà que ce ne sera plus le cas parce que certains membres du jury se sont plaints que « deux des avocats de la défense semblaient se moquer d’eux à leur arrivée au tribunal ». Le procès se poursuivra donc sans jury à London, en Ontario, dans les prochaines semaines. [Lire l’article](https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2025-05-17/jures-retires-au-proces-des-ex-joueurs-d-ecj/je-n-ai-jamais-vu-une-affaire-pareille-dit-un-avocat.php?ref=onthetrail.info) **International** On en parle moins, et pourtant, le conflit au Moyen-Orient continue de faire des ravages; Israël étend son offensive contre la Palestine, de plus en plus dévastée. Le secrétaire de l’ONU est inquiet et demande un cessez-le-feu immédiat. Selon les dernières données de l’organisme, les représailles israéliennes ont tué au moins 53 272 Gazaouis, en majorité des civils. [Lire l’article](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165808/israel-annonce-elargir-offensive-gaza-onu-inquiete?ref=onthetrail.info) On a beaucoup parlé, cette semaine, de l’avion que la famille royale du Qatar veut offrir à Donald Trump (d’une valeur de 400 millions de dollars) pour qu’il lui serve d’avion présidentiel. Trump n’y voit aucun problème, aucun conflit d’intérêt, et ne voit pas ça comme étant un pot-de-vin. Il aurait peut-être besoin d’un petit cours de politique 101\. En attendant, cette affaire embarrasse les Républicains. [Lire l’article](https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/le-boeing-offert-a-trump-par-le-qatar-embarrasse-les-republicains-20250515?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### It's finally here! Our investigation on housing! Notre enquête sur logement voit enfin le jour! URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/its-finally-here-our-investigation/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:59.000Z **Le français suit** And it starts with the trailer of our podcast! Yes, we will change the visual, but we were too eager to share the previews with you all. You can listen to it right, just below, in English and in French. The episodes of this six part series will be come out every Friday; in English on The Rover and in French in Pivot, as well as wherever you listen to your podcasts. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) A five part series of written pieces will also be published in Pivot, every Monday starting May 26\. We can’t wait to share all of our findings with you! **Français** Et ça comment avec la bande-annonce de notre balado! Oui, nous mettrons une image plus jolie, mais nous étions trop pressés de partager la bande-annonce avec vous, que vous pouvez écouter ci-dessous. Chacun des épisodes de cette série en six parties sortiront chaque vendredi, en français sur Pivot et en anglais sur The Rover, ainsi que sur votre application de balado préférée. Une série de cinq articles écrits paraîtra aussi sur Pivot à partir du lundi 26 mai. Nous avons bien hâte de partager les résultats de notre enquête avec vous! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/f7089adb-de3b-4de3-818d-023342a6f243_2380x2380.png) [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Trailer URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/trailer-766/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:21:59.000Z Trailer 0:00 /200 1× The trailer for one of the most extensive investigations into the housing crisis ever done. ### Why Poilievre’s Brand of Conservatism Won’t Win Canada/Pourquoi le conservatisme de Poilievre ne gagnera pas le Canada URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/why-poilievres-brand-of-conservatism/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:00.000Z **If Poilievre remains leader, the Conservatives will lose again.** Canadian politics is in flux– the left wing parties have been more or less squashed for the moment, and the Liberals continue to rule the nation. Three months ago we were on track for the largest majority government ever in Parliament, the Conservatives likely to take more than 200 seats. Today, we have another Liberal minority, and hardly so. Unless there is a concerted effort from the NDP, Greens, Bloc, and the conservative party, the Liberals will not be struck down anytime soon. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/52a99d52-2486-45f6-be4f-cab769bef776_1057x1465.png) Data by Philippe J. Fournier, taken from his substack. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) It was an unbelievable election. During the election cycle there weren’t that many twists, the drama was kept fairly low. Most of the drama was before the election was called, as Mark Carney suddenly swept the nation, and then election night itself was a dramatic evening. Ontario, which was polling strongly in favour of the Liberal party, was off in the polls– this led to around 15-20 seats less for the Liberals. It was the only place in the country that the polls got wrong, and even then it was within the margin of error. As the NDP rebuilds their party, and rethinks how they want to exist after 2025, it’s extremely unlikely that they would dare to vote down the liberal party. They can’t afford another election, especially without the strong resources that official party status gives them. Already, Elizabeth May is calling for reform to official party status rules, although considering how much power is in the hands of the usual two parties, it’s unlikely to change any time soon. The country has made a decision– and it seems that this decision has almost nothing to do with anyone except Poilievre himself. After the election was called, Poilievre lost his seat. This was an historic downfall. Poilievre decided that he would lead the party to the next victory, even though he is not allowed to be the leader of the opposition based on parliamentary rules. The Conservative party seems to be accepting that he’s remaining on, although there are obvious ruptures within the party that may turn out to be more than he can handle. The members of the Canadian conservative party are much more free thinking than people in the American Republican party, in part due to the way our system is set up. Although people Stateside refuse to turn against Trump, Canadian conservatives have already shown a willingness to speak out when they don’t like something. Poilievre’s party discipline was famous for being extreme, but the party might not accept so many restrictions when he just lost an election that was a sure-fire win only three months ago. The Conservatives will have to figure themselves out, but if they were wise they would drop Pierre Poilievre. Here’s what’s likely: **Pierre Poilievre as leader will cause continued Liberal victories.** Many people in the media love to talk about how the country is completely changed after an election like this, but the media loves anything that will bring in clicks for their advertising revenue. The country hasn’t changed– the NDP didn’t die because leftist voters rejected them. The NDP died because of a deep, seething hatred for Pierre Poilievre. If we contrast Poilievre with Doug Ford, the leader of Ontario, we can see why. Ford displays certain mild interests in populism, but mostly has proven to be a pragmatist and doesn’t want to weigh into “cultural” issues. Ford presents himself as a simple man, who likes simple things, and just wants business to flourish. He has also won 3 huge majorities, and shows no signs of stopping. The way to victory for him is through the old adage: **Republicans fall in line, Democrats fall in love.** Leftist voters tend not to vote if they don’t like a candidate. If they’re feeling uninspired, they won’t go to the polls. There's a certain sentiment of malaise on the left, a nihilistic point of view that says “we can’t win and there isn’t a candidate left enough for me.” The left is highly resistant to voting for the least bad, since an idealistic outlook is more or less the standard for leftists. However, one thing can make them turn out: A major threat. Leftists, who are generally passionate and emotionally driven, saw Poilievre and decided that he would probably lead the country to a vastly worse place than they were willing to accept. [Thus, socialist voters by and large threw their support behind the Liberals.](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2y7969gyo?ref=onthetrail.info) If Poilievre remains in power, and doesn’t radically change as a person, this will continue happening. Ford didn’t inspire the ire of leftist voters, he didn’t threaten much of what socialist voters feel is important. They didn’t turn out. The election in 2022 had the lowest voter turnout in Ontario history at 44 per cent, and the most recent election was not far from it with 45 per cent. Leftists, as much as they dislike Ford, haven’t perceived him as a threat enough to mobilize. This is ironic, considering that Ford is defunding many social systems in usual conservative fashion. Poilievre sounded, looked, and acted like trump. He became more and more obviously a threat, and it’s in part because of his need to be the center of attention and to say what he thinks. He did an exceptional job shoring up his voter base, resulting in the highest share of the vote since Mulroney, but Mulroney won a majority government. Poilievre was far too controversial and it led to the left and center uniting to stop a perceived threat. This won’t end after this election. This is likely to be the outcome of any election led by someone as polarizing as Poilievre. It’s very simple for the conservatives to win. In fact, they would have been more likely to win during these exceptional times with someone like Erin O’Toole, the previous leader of the CPC. Considering Carney was able to peel 12 percentage points off of the conservative party when he took power, it indicates that many voters wanted a more fiscally conservative person who didn’t threaten social systems. Carney was the exact person they wanted. Poilievre appeals to a more western, Alberta/Saskatchewan style of right wing. What happens when Trump is gone? People want change, but many don't want change in the exact specific style of Donald Trump. Countries are divided with large minorities of voters desiring far right leaders. Germany has the AfD, the UK has the Tories, France has the National Rally… These parties are losing in their elections recently, but they have a big audience. Australia just had an election which perfectly mirrors Canada. The leader of the Liberals in Australia (the equivalent to the conservative party in Canada) lost his own seat, which he had held for more than twenty years. He was on track to win a huge victory in Parliament. He didn’t because he looked like Trump. The Conservative Party needs to install a leader who will attract moderates, and accept things like climate change, gender diversity, and who doesn’t bully the other leaders. Western, aggressive conservatism will not win elections in Canada, and will lead to consecutive losses by the conservatives because leftists will not allow it to come through. Whether the party will learn this lesson is impossible to say short term. **FRANÇAIS** **Si Poilievre reste à la tête du parti, les conservateurs perdront à nouveau.** La politique canadienne est en pleine mutation : les partis de gauche sont très peu présents pour l’instant et ne vont pas bien, et les libéraux continuent de diriger le pays. Il y a trois mois, nous étions en passe d'obtenir le plus grand gouvernement majoritaire jamais vu au Parlement, les conservateurs étant susceptibles de remporter plus de 200 sièges. Aujourd'hui, nous avons une nouvelle minorité libérale, et de justesse. À moins d'un effort concerté du NPD, du Bloc et du Parti conservateur, les libéraux ne seront pas renversés de sitôt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/52a99d52-2486-45f6-be4f-cab769bef776_1057x1465-1.png) Cette élection a été assez incroyable. Pendant la campagne électorale, il n'y a pas eu beaucoup de rebondissements; le suspense est resté assez faible. L'essentiel du suspense s'est déroulé avant l'annonce des résultats, lorsque Mark Carney a soudainement conquis le pays, puis le soir même des élections a été dramatique. La Les sondages, qui projetait l'Ontario comme étant largement favorable au Parti libéral, se sont trompés de quelques points de pourcentage, ce qui a coûté environ 15 à 20 sièges aux libéraux. C'est le seul endroit dans le pays où les sondages se sont trompés, et même dans ce cas, c'était dans la marge d'erreur. Alors que le NPD reconstruit son parti et repense sa façon d'exister après 2025, il est extrêmement improbable qu'il ose voter contre le Parti libéral. Il ne peut pas se permettre une autre élection, surtout sans les ressources importantes que lui confère son statut de parti officiel. Elizabeth May réclame déjà une réforme des règles relatives au statut officiel des partis, mais compte tenu du pouvoir dont disposent les deux partis traditionnels, il est peu probable que cela ne change de sitôt. Le pays a pris une décision, et il semble que cette dernière n'ait presque rien à voir avec qui que ce soit d'autre que Poilievre lui-même. Il a perdu son siège. Ce fut une chute historique. Poilievre a décidé qu'il mènerait le parti à la prochaine victoire coûte que coûte, même s'il n'est pas autorisé à être chef de l'opposition en vertu des règles parlementaires. Le Parti conservateur semble accepter son maintien, bien qu'il existe des divisions évidentes au sein du parti qui pourraient s'avérer plus importantes que prévu. Les membres du Parti conservateur canadien sont beaucoup plus libres d'esprit que ceux du Parti républicain américain, en partie en raison de la façon dont notre système est organisé. Alors que les Américains refusent de se retourner contre Trump, les conservateurs canadiens ont déjà montré leur volonté de s'exprimer lorsqu'ils n'aiment pas quelque chose. La discipline du parti de Poilievre était réputée pour être sévère, mais le parti pourrait ne pas accepter autant de restrictions alors qu'il vient de perdre une élection qui semblait gagnée d'avance il y a seulement trois mois. Les conservateurs devront se ressaisir, mais s'ils sont avisés, ils abandonneront Pierre Poilievre. Voici ce qui risque de se passer : **Pierre Poilievre à la tête du parti entraînera la poursuite des victoires libérales.** Beaucoup de gens dans les médias aiment parler de la façon dont le pays a complètement changé après une élection comme celle-ci, mais les médias aiment tout ce qui peut leur rapporter des clics et donc des revenus publicitaires. Le pays n'a pas changé : le NPD n'est pas mort parce que les électeurs de gauche l'ont rejeté. Le NPD est mort à cause d'une haine profonde et bouillonnante envers Pierre Poilievre. Si l'on compare Poilievre à Doug Ford, le Premier ministre de l'Ontario, on comprend pourquoi. Ford affiche un intérêt modéré pour le populisme, mais s'est surtout révélé pragmatique et peu enclin à se prononcer sur les questions « culturelles ». Ford se présente comme un homme simple, qui aime les choses simples et qui souhaite simplement que les affaires prospèrent. Il a également remporté trois majorités écrasantes et ne montre aucun signe de ralentissement. La voie vers la victoire pour lui passe par le vieil adage : « Les républicains se rallient, les démocrates tombent amoureux ». Les électeurs de gauche ont tendance à ne pas voter s'ils n'aiment pas un candidat. S'ils ne se sentent pas inspirés, ils ne se rendent pas aux urnes. Il règne un certain sentiment de malaise à gauche, une vision nihiliste qui dit « nous ne pouvons pas gagner et il n'y a plus de candidat qui me convient ». La gauche est très réticente à voter pour le moins mauvais, car une vision idéaliste est plus ou moins la norme chez les gauchistes. Cependant, une chose peut les faire se mobiliser : une menace majeure. Les électeurs de gauche, qui sont généralement passionnés et guidés par leurs émotions, ont vu Poilievre et ont décidé qu'il mènerait probablement le pays vers une situation bien pire que celle qu'ils étaient prêts à accepter. Ainsi, les électeurs socialistes ont dans l'ensemble apporté leur soutien aux libéraux. Si Poilievre reste au pouvoir et ne change pas radicalement, cette tendance se poursuivra. Ford n'a pas suscité la colère des électeurs de gauche, il n'a pas menacé grand-chose de ce qui est important pour les électeurs socialistes. Ils ne se sont pas mobilisés. Les élections de 2022 ont enregistré le taux de participation le plus bas de l'histoire de l'Ontario, avec 44 %, et les dernières élections n'étaient pas loin derrière, avec 45 %. Les gauchistes, même s'ils n'aiment pas Ford, ne le perçoivent pas comme une menace suffisante pour se mobiliser. Ironique, compte tenu que Ford coupe le financement de nombreux systèmes sociaux, comme le font habituellement les conservateurs. Poilievre parlait, ressemblait et agissait comme Trump. Il est clairement devenu une menace, en partie parce qu'il a besoin d'être le centre de l'attention et de dire ce qu'il pense. Il a fait un travail exceptionnel pour consolider sa base électorale, ce qui lui a permis d'obtenir le plus grand nombre de voix depuis Mulroney, mais ce dernier avait remporté la majorité au gouvernement. Poilievre était beaucoup trop controversé, ce qui a conduit la gauche et le centre à s'unir pour mettre fin à ce qu'ils percevaient comme une menace. Cela ne s'arrêtera pas après cette élection. C'est probablement le résultat de toute élection menée par une personnalité aussi clivante que Poilievre. Il est très simple pour les conservateurs de gagner. En fait, ils auraient eu plus de chances de gagner dans cette conjoncture avec quelqu'un comme Erin O'Toole, l'ancien chef du PCC. Le fait que Carney ait réussi à retirer 12 points de pourcentage au parti conservateur lorsqu'il a pris le pouvoir indique que de nombreux électeurs voulaient une personne plus conservatrice sur le plan fiscal et qui ne menaçait pas les systèmes sociaux. Carney était exactement la personne qu'ils voulaient. Poilievre séduit davantage la droite de l'Ouest, celle de l'Alberta et de la Saskatchewan. Que se passera-t-il après le départ de Trump ? Les gens veulent du changement, mais beaucoup ne veulent pas de changement dans le style de Donald Trump. Les pays sont divisés, avec d'importantes minorités d'électeurs qui souhaitent des dirigeants d'extrême droite. L'Allemagne a l'AfD, le Royaume-Uni a les Conservateurs, la France a le Rassemblement national… Ces partis perdent les élections récemment, mais ils bénéficient d'une large audience. L'Australie vient de tenir des élections et c’est le parti travailliste qui a remporté le pouvoir. Le chef du Parti libéral australien (l'équivalent du Parti conservateur au Canada) a perdu son siège, qu'il occupait depuis plus de vingt ans. Il était en passe de remporter une victoire écrasante au Parlement. Il a échoué parce qu'il ressemblait à Trump. Le Parti conservateur doit se doter d'un leader capable d'attirer les modérés, d'accepter des choses comme le changement climatique et la diversité des genres, et qui ne malmène pas les autres leaders. Le conservatisme occidental agressif ne permettra pas de remporter les élections au Canada et conduira à des défaites successives des conservateurs, car la gauche ne le permettra pas. Il est impossible de dire à court terme si le parti tirera les leçons de cette expérience. ### Your News Curation/Votre curation d'actualités URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/your-news-curationvotre-curation-9fb/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:02.000Z [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/0ee85788-d995-4856-9ebe-afd0bd4983f3_6240x4160-jpeg-1.jpg) photo of chief Lance Haymond, Kebaowek, by Isaac Peltz **Le français suit ensuite** #### **Isaac Peltz & Christopher Curtis** Isaac & Chris dropped an article this morning about government conspiracies, human rights, the destruction of wildlife and biodiversity, pollution, and about one company’s effort to ignore charter rights and possibly harm millions of people in the process. It’s a long read, but this is a piece that we believe will stand the test of time. [Read Here](https://therover.ca/anishinaabe-lead-fight-against-nuclear-dump/?ref=onthetrail.info) #### **Podcast!** Go listen to this week’s election podcast with Isaac, Gabrielle and Savannah Stewart! [Listen Here](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) #### **Widely Discussed** This weekend is the end of the electoral campaign. After hundreds of hours of work, the two of us are completely wiped. What’s the election going to look like? Well, the number 1 pollster in the country, [Léger, has the parties at 43% Liberal, and 39% Conservative](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/26/dernier-sondage-avant-le-scrutin-une-stabilite-historique-dans-les-intentions-de-vote?ref=onthetrail.info). The numbers match perfectly with other well respected polls like Nanos, as well as the two poll tracker averages. Basically, if these numbers are right (and they probably are), this would lead to a Liberal Majority, and it would serve to effectively eliminate the NDP and Green from the face of Canada. This is likely a one off, seeing as this campaign coincides with several historic global shifts. The Conservatives have certainly tightened the race since the beginning of the campaign, but unless the polls are very, very wrong (and they could be! But it isn’t likely) then the Liberals could walk away with a fourth mandate. The reality is that we don’t know until it’s over– so get out there and vote. As frustrating as it can be to see the problems in the system, it doesn’t change without every step of civic participation. This is one of them. [If you want to know where you vote on monday, go to this website.](https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=vote&dir=locate&document=index&lang=e&ref=onthetrail.info) Good luck and godspeed! #### **Our English Headline of the week** **Things have become… disturbingly autocratic** in the United States. Donald Trump and his allies have started targeting judges, who were the only ones standing in the way of the regime. There seems to be no length Trump won’t go to assure his complete domination of the country, and he has even started pushing the idea of a fourth presidential run, selling hats that say “Trump 2028”. [Read it Here](https://apnews.com/article/immigration-judge-arrested-7997186bbca5730e70a25f2347e631f6?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) **If you want to support our work, we’d love it if you signed up for 5$ a month!** That’s less money than a latte in 2025! **Please tell us your feedback!** We will be growing this and developing it until it is exactly what everyone wants. Submit your comments, DM Isaac on instagram, tell us how it could be improved. Should we make longer summaries? Should we have more links? Less links? Tell us! We are committed to making this as good as it can be. #### **International** Pope Francis, renowned for being a merciful man attempting to change the direction of the oldest global institution, dies at 88. [Read it Here](https://apnews.com/live/pope-francis-funeral-updates?ref=onthetrail.info) Violence erupts between India and Pakistan [Read it Here](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/25/kashmir-attack-pahalgam-india-pakistan-army-chief-visit-srinagar?CMP=Share%5FAndroidApp%5FOther&ref=onthetrail.info) #### **Canada** For students looking to study in Quebec from other provinces, they will not be charged the extremely high fees proposed by the provincial government. [Read it Here](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-tuition-fees-university-1.7517875?ref=onthetrail.info) PPC Candidate earnestly believes they were abducted by an alien. [Read It Here](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/22/videos-je-suis-allee-dans-un-vaisseau-une-candidate-du-ppc-a-montreal-croit-etre-une-extraterrestre?ref=onthetrail.info) #### **Quebec** Doctors in Quebec have to serve publicly before they can work privately. Their licenses in the private sector will be limited. [Read it Here](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2159053/medecins-famille-negociation-patients-vulnerables-inesss-couleurs?partageApp=rcca%5Fappmobile%5Fappinfo%5Fandroid&ref=onthetrail.info) All Quebec households will be eligible to receive smart thermostats to help keep electric costs down, and to help the environment. [Read it Here](https://lp.ca/l1Laqr?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) That’s it! Thank you so much. Monday we will learn who won! [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- #### **Isaac Peltz & Christopher Curtis** Isaac et Chris ont publié un article ce matin sur les complots gouvernementaux, les droits de la personne, la destruction de la faune et de la biodiversité, la pollution, ainsi que sur les efforts d’une entreprise à ignorer les droits garantis par la Charte, mettant potentiellement en danger des millions de personnes. L’article est long, mais c’est un texte qui, selon nous, restera pertinent longtemps. [Lire ici](https://therover.ca/anishinaabe-lead-fight-against-nuclear-dump/?ref=onthetrail.info) #### Podcast ! Écoutez l’épisode de cette semaine sur l’élection, avec Isaac, Gabrielle et Ludvic! [Écouter ici](https://linktr.ee/ixcwylde?ref=onthetrail.info) #### **La discussion de la semaine** La campagne électorale s’achève ce weekend. Après des centaines d’heures de travail, nous sommes tous les deux épuisés. À quoi s’attendre pour ces élections ? Le sondeur [numéro 1 du pays, Léger, place les libéraux à 43 % et les conservateurs à 39 %](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/26/dernier-sondage-avant-le-scrutin-une-stabilite-historique-dans-les-intentions-de-vote?ref=onthetrail.info). Ces chiffres concordent parfaitement avec d’autres sondages respectés, tels que ceux de Nanos et les moyennes des agrégateurs. Si ces chiffres ont raison (ce qui est fort probable), cela pourrait aboutir à une majorité libérale, réduisant pratiquement à néant le NPD et les verts sur la scène fédérale. Cette situation exceptionnelle coïncide avec plusieurs bouleversements mondiaux historiques. Les conservateurs ont certainement réduit l’écart depuis le début de la campagne, mais à moins que les sondages ne soient très fortement erronés (ce qui est possible, bien que peu probable), les libéraux pourraient obtenir un quatrième mandat consécutif. La vérité, c’est qu’on ne saura rien avant la fin – alors allez voter. Aussi frustrant soit-il de constater les problèmes du système, rien ne changera sans la participation active des citoyens. Voter est un geste essentiel. [Pour savoir où voter lundi, consultez ce site.](https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=vote&dir=locate&document=index&lang=e&ref=onthetrail.info) Bonne chance et bon vote ! #### Titre francophone de la semaine Les étudiants venant d’autres provinces canadiennes pour étudier au Québec ne se verront pas imposer les frais élevés initialement proposés par le gouvernement provincial. [Lire ici](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-tuition-fees-university-1.7517875?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Si vous souhaitez soutenir notre travail, nous vous invitons à souscrire à un abonnement mensuel de 5 $ ! C’est moins cher qu’un café en 2025 ! Merci de nous faire part de vos commentaires ! Nous allons continuer à faire évoluer cette lettre d’information jusqu’à ce qu’elle réponde parfaitement à vos attentes. Envoyez-nous vos remarques, contactez Isaac en message privé sur Instagram, et dites-nous ce qui pourrait être amélioré. Devrions-nous proposer des résumés plus détaillés ? Plus ou moins de liens ? Faites-nous savoir ! Nous voulons vous offrir le meilleur contenu possible. #### International Les États-Unis basculent dans un autoritarisme inquiétant. Donald Trump et ses alliés s’attaquent désormais aux juges, derniers remparts face à ce régime. Trump semble prêt à tout pour asseoir son emprise sur le pays, allant même jusqu’à évoquer une quatrième candidature présidentielle, vendant des casquettes « Trump 2028 ». [Lire ici](https://apnews.com/article/immigration-judge-arrested-7997186bbca5730e70a25f2347e631f6?ref=onthetrail.info) Le pape François, connu pour sa miséricorde et ses tentatives de réformer la plus ancienne institution mondiale, est décédé à l’âge de 88 ans. [Lire ici](https://apnews.com/live/pope-francis-funeral-updates?ref=onthetrail.info) Canada Un candidat du PPC croit sincèrement avoir été enlevé par des extraterrestres. [Lire ici](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/22/videos-je-suis-allee-dans-un-vaisseau-une-candidate-du-ppc-a-montreal-croit-etre-une-extraterrestre?ref=onthetrail.info) Québec Les médecins au Québec devront servir dans le secteur public avant de pouvoir exercer dans le privé. Leurs licences pour pratiquer dans le secteur privé seront limitées. [Lire ici](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2159053/medecins-famille-negociation-patients-vulnerables-inesss-couleurs?partageApp=rcca%5Fappmobile%5Fappinfo%5Fandroid&ref=onthetrail.info) Tous les familles québécoises seront admissibles à l’installation de thermostats intelligents afin de réduire les coûts d’électricité et de protéger l’environnement. [Lire ici](https://lp.ca/l1Laqr?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) Voilà, c’est tout ! Merci infiniment. Lundi, nous connaîtrons les résultats ! [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Pope Francis, a Complex Legacy/Le pape François, un héritage complexe URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/pope-francis-a-complex-legacyle-pape/ Last updated: 2025-04-25T15:02:18.000Z This is an article that Isaac wrote about the Pope, and his complex legacy in regards to Canada and Quebec. It was interesting cross analysing the Pope with someone like Justin Trudeau, two men with similarly complex legacies. Two people who seemed to want to do well, but who seemed as though their political handcuffs kept them from being more radical. Il s'agit d'un article d'Isaac sur le pape et son héritage complexe au Canada et au Québec. Il était intéressant d'analyser le pape et un homme comme Justin Trudeau, deux hommes aux héritages tout aussi complexes. Deux personnes qui semblaient vouloir réussir, mais que leurs entraves politiques semblaient empêcher de se radicaliser davantage. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- In June 2019, Justin Trudeau openly acknowledged that the violence perpetrated against Indigenous peoples constituted genocide. This was a historic moment in Canada, particularly compared to his predecessors, who never treated Indigenous peoples with respect or humanity. From John A. Macdonald to Stephen Harper, no Canadian leader has truly fostered positive relations with these communities. Even if Trudeau’s actions have not completely resolved these issues, they mark significant progress. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' publication, *The Trudeau Record*, Trudeau made notable advancements in relations with Indigenous peoples, even as the bar is quite low. A similar assessment could be made about Pope Francis's humanitarian record. For Canadian Catholics, perhaps the most significant event was Francis's 2022 apology for the Catholic Church’s role in this genocide. This historic moment reminded Catholics of the Church’s mercy and sparked hope for a better future. Although some Catholics, as well as many progressive non-Christians, feel Francis did not go far enough, these apologies nevertheless represented an unprecedented gesture by a pope. When outsiders legitimately criticize the Catholic Church for its complex and often violent history, they struggle to understand why it evolves so slowly. However, for those within the Church, the slow pace of change is easily explained by the complexity of its internal politics and the constant balancing act between modernity and tradition. Francis embodied this tension, leaving behind a complex legacy. He might be remembered historically as the one who tried to initiate a profound transformation of the Catholic Church, or conversely, as an anomaly in its modern history. French Canadians are no longer "universally" Catholic (indeed, they never truly were), and the Church itself has changed significantly since the Quiet Revolution. Yet, the shadow of Catholicism still hangs over Quebec, often in tension with contemporary Quebecois values. However, it would be inaccurate to simplify Catholic Church politics into a binary opposition; its faithful represent a demographic as diverse as the global population. Currently, the Catholic Church is experiencing profound internal tensions between liberal and conservative Catholics. The relationship between the Vatican and its followers has never been straightforward. The pope, both a spiritual leader and international political figure, wields considerable influence. Francis engaged in global conflicts, notably condemning violence in Gaza, calling for peace in Ukraine, and regularly urging political leaders to act according to the Catholic values he advocated. For many LGBTQ Catholics, Francis’s 2013 welcoming remarks to homosexuals within the Church, as well as his 2023 condemnation of the criminalization of homosexuality, were significant. Nevertheless, his recurring criticism of "gender theory" highlights the Church's persistent contradictions on these issues. In 2021, hundreds of priests openly defied Francis by blessing same-sex unions in reaction to his opposition to gay marriage. Francis appeared intent on steering the Church toward a more progressive and inclusive path. However, despite his progressive stance, he could never fully escape the political realities of the Vatican, despite his efforts to promote a more modern and empathetic approach. The history of the Catholic Church is inseparable from Western history: it is an ancient institution marked as much by violence, bloodshed, and human rights abuses as by a remarkable capacity to adapt and influence social progress—sometimes by hindering it. For those aspiring to a more humanistic Church, Francis’s pontificate was a blessing. For those attached to traditional rites, it was a source of tension. Thus, the choice of the next pope will be crucial. Cardinals close to Francis may continue along his path, but it is likely that some bishops and archbishops will seek a return to older traditions that predate Francis. The Catholic Church evolves slowly, but after twelve years under Francis's leadership, the central question remains: Will the Church continue along this more progressive path, or revert to a more conservative orientation, similar to that adopted by some American evangelical churches? Only time will tell. --- En juin 2019, Justin Trudeau a ouvertement reconnu que les violences perpétrées contre les peuples autochtones constituaient un génocide. Ce fut un moment historique au Canada, notamment comparé à ses prédécesseurs, qui n'ont jamais traité les Autochtones avec respect ni humanité. De John A. Macdonald à Stephen Harper, aucun dirigeant canadien n’a entretenu de relation réellement positive avec ces peuples. Même si les actions de Trudeau n’ont pas entièrement résolu ces problèmes, elles marquent une amélioration notable. Selon l’ouvrage The Trudeau Record du Centre canadien de politiques alternatives, Trudeau a accompli des progrès significatifs dans les relations avec les Autochtones, même si les attentes étaient très faibles. On pourrait en dire autant du bilan du pape François en matière humanitaire. Pour les catholiques canadiens, l’événement le plus marquant fut probablement les excuses présentées par François en 2022 pour le rôle joué par[ l’Église catholique dans ce génocide](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-07/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-inflight-press-conference-canada.html?ref=onthetrail.info). Ce moment historique a rappelé aux catholiques la miséricorde de l’Église et suscité l’espoir d’un avenir meilleur. Bien que certains catholiques, tout comme de nombreux progressistes non-chrétiens, jugent que François n’est pas allé suffisamment loin, ces excuses constituaient néanmoins un geste inédit de la part d’un pape. Lorsque des personnes extérieures critiquent légitimement l’Église catholique pour son histoire complexe et souvent violente, elles peinent à comprendre pourquoi celle-ci évolue si lentement. Pour ceux à l’intérieur de l’Église, toutefois, la lenteur des changements s’explique aisément par la complexité de sa politique interne et le constant équilibre à trouver entre modernité et tradition. François a incarné cette tension, laissant derrière lui un héritage complexe. Peut-être restera-t-il dans l’histoire comme celui qui a tenté d’amorcer une transformation profonde de l’Église catholique, ou au contraire, comme un aberration dans son histoire moderne. Les Canadiens français ne sont plus « universellement » catholiques (en réalité, ils n'ont jamais étaient), et l’Église elle-même a changé depuis la Révolution tranquille. Pourtant, l’ombre du catholicisme plane encore sur le Québec, souvent en tension avec les valeurs contemporaines des Québécois. Cependant, il serait inexact de réduire les politiques de l’Église catholique à une opposition binaire : ses fidèles représentent une démographie aussi diverse que celle de la population mondiale. Actuellement, l’Église catholique est traversée par de profondes tensions internes entre catholiques libéraux et conservateurs. La relation entre le Vatican et ses fidèles n’a jamais été simple. Le pape, leader spirituel mais aussi figure politique internationale, exerce une influence considérable. François s’est impliqué dans les conflits mondiaux, condamnant notamment les violences à Gaza, appelant à la paix en Ukraine et pressant régulièrement les dirigeants politiques à agir selon les valeurs catholiques qu’il défendait. Pour de nombreux catholiques LGBTQ, les paroles de François en [2013 accueillant les homosexuels](https://www.newwaysministry.org/2013/09/19/pope-francis-welcome-signals-a-new-dawn-of-hope-for-lgbt-people-and-allies/?ref=onthetrail.info) au sein de l’Église, ainsi que sa condamnation en [2023 de la criminalisation de l’homosexualité](https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-gay-rights-ap-interview-1359756ae22f27f87c1d4d6b9c8ce212?ref=onthetrail.info), furent importantes. Cependant, [ses critiques récurrentes](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pope-francis-gender-theory-ideology-1.7130679?ref=onthetrail.info) de la « théorie du genre » rappellent les contradictions persistantes de l’Église sur ces sujets. En 2021, des centaines de prêtres ont ouvertement désobéi à François en bénissant des unions homosexuelles, en réaction à son opposition au mariage entre personnes de même sexe. François semblait vouloir orienter l’Église vers une voie plus progressiste et inclusive. Toutefois, même en étant progressiste, il n’a jamais pu totalement se libérer des réalités politiques du Vatican, malgré ses tentatives de promouvoir une approche plus moderne et empathique. L’histoire de l’Église catholique est indissociable de celle de l’Occident : c’est une institution ancienne, marquée autant par la violence, le sang versé et les violations des droits humains que par une remarquable capacité d’adaptation et d’influence sur le progrès social, parfois en le freinant. Pour ceux aspirant à une Église plus humaniste, le pontificat de François fut une bénédiction. Pour ceux attachés aux rites traditionnels, il fut source de tensions. Ainsi, le choix du prochain pape sera crucial. Les cardinaux proches de François pourraient poursuivre dans sa lignée, mais il est fort probable que certains évêques et archevêques souhaitent revenir à des traditions plus anciennes, antérieures à François. L’Église catholique évolue lentement, mais après douze ans sous la direction de François, la question centrale demeure : l’Église poursuivra-t-elle sur cette voie plus progressiste, ou reviendra-t-elle à une orientation plus conservatrice, similaire à celle adoptée par certaines Églises évangéliques américaines ? Seul l’avenir nous le dira. ### Two Catholics, Two Visions for Canada/Deux catholiques, deux visions du Canada URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/two-catholics-two-visions-for-canadadeux/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:03.000Z Collage by Sabrina Di Matteo Earlier today [I released an article in French ](https://presence-info.ca/article/actualite/politique/deux-catholiques-deux-visions-du-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info)analyzing the two faiths of the big party leaders, and exclusively for paid subscribers I have translated it into English for you! Enjoy! Feel free to read the article on the website if you’re not a paid subscriber. Plus tôt dans la journée, [j'ai publié un article en français](https://presence-info.ca/article/actualite/politique/deux-catholiques-deux-visions-du-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) analysant les deux confessions des chefs des grands partis. Je l'ai traduit en anglais, en exclusivité pour les abonnés payants ! Bonne lecture ! [N’hésitez pas à lire l’article sur le site si vous êtes francophone !](https://presence-info.ca/article/actualite/politique/deux-catholiques-deux-visions-du-canada/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- Guided by the same faith, Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney offer contrasting visions. Neither explicitly cites their faith as a decisive factor in their politics, yet one employs evangelical morality to solidify his base, while the other uses Catholic ethics to shape his economic views. In 2023, Pierre Poilievre published an advertisement in an Ottawa newspaper for Easter. The ad showed his face next to an image of the three crosses on Golgotha, the site of Jesus's crucifixion. In large letters, the ad proclaimed: "He is risen!" ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/2d022cb6-8c2b-46fa-b104-a0bf69335c63_720x732-jpeg.jpg) Pierre Poilievre has long courted Canada's Christian vote, although he is not personally practising, according to the book "Pierre Poilievre: A Political Life." Raised Catholic, he stopped attending mass shortly after his political career began. The day Mark Carney called the election, a journalist asked him: "Mr. Carney, you are a practising Catholic, you went to church before your meeting with the Governor General this morning... Do you support a woman's right to choose?" Carney responded discreetly: "I wouldn't have drawn attention to the fact that I went to church, but thanks for pointing it out." Nevertheless, his Catholic faith influences many aspects of his life. However, it would be inaccurate to suggest that the Christian values from Poilievre’s upbringing do not influence his political opinions. Having spent his entire adult life in Parliament, his voting record clearly reflects values instilled by his mother, who took him to anti-abortion demonstrations in Calgary and Reform Party rallies during his youth. His father came out as gay before their divorce, which also influences his political journey. In 2005, Poilievre voted against the legalization of same-sex marriage. He openly opposes medical assistance in dying (MAID) and advocates for a libertarian economy based on tax reduction. However, he does not consistently align with traditional Christian values, refusing notably to reopen the abortion debate or explicitly oppose LGBTQ+ rights, having apparently shifted from his initial stance in 2005\. Despite this, his positions generally align more closely with evangelical concerns than with Catholic doctrine. Carney's religious influences are easier to identify through his public engagements and writings. In his book, "Value(s): Building a Better World For All," Carney emphasizes that global markets must benefit humanity, not just investors. During the Liberal leadership debates, he declared markets should serve "people, not profits," a perspective influenced by a meeting with Pope Francis, who advocates "humanizing the economy." Conversely, Carney usually avoids engaging openly in sensitive cultural debates. After the French debate, when asked by Rebel News about the number of genders, a visibly uncomfortable Carney replied: "If we're talking strictly about sex, two." He addresses sensitive subjects only when necessary, except to affirm his unwavering support for women's right to choose. The issue of transgender rights, although highly contentious, received little attention during the election campaign. Before the elections, when asked his opinion on Donald Trump’s ban on transgender athletes, Poilievre simply replied: "I only know two genders." This was not directly answering the question posed but seemed to signal his stance to supporters. He has not revisited this topic publicly since. Earlier, in 2024, he also expressed discomfort regarding transgender women's access to women's restrooms. These carefully measured statements aim to reassure his conservative electorate while avoiding major controversy. Carney, meanwhile, has never publicly addressed transgender or LGBTQ+ rights, except to affirm his support for existing Canadian law. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Poilievre takes a clearly pro-Israel stance, minimizing humanitarian concerns for Palestinians and holding Hamas responsible for their suffering. His position clearly aligns with many North American evangelicals. Carney, meanwhile, proposes an arms embargo, supports a two-state solution, and emphasizes respect for international law. Although these positions are not entirely satisfactory to pro-Palestinian advocates, they align more closely with the official Liberal Party stance. Despite apparent similarities and common Catholic roots, Carney and Poilievre differ significantly on social issues while sharing certain views on fiscal responsibility. Carney remains more openly faithful to Catholicism in public life, whereas Poilievre, though distant from active religious practice, retains the influence of his religious heritage in his political stances. Neither frequently discusses their faith publicly nor cites it as the primary reason for their views. Despite their similar backgrounds, these two leaders offer radically different visions for Canada’s future, even though they may initially appear remarkably alike. ### Débat des chefs anglophones: Carney attaqué et médias fâchés/Debate of the Anglophone Leaders: Carney attacked, the Media In Shambles URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/debat-des-chefs-anglophones-carney/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:03.000Z #### English Below French ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/3948c29e-9c78-4fd6-99ed-7acc3718ca3c_7947x4937-jpeg-1.jpg) Photo taken by Jean Tremblay, POOL [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) #### Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours D’emblée, le débat anglophone était un peu plus animé que celui en français. C’était prévisible, compte tenu l’anglais est la première langue de trois des quatre candidats. Yves-François Blanchet s’en est quand même tiré en anglais, mais il évident qu’il avait vraiment moins d’espace que pendant le débat du 16 avril. Mark Carney était vraiment la cible de tous ses adversaires. Entre Jagmeet Singh, du Nouveau Parti Démocratique (NPD) qui a passé l’ensemble du débat à affirmer que le Premier ministre prenait, même avant son entrée en politique, des décisions qui ne bénéficient qu’aux plus riches, et Pierre Poilievre qui s’attaquait à Carney exactement de la même manière qu’il s’en prenait à Justin Trudeau, disons que le Premier ministre n’avait d’autres choix que d’être en mode défensif. Il est par contre resté assez posé et calme. Il s’est même permis une petite blague pendant la ronde de questions; après que tous ses opposants l'aient choisi pour l’interroger, venu à son tour, il a commencé par dire « peut-être devrais-je moi-même me poser. » Singh interrompait souvent Carney, mais on peut le comprendre; il jouait sa carrière politique et se battait un peu avec l’énergie du désespoir. Poilievre s’est attaqué principalement au bilan des Libéraux, menaçant qu’un autre terme libéral mènerait la population canadienne tout droit dans le mur. Blanchet, bien qu’il parlait moins que pendant le débat francophone, faisait des interventions pertinentes et calmes. On ne peut pas dire qu’un candidat se soit vraiment démarqué plus qu’un autre, mais comme les tirs étaient groupés sur Carney, il s’est bien défendu dans l’ensemble. Sa stratégie était certainement de démontrer qu’il avait l’étoffe d’un leader qui ne se laisse pas décontenancer par ses adversaires, reflétant sa posture face à Trump. On a sinon abordé les questions de logements, de façon assez légère, celle des États-Unis, du crime et de l’environnement. **Le chaos médiatique** Mais ce qui a teinté les deux débats, et ce qui m’intéresse parce que c’est mon domaine de prédilection, c’est certainement l’enjeu autour de la présence des médias « alternatifs », principalement [celle de Rebel News](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/868705/medias-droite-imposent-lors-conferences-presse-apres-debat?ref=onthetrail.info). Ce « média » est problématique depuis longtemps, à cause de sa manière d’exercer le « journalisme », et de plusieurs faits avérés Une très simple et courte recherche sur un moteur de recherche permet de trouver les offenses de Rebel News, notamment [sa tentative de faire annuler 3000$ d’amendes](https://www.lapresse.ca/elections-federales/2025-04-17/debat-des-chefs-en-anglais/les-points-de-presse-annules%5F1.php?ref=onthetrail.info), imposées en 2021 après une enquête du bureau du commissaire sur des pancartes érigées par Rebel News pendant la campagne électorale fédérale de 2019, apparemment pour promouvoir un nouveau livre du fondateur de Rebel News, Ezra Levant. Les pancartes incitaient les gens à acheter le livre intitulé *The Libranos : What the media won’t tell you about Justin Trudeau’s corruption*. Comment se fait-il que cette organisation, qui n’en est pas à ces premiers faits d’armes, ait été accrédité pour la couverture des débats, en plus d’être en surnombre par rapport aux autres médias? On a également découvert que non seulement cette entreprise se qualifie de média, mais est également officiellement inscrite comme tiers parti dans le cadre de ces élections fédérales. « Les tiers partis sont des groupes qui cherchent à influencer les élections, mais qui ne sont ni des partis ni des candidats. Ils sont tenus de s’inscrire pour diffuser des publicités », peut-on lire dans [un article de La Presse](https://www.lapresse.ca/elections-federales/2025-04-17/debat-des-chefs-en-anglais/les-points-de-presse-annules%5F1.php?ref=onthetrail.info). Leur présence était [déjà problématique en 2021](https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/libre-opinion/631938/libre-opinion-maintenir-le-groupe-rebel-news-derriere-un-cordon-sanitaire?ref=onthetrail.info). Comment se fait-il que la Commission des débats n’ait pas fait plus de recherches? L’argument de la crainte de poursuites me semble un peu léger, surtout avec des preuves aussi accablantes et publiques qui aurait certainement permit de gagner et de discrédité Rebel News dans un contexte électoral. Qui plus est, la Commission possède un budget substantiel [de près de 2 millions de dollars;](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/16/lobscur-organisme-qui-organise-les-debats-des-chefs-coute-pres-de-deux-millions-de-dollars-par-annee?ref=onthetrail.info) certainement de quoi assumer une poursuite juridique, surtout si c’est pour garantir la démocratie et la liberté de presse lors de moments aussi cruciaux que les débats électoraux. Il est absolument inadmissible, d’une part, d’avoir laissé autant de place à Rebel News, et, d’autre part, d’avoir annulé les mêlées de presse le lendemain à cause de ce même organe de propagande et de désinformation; [un autre fait avéré](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-15-18/segments/chronique/24338/the-rebel-site-internet-provocation-jeff-yates?ref=onthetrail.info). Il s’agit d’un dangereux précédent pour toute la presse. Au lieu de faire face à la musique et de confronter Rebel News en invitant ses représentants à quitter, par exemple, ce qui aurait été l’option la plus simple, on prive l’ensemble de tous les médias de poser des questions après le débat. Rebel News a certainement eu ce qu’il voulait; qu’on lui porte attention. Mais au prix de la liberté de la presse, de la censure et de la provocation inutile. Et ça se prétend être un média… « Food for thought », comme on dit en anglais, mais parions que la Commission des débats aura un important examen de conscience à faire. Car en plus de cette décision assez questionnable, soulevons aussi sa décision, le matin même du débat, de refuser la présence des Verts aux débats. Entrons-nous dans une ère trumpiste du côté des médias, où ces derniers seront mis à mal et ne pourront plus faire leur travail? Espérons que non, et que de sérieuses réflexions émaneront de ce « shit show» déplorable. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- #### Isaac Peltz We would have loved to provide you with more information, but today we did not have a question period with the leaders. Rebel News, a right wing propaganda group, was able to get 5 journalists into the debate commission. They took up the vast majority of the question period last night. Today, the same people started harassing one of the journalists from the Hill Times, and it turned into a conflict that stretched out across the entire evening. In the end, the tensions got so heated that the many, many Rebel news and Western Standard etc… groups started yelling and making a large fuss. It resulted in the commission saying they “Couldn’t provide a proper environment for the scrums.” It was essentially chaos, and an unprecedented moment in Federal election history– a reflection of this very tense and particular cultural moment that we collectively find ourselves in, where the far right is fighting by being as loud as humanly possible. \*\*\*\*\* To be frank with all of you, other than the discussion around crime last night, I didn’t personally feel that there was very much interesting that they talked about. It was the same questions that were fielded in both debates, which is a rare occasion. That the questions were the same is essentially why Carney seems to be ahead in the polls in Quebec. Rarely are the questions the same in both Canada and Quebec, and the reality that the country is so razor focused on the same issues is why there’s such a high chance Carney might walk away with the victory. There was no knockout blow in either debate though, and if Poilievre was trying to get ahead and take back some ground from Carney, I fear that he may have done the exact strategy that I would have recommended against. In French Poilievre was pleasant, even polite. He made jokes and everyone laughed– he showed his talent as a chameleon. In French he was only on the attack. He was fully angry Poilievre, the man that we’ve gotten to know over the years. It seems that it’s the true Poilievre. He’s positioned himself, this week and last, as another Trump. He was advised by quite literally everyone, including the best conservative campaigners in the country, to do the opposite, but instead he’s truly invested in being like Trump. His threats to deport people, his anti Palestine stance, his open statements that he’s going to ignore the charter of rights and freedoms… the man has doubled down on being like trump. My theory is simple: His manager felt that he wouldn’t be able to peel voters off of the center or the left. Instead, they’re trying to rally the most fringe of voters from the far right. That seems to be the only option for them, although I think Poilievre is chameleonic enough that he could have easily swung to be an open debater and a solid moderate. Although if you’ve read my bio on Poilievre, I don’t know if he can keep up the “moderate” act for long. The four leaders discussed crime tonight. Most of it was not rooted in fact. Blanchet didn’t even discuss the subject, and instead discussed immigration, and how there is no order around the introduction of immigrants to Quebec specifically. Carney wants to block protestors from blocking off certain routes, specifically around places of worship. Poilievre wants to ignore the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in order to, as he says, protect the Charter of Rights and freedoms. He seems relatively convinced that we live in complete anarchy in Canada. Singh believes that crime needs to be stopped before it happens by increasing social services, and blocking drugs and guns from the border. Overall, the leaders attacked Carney, and Carney didn’t react. He stood there, rebutted their arguments but always treated people with dignity. His strategy is clearly to make himself look like a leader– a vibe session that might win him the election. Meanwhile Singh was far too aggressive, and looked somewhat desperate. In the end, this is probably his final debate. He did an admiral job, and won some big policy wins for Canadians. Blanchet did a great job in french, but his English was much weaker. Some of the best one liners from the debates that made me laugh: - Singh to Blanchet and the Bloc “Unfortunately, in the last minority government you showed that you were as useless as the monarchy is,” - Poilievre said there is no license for the status quo. Blanchet responded “That is the most empty sentence I've ever heard.” - Poilievre said a cute little line when talking about food and drink that the leaders no longer purchased from the states– “This is a delicious conversation.” It was a moment of comradery between leaders and everyone smiled and laughed. - Carney absolutely bodied Poilievre when he said “"It may be difficult, Mr. Poilievre, you spent years running against Justin Trudeau and the carbon tax — they're both gone," [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### The Rover’s Magical Mystery (French) Debate Coverage URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-rovers-magical-mystery-french/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:08.000Z **Who won? Who lost? Who cares?** This is the same newsletter as was seen on https://therover.ca ! Isaac was a contributor, and so we wanted to share it. It is not translated and is identical to what the Rover did. We will have a bilingual coverage for you, from Isaac and Gabrielle tomorrow! Il s'agit du même bulletin que celui publié sur https://therover.ca ! Isaac y a contribué, et nous souhaitions donc le partager. Il n'est pas traduit et est identique à celui du Rover. Nous vous proposerons un article bilingue, écrit par Isaac et Gabrielle, demain ! --- **The Neoliberalism Election** **By Christopher Curtis** Cutting taxes, cutting services, cutting regulations. If there’s one thing the two leading parties in this election agree on, it’s neoliberalism. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre vowed to de-regulate the oil and gas industry throughout Wednesday’s debate, namely by abolishing Bill C-69\. Adopted by the Trudeau Liberals in 2018, C-69 imposes considerations like environmental impact and Indigenous consultation before federal regulators award drilling or pipeline permits. Poilievre claims the law is unconstitutional. The Tory Leader’s promise to accelerate energy development by setting up a “one stop shop” for consultation — combining all levels of government under one convenient roof. This feels like at least two violations of the Constitution. Section 35, for instance, guarantees that energy infrastructure projects affecting Indigenous territory require meaningful consultation. And the separation of powers allowing provinces to control their own natural resources has been enshrined into law since Confederation. Imagine the federal government crossing the Ottawa River and trying to “streamline” anything in Quebec? This is a bad idea, Pierre. Poilievre repeated his proposal to cut taxes for working Canadians by 15 per cent, eliminate sales tax on new homes, reduce up to 17,000 federal government jobs and find $1 of cuts for every $1 of new expenses the government incurs. The leader’s tax cuts would cost $13 billion. For his part, Liberal Leader Mark Carney said he would reduce the size of federal government by attrition — i.e. not replacing some of the 17,000 federal workers set to retire in the coming years. Carney wants to reduce taxes by $577 on families with an income of $90,000 or less. That would remove an estimated $5.9 billion from Ottawa’s coffers. Carney also vowed, during Wednesday’s debate, to accelerate the regulatory process on major oil projects, which — as in Poilievre’s case — will run into complications. Given Section 35 of the Constitution but also the adoption, under Prime Minister Trudeau, of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2021\. That law imposes even more Indigenous consultation onto developers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/98a704a9-4724-4657-a124-508ddf0c69f9_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) **Housing** **By Isaac Peltz** The four leaders presented different visions for housing– and none of them with any firm plans. They seemed to have ideas that could be called “innovation” but without strong numbers, it’s hard to say how any of these things could be considered practical. One of the troubles with the language tonight was that the words “affordable” and “socialized” were interchangeable, and the leaders would use them as though they were the same. They are not, and the definition of affordable is left in the hands of a housing speculator (Poilievre), an investment banker (Carney) and a lawyer (Singh), three people that are not likely to have problems affording their houses. Overall, if you don’t read any further, the proposals around housing (especially, or specifically by the front runners) were a relative disappointment. We’ll start with the two frontrunners — Poilievre’s ideas are, as far as I could tell, to privatize more and get rid of regulations around building. This would definitely accelerate development, but without any oversight we would see less housing that would be beneficial to live in. Most people who have rented understand the landlords who allow tenants to live in terrible conditions (illegal in Quebec, by the way,) and it is likely that with less regulation, there would be more situations like that. Not only this, but developers will match rental prices to the market. They have landlord unions who work together in order to unilaterally raise rental prices, and unless there are laws and strong regulations around the housing market, prices will simply go up. This is the future that Poilievre envisions. Carney has an interesting housing plan, but it lacks details and seems to be a half step. The Liberals have consistently relied on Private Public Partnerships, which generally bring up costs significantly and prevent proper innovation due to minimal oversight. For example, the REM commuter train in Montreal came in at $9.4 billion. The original budget was $6 billion. In 2023-2024 there were almost 300 major PPPs underway, and the costs were nearing $140 billion, and likely to grow. Canada has been relying on this method since the Chretien era, and it is one of the biggest reasons for slow housing being built and the fact that housing prices doubled under Harper, and then doubled again under Trudeau. PPPs have too much red tape for the efficiency of private development, but do not keep costs down like nationalized industry. It seems that Carney wants to create his new “canadian real estate developer,” which, as far as I can tell, is a PPP investment fund. If it is a real nationalized industry, this will not be a problem. But based on the Liberal track record, it will be a PPP. Singh did not present a strong plan around housing, but instead presented a plan around having money for housing. He proposed much higher taxes on the rich, and a reduction of taxes on people who make less than $90,000\. It seems that the NDP in power would propose for higher socialized housing, while funding it through taxation. The exact targets that he is expecting are murky. Blanchet would like to create 100,000 new socialized housing projects in Quebec. He said he did not have a response to build up for the rest of the country, as he is not interested in running for Prime Minister, but he wants to have higher taxation, and a better control over Quebec’s industries to bring money back to the province. One question that was not fielded or pitched towards Blanchet was how he would contend with this same idea, given that the Coalition Avenir Québec is in power. The CAQ, although have shown a recent openness to housing, are against any sort of socialization or nationalization, and so Blanchet’s vision for Quebec seems to stand in stark contrast to the reality of the province. The Green party, who was not at the debate tonight, wants to put laws in place around what “affordable” means, capping prices at 30% of the national median income. They also want to ban corporations from purchasing too many homes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/7fafe6cb-c78e-4264-809e-81d03d538bc6_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) **CLIMATE** **By Emelia Fournier** Adding to what Chris wrote, the Liberal and Conservative leaders agreed on this key issue: Canada needs to increase its domestic oil and gas production to empower the country during the trade war with the U.S. Poilievre and Carney want more pipelines built to ship Canadian oil and gas domestically and reach foreign markets. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh dodged the question of whether they would like to maintain, increase or reduce oil and gas production, but stated that they would favour investment in renewable energy. Singh did remind the leaders that “the climate crisis is now” and that Canada should focus its efforts on expanding renewable energy sources. He also said increasing investments in public transit is key to combating the climate crisis. Blanchet was the only leader to explicitly state that he wanted to progressively reduce oil and gas consumption in Canada, and does not want new pipelines built. Blanchet acknowledged that oil and gas are important to the Canadian economy, but emphasized that there are alternative energy resources available in Quebec. He also does not want any new pipelines built in the province, saying that the U.S. would not jeopardize its own economic interests by halting the import and export of oil across the Canadian border. Poilievre wants to accelerate the approval process and eliminate bureaucracy for resource extraction projects. As we stated earlier, this would include repealing [Bill C-69](https://therover.acemlna.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GE4V3GfEpR8zd9KVROd3XzWiQHzjegvk8c2J3KZ5a%5F5z0y.zeJu1Y2hj%5FQ~jvYxY5LK&ref=onthetrail.info), which imposes considerations like environmental impact and Indigenous consultation before federal regulators issue permits for resource extraction projects. When asked if Indigenous refusal would prevent the construction of a project, Poilievre falsely claimed that only 20 per cent of affected First Nations opposed the Northern Gateway pipeline project, and did not explicitly say whether Indigenous consent would be required for resource development projects. Poilievre said he would not increase oil and gas subsidies, and new pipelines would be funded by private investment spurred by laxened regulations and faster project approvals. When questioned by Singh about whether the oil and gas industry would keep getting subsidies, Carney said “no.” Carney said pipelines would not be approved without Indigenous consent. Carney and Poilievre are in favour of developing nuclear energy, Singh is not favourable to nuclear energy and would prefer to prioritize hydroelectricity. Blanchet did not weigh in, but the Bloc [has opposed a major nuclear waste facility near Chalk River](https://therover.acemlna.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GE4V3GfEpR8zd9KVROd3XzWiQHzjegvk8c2J3KZ5a%5F5z0y.zeJu1Y2hj%5FQ~jvYxY5LL&ref=onthetrail.info) affecting First Nations in the region. During the question period, Blanchet said “How is it possible that in the context of negotiation with the United States, no one said ‘Where’s the seat for First Nations at the table?’ while they could be valuable allies in this commercial war with the United States.” While the Greens were not at the debate tonight, they’ve pledged to cut emissions by 60 per cent by 2030 and committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050\. Pendeault said they want to increase lithium mining in Canada and the domestic production of electric vehicles to increase trade with countries other than the U.S. The Greens also aim to halt all new fossil fuel projects by 2045 and end oil and gas subsidies. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/d72a3d0e-0f1a-4145-b9c2-5453674910de_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) **Trailers and due process** **R. Pratka** Over one in five Canadian citizens was born abroad. Except for those who have become naturalized citizens – a category of which I very recently became a part – immigrants don’t get a vote. And yet, unsurprisingly, immigration and asylum took up a lot of space in the French leaders’ debate on April 16, as Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet each took their turn to say that Quebec’s public services were approaching their breaking point due to immigration. Moderator Patrice Roy raised the possibility of an influx of Haitian asylum seekers from the United States, lining up at border checkpoints or disappearing into the cross-border wilderness and reappearing to claim asylum. “People need to immigrate by normal pathways,” said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. “These are human beings we’re talking about here, among the most vulnerable people in North America, but there are limits,” Liberal Leader Mark Carney said. “We need to be humane, but realistic. We have the [\[Canada-US\] Safe Third Country Agreement](https://therover.acemlna.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GE4V3GfEpR8zd9KVROd3XzWiQHzjegvk8c2J3KZ5a%5F5z0y.zeJu1Y2hj%5FQ~jvYxY5LM&ref=onthetrail.info), which allows us to send back most asylum seekers \[to the U.S.\].” Seeking asylum is legal. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Canada is a signatory, states that people have the right to seek freedom from persecution or conflict by requesting asylum in another country. Asylum seekers in Canada are entitled to a hearing to determine whether their claim is legitimate. The system is imperfect, leaving people in limbo for years waiting for a hearing date, retraumatizing people who have experienced violence, assuming a claim is false until proven otherwise (the reverse of “innocent until proven guilty”) and placing life-and-death decisions in the hands of a single judge, but it provides a semblance of due process. Remember that? Under international law, a person who seeks asylum can’t be sent back to their country of origin if that country is unsafe due to the possibility of torture or human rights violations. This is known as the non-refoulement principle. The Safe Third Country Agreement, passed in 2002, is predicated on the fact that both the US and Canada are safe from such violations, so an asylum seeker can be sent back to either country without violating the principle, and without a hearing. The closure of Roxham Road tightened a loophole that allowed people who walked into Canada without passing through checkpoints to apply for asylum and get a hearing, so most of those people are now simply sent back to a country that is [no longer even pretending to care about due process.](https://therover.acemlna.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GE4V3GfEpR8zd9KVROd3XzWiQHzjegvk8c2J3KZ5a%5F5z0y.zeJu1Y2hj%5FQ~jvYxY5PD&ref=onthetrail.info) All four leaders said people experiencing persecution at home should be able to start their lives over again in this country, although Poilievre raised the spectre of “fake asylum seekers.” Again, assuming that large numbers of people are faking stories of persecution is problematic, but how can we even start determining who is telling the truth if we expel them without the minimal due process a hearing affords? In another notable exchange, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said Canada needed to “slow down the rhythm” of irregular arrivals. How does one slow down the rhythm of people seeking persecution – setting up mobile classrooms on the border and telling people to sit tight? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/ce/69cefb51-a7c6-4dce-b8fa-39ad2b36a6e0/content/images/2026/03/23408c64-9f4b-4308-b5d9-45184afd3e0d_6240x4160-jpeg.jpg) ### March for Palestine Mini Documentary URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/march-for-palestine-mini-documentary/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:09.000Z Isaac created a mini documentary on the march for Palestine. It’s 11 minutes, and the goal was to be a gonzo style documentary that really allowed you to feel the presence of the march. Please enjoy. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) --- ### Les Débats: les thèmes à surveiller/The Debates: Themes to Watch For URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/les-debats-les-themes-a-surveillerthe/ Last updated: 2025-04-15T19:44:09.000Z ​​ ![brown and white concrete building under blue sky during daytime](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1581225988378-9efa1e97cf19?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8cGFybGlhbWVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NDQ2Njg5NzF8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080) Photo by [Erik Mclean](true) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?ref=onthetrail.info) À l'approche des élections fédérales canadiennes du 28 avril 2025, les débats des chefs s'annoncent cruciaux pour éclairer les électeurs sur les enjeux majeurs qui façonneront l'avenir du pays. Le débat francophone sera particulièrement intéressant à observer car le Québec est, à mon avis, déterminant pour que les Libéraux forment un parti minoritaire ou majoritaire. Peut-être que le débat n’y changera rien, mais peut-être que oui aussi. Historiquement, le Bloc québécois a tendance à gagner quelques points de plus dans les sondages qui suivent la tenue du débat francophone. Peut-être que les Libéraux seront également encore plus forts, si Mark Carney performe bien. On analysera certainement la qualité du français du Premier ministre, mais cela ne devrait pas lui coûter l’élection. Quant au débat anglophone, la joute sera probablement un peu plus animée, comme les candidats sont en général plus à l’aise en anglais. Voici quelques thèmes à surveiller lors de débats. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ## **Relations Canada–États-Unis et politique commerciale** Les tensions commerciales avec les États-Unis, notamment [les tarifs de 25 %](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/865369/canada-appliquera-mercredi-tarifs-voitures-importees-etats-unis?ref=onthetrail.info) imposés par le président Trump sur les importations canadiennes, dominent l'actualité depuis le début de la campagne. Carney a annoncé son intention de négocier une « nouvelle relation économique et sécuritaire » avec Washington après les élections. Les autres chefs seront certainement appelés à se prononcer aussi les mesures qu’ils prendraient s’ils étaient au pouvoir. Les débats permettront d'évaluer les stratégies des partis pour défendre la souveraineté économique du Canada face à ces défis. Les tarifs ont déjà[ de lourds impacts](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2156224/trump-suspension-tarifs-petite-entreprise-ontario-taurus-craco?ref=onthetrail.info) sur plusieurs industries canadiennes. ​On peut envisager que Yves-François Blanchet tentera de défendre le Québec en particulier, mais avec la soudaine fibre canadienne des québécois ravivée par Trump, il n’est pas certain que l’indépendance du Québec cadre et trouve un gros écho face au combat avec nos voisins du sud. ## **Énergie et environnement** Mark Carney propose une approche équilibrée visant à développer simultanément les énergies propres et les sources conventionnelles à faible émission de carbone, tout en réduisant la dépendance énergétique envers les États-Unis, mais les experts ne sont pas convaincus. Étrangement, [Poilievre](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2152305/pipeline-saint-jean-promesse-pc?ref=onthetrail.info) et [Carney ](https://www.journaldequebec.com/2025/04/09/mark-carney-veut-faire-du-canada-la-superpuissance-energetique-mondiale?ref=onthetrail.info)ont une vision similaire sur le développement de couloirs énergétiques, mais qui ne cadre pas avec les objectifs de réduction d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Ce sujet est certainement le moment de gloire du co-chef des Verts, Jonathan Pedneault, pour s’exprimer sur l’enjeu principal que défend son parti. L’environnement était au cœur de tous les débats en 2019, mais j’ai l’impression que la pandémie, et maintenant le conflit avec les États-Unis, a recalé cet enjeu au bas de liste des priorités. Dommage, car il s’agit pourtant d’un enjeu tellement crucial à notre survie… ## **Défense nationale et sécurité** La question du financement de la défense risque d’être abordée, avec des engagements variés des partis pour atteindre ou dépasser l'objectif de [2 % du PIB en dépenses militaires d’ici 2027](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2138604/freeland-gould-armee-defense-militaire-defense-fac-pib?ref=onthetrail.info). Les débats offriront une plateforme pour comparer les visions des partis sur le renforcement des capacités des Forces armées canadiennes et la protection de la souveraineté nationale.​ Je ne suis pas du tout fan de cet enjeu, mais il est vrai qu’il est toujours soulevé lors des débats électoraux. ## **Coût de la vie et économie** L'inflation, le logement abordable et l'emploi sont des préoccupations majeures pour les Canadiens. Les débats permettront d'examiner les plans des partis pour améliorer l'accessibilité au logement, soutenir le pouvoir d'achat et stimuler la croissance économique.​ Carney a [récemment fait une annonce](https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/861856/mark-carney-devoile-plan-batir-plus-logements-abordables?ref=onthetrail.info) qui semblait prometteuse pour le logement, mais à voir si elle se concrétisera s’il se maintient au pouvoir. Les débats officiels, organisés en anglais et en français, incluront des questions posées par des citoyens, des journalistes et des échanges directs entre les chefs. À quelques semaines du scrutin, l'issue des élections demeure incertaine mais la tendance forte est à une victoire des Libéraux. Les débats à venir seront déterminants pour convaincre un électorat québécois sensible aux enjeux économiques et identitaires. Les partis devront articuler des propositions concrètes pour répondre aux préoccupations des citoyens et naviguer dans un contexte international complexe. ​Le Québec, fort de sa spécificité culturelle et politique, jouera sans aucun doute un rôle clé dans le choix du prochain gouvernement fédéral et dans la définition de l'avenir du Canada sur la scène mondiale. --- As Canada approaches the federal elections scheduled for April 28, 2025, the leaders' debates promise to be crucial in highlighting the major issues shaping the country's future. The French-language debate will be particularly significant, as Quebec is, in my opinion, decisive in determining whether the Liberals form a minority or majority government. Perhaps the debate will change nothing, but perhaps it might. Historically, the Bloc Québécois tends to gain a few percentage points following the French-language debate. The Liberals might also strengthen their position if Mark Carney performs well. The quality of the Prime Minister's French will undoubtedly be scrutinized, though this is unlikely to cost him the election. The English-language debate is likely to be more spirited, as candidates are generally more comfortable in English. Here are some key themes to watch during the debates: **Canada-U.S. Relations and Trade Policy** Trade tensions with the United States, notably the 25% tariffs imposed by President Trump on Canadian imports, have dominated headlines since the start of the campaign. Carney has announced his intention to negotiate a "new economic and security relationship" with Washington after the election. Other leaders will surely be asked about their strategies if they come to power. The debates will help evaluate each party's strategy for defending Canada's economic sovereignty amid these challenges. The tariffs have already heavily impacted several Canadian industries. Yves-François Blanchet will likely seek to defend Quebec specifically, but with Quebec's renewed Canadian nationalism sparked by Trump's actions, it's uncertain whether the cause of Quebec independence will resonate strongly in this context. **Energy and Environment** Mark Carney proposes a balanced approach aiming to simultaneously develop clean energy and low-carbon conventional sources, while reducing energy dependence on the United States. Parties' positions on the energy transition and national energy security will be critical points to observe. Interestingly, Poilievre and Carney share similar visions regarding developing energy corridors, although these do not align neatly with greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. This topic will likely be Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault’s moment to shine, highlighting the primary issue advocated by his party. Although environmental issues dominated debates in 2019, I feel that the pandemic and now the conflict with the United States have relegated this critical issue down the list of priorities—unfortunately, given its importance for our survival. **National Defence and Security** Defence spending is a central concern, with various party commitments aiming to meet or exceed the 2% GDP target for military expenditures. The debates will serve as a platform to compare party visions on strengthening the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces and protecting national sovereignty. I'm not particularly enthusiastic about this issue, but it's invariably raised during election debates. **Cost of Living and the Economy** Inflation, affordable housing, and employment are major concerns for Canadians. The debates will examine party plans to improve housing affordability, support purchasing power, and stimulate economic growth. Carney recently made a promising announcement on housing, though it remains to be seen whether it will materialize if he remains in power. The official debates, conducted in both English and French, will include questions from citizens and journalists and direct exchanges between leaders. A few weeks before the election, the outcome remains uncertain, though a strong trend suggests a Liberal victory. The upcoming debates will be crucial in convincing Quebec voters, who are sensitive to economic and identity-related issues. Parties must articulate concrete proposals to address citizens' concerns and navigate an increasingly complex international context. Quebec, with its unique cultural and political identity, will undoubtedly play a key role in choosing the next federal government and shaping Canada's future on the global stage. ### We've Been in a Recession for Years/Nous sommes en récession depuis des années URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/weve-been-in-a-recession-for-yearsnous/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:09.000Z We have, in reality, been in a recession for years now. Somehow, only recently have the wealthy and elites—including those in our government—begun to acknowledge it. Liberals, Conservatives, and even the NDP have started to claim that "tough times are ahead," displaying an incredible disconnect from reality, as if things hadn't already been extremely challenging for 80% of Canadians. Economists everywhere are now warning about an impending global recession due to Donald Trump's tariffs. Yet, for ordinary Canadians, the recession has been ongoing since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a stark example of the disconnect between those holding economic and political power and the lived realities of the working class. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) This gap breeds deep frustration. Every time the working class—defined here as anyone earning less than $150,000 per year—faces hardships, it seems nobody truly cares. It is only when the ultra-rich and the stock market begin to falter that politicians and media suddenly become concerned. In July 2024, RBC, one of Canada’s major banks, highlighted precisely this [paradox in an article. ](https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/canadas-economy-might-not-be-in-recession-but-it-feels-like-one/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)Despite overall GDP growth, GDP per capita has continuously declined, clearly indicating a decrease in our [quality of life](https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/historic-decline-canadian-living-standards-continues-2024?ref=onthetrail.info). Simultaneously, [unemployment rates have steadily risen](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250404/dq250404a-eng.htm?ref=onthetrail.info), driven by the inability of workers to find adequately paying jobs. Economic indicators have long shown the [fragility of our economy](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canadas-ivey-pmi-shows-economic-growth-slowing-march-2025-04-08/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com), even long before Trump's rise to power. This situation directly results from chronic underinvestment in our country. Rather than adopting durable solutions, successive governments have settled for superficial fixes, leaving Canada vulnerable to global crises. Our current neoliberal economic model is ill-equipped to handle consecutive major economic shocks, and this is the second or third in a number of years. The working class continually bears the brunt of decisions made by the wealthy and powerful. Financial elites inhabit an abstract world, where money is merely numbers on a screen—a reality completely disconnected from that of ordinary workers. Today, we depend heavily on banks, large corporations, and investors to determine our salaries and rental costs. Although rents are slowly decreasing, the risk of a housing market collapse remains real in the event of a global crisis. Housing values are intrinsically tied to the banking sector and international investors' perception of our economy. Canada's reputation rests mainly on perceived potential rather than actual economic strength. Despite being a G7 member, Canada has never matched the economic power of nations like France, Japan, Germany, or the United States. In fact, according to the Fraser Institute, "Canada's annual inflation-adjusted per capita economic growth rate (0.7%) is significantly lower than the G7 average (1.0%). The gap with the United States (1.2%) is even greater." This widely recognized fact clearly illustrates that, for most Canadians, real wealth has stagnated. The only reason Canada is not officially in recession is its dynamic immigration policy. The substantial influx of immigrants has boosted population growth, thereby increasing domestic consumption and overall economic activity. In 2023 alone, Canada's population grew by approximately 3.2%, primarily due to immigration, supporting economic growth. However, this strategy is a double-edged sword. While immigration has prevented a short-term recession, it has also intensified the housing crisis. This crisis isn't solely due to immigration, as some conservatives suggest, but rather due to a lack of effective investments and regulations in the housing sector. Resolving this crisis would significantly reduce the likelihood of a broader economic downturn. Imagine if every Canadian paid $500 less per month for housing: even substantial increases in the cost of living would be manageable. A robust economy providing affordable housing would strengthen our resilience against international economic tensions, such as those caused by U.S. protectionist policies. We are approaching an election widely labeled as crucial, but let us remember that every election is deemed critical. The genuinely decisive election in recent Canadian history occurred during the Mulroney era, profoundly reshaping our country by reducing taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, outsourcing our manufacturing sector to China, and siphoning funds from our institutions. When we still had money, this might have been manageable. But that money vanished twenty years ago, and now the government fears that taxing corporations will drive them away, resulting in the middle class bearing a heavier tax burden than corporations—a clear and tragic injustice. Our society has long passed its economic and social peak. Unless we rebuild a society genuinely empowering the poor, enabling renters and the working class to access political spheres, and ending oppressive monopolies by large corporations, we risk never recovering. Regardless of stock market losses, for years the Canadian working class has struggled merely to meet their basic family needs. Today, the government finally recognizes the country's economic vulnerability. However, if history is any guide, subsequent measures will likely be insufficient to help the struggling Canadian working class escape the ongoing crisis. --- Nous sommes en réalité en récession depuis des années, mais ce n’est que maintenant que les riches et les élites, comme dans notre gouvernement, commencent à en prendre conscience. Les libéraux, les conservateurs et, oui, le NPD, ont commencé à affirmer que « les temps seront durs », d'une manière incroyablement détachée de la réalité. Cela implique que les temps n'ont pas été particulièrement durs pour 80 % des Canadiens depuis des années. Partout, les économistes alertent désormais sur l'imminence d’une récession mondiale à cause des tarifs douaniers imposés par Donald Trump. Pourtant, pour les Canadiens ordinaires, la récession dure depuis le début de la pandémie de Covid-19\. C’est un exemple frappant de la déconnexion entre ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir économique et politique et la réalité vécue par la classe ouvrière. Ce décalage suscite une profonde frustration. Chaque fois que la classe ouvrière—qui inclut ici tous ceux gagnant moins de 150 000$ par an—se retrouve en difficulté, personne ne semble s’en soucier réellement. Ce n’est qu’au moment où les ultra-riches et la bourse commencent à vaciller que soudainement, les politiciens et les médias s’inquiètent. En juillet 2024, un [article publié par](https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/canadas-economy-might-not-be-in-recession-but-it-feels-like-one/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) la RBC, l’une des principales banques canadiennes, soulignait clairement ce paradoxe. Malgré une croissance globale du PIB, le PIB par habitant n'a cessé de diminuer, signalant un recul de [notre qualité de vie réelle.](https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/historic-decline-canadian-living-standards-continues-2024?ref=onthetrail.info) Parallèlement, [le taux de chômage continue d'augmenter,](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250404/dq250404a-eng.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) alimenté par l’incapacité des travailleurs à trouver des emplois suffisamment rémunérés. Tous les indicateurs économiques témoignent[ d’une fragilité profonde ](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canadas-ivey-pmi-shows-economic-growth-slowing-march-2025-04-08/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)de notre économie depuis des années. Et tout cela s’est produit bien avant l’arrivée au pouvoir de Trump. Cette situation découle directement d’un manque chronique d'investissements structurants dans notre pays. Au lieu d'adopter des solutions durables, les gouvernements successifs se sont contentés de mesures superficielles, plaçant le Canada en position de vulnérabilité face aux crises mondiales. Le modèle néolibéral actuel ne résiste pas à une succession de chocs économiques majeurs. La classe ouvrière subit constamment le poids des décisions prises par les riches et les puissants. Ces élites financières vivent dans un monde abstrait, où l'argent n'est qu'une suite de chiffres sur un écran, une réalité complètement déconnectée de celle des travailleurs ordinaires. Nous sommes aujourd'hui dépendants des banques, des grandes entreprises et des investisseurs pour déterminer notre salaire et le prix de nos loyers. Même si les prix des loyers commencent à baisser lentement, le risque d’un effondrement du marché immobilier demeure bien réel en cas de crise mondiale. La valeur des biens immobiliers est intrinsèquement liée au secteur bancaire et à la perception qu'ont les investisseurs internationaux de notre économie. La réputation du Canada repose principalement sur son potentiel perçu plutôt que sur sa réalité économique. Bien que membre du G7, notre pays n'a jamais atteint le niveau économique de pays comme la France, le Japon, l'Allemagne ou les États-Unis. En réalité, [selon le Fraser Institute](https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/canadas-economy-has-stagnated-despite-ottawas-spin?ref=onthetrail.info), « Le taux de croissance économique annuel par habitant corrigé de l'inflation au Canada (0,7 %) est nettement inférieur à la moyenne du G7 (1,0 %). L'écart avec les États-Unis (1,2 %) est encore plus important,» Ce fait largement reconnu illustre clairement que, pour la majorité des Canadiens, la richesse réelle stagne. La seule raison pour laquelle le Canada n’est pas officiellement en récession tient à sa politique d'immigration dynamique. L'afflux massif d'immigrants a stimulé la croissance démographique et par extension, la consommation intérieure et l'activité économique. En 2023, la population canadienne a augmenté d'environ 3,2 %, principalement grâce à l'immigration, soutenant ainsi la croissance économique. Toutefois, cette stratégie est à double tranchant. Bien que l'immigration ait évité une récession à court terme, elle a aussi accentué la crise du logement. Cette crise n’est pas **seulement** due à l'immigration, comme certains conservateurs voudraient le faire croire, mais à un manque d'investissements et de régulations efficaces dans le secteur immobilier. Si nous pouvions résoudre cette crise, nous aurions une meilleure chance d'éviter une crise économique généralisée. Imaginons un scénario où chaque Canadien paierait 500 dollars de moins par mois pour son logement : même une hausse substantielle du coût de la vie serait alors gérable. Une économie robuste, offrant un accès à des logements abordables, nous permettrait de rester résilients face aux tensions économiques internationales, telles que celles créées par les politiques protectionnistes américaines. Nous sommes à la veille d'une élection importante, mais rappelons-nous que chaque élection est présentée comme cruciale. La véritable élection décisive dans l'histoire récente du Canada remonte à l'ère Mulroney, qui a profondément transformé notre pays en réduisant les impôts des riches et des grandes entreprises, tout en délocalisant notre secteur manufacturier vers la Chine, et en retirant de l'argent de toutes nos institutions. Quand nous avions de l'argent en banque, ce n'était pas grave. Cet argent a disparu il y a vingt ans, mais le gouvernement craint trop que les entreprises quittent le pays s'il les taxe, alors les classes moyennes sont plus imposées que les entreprises, une tragédie évidente et terrible. Notre société a dépassé depuis longtemps son apogée économique et sociale. À moins que nous ne reconstruisions une société qui donne réellement du pouvoir aux plus pauvres, qui permettra aux locataires et à la classe ouvrière d'accéder aux sphères politiques, et qui mette fin aux monopoles étouffants des grandes entreprises, nous risquons de ne jamais récupérer. Peu importe les pertes boursières : depuis plusieurs années, la classe ouvrière canadienne lutte simplement pour subvenir aux besoins essentiels de ses familles. Aujourd'hui, le gouvernement prend enfin conscience de la fragilité économique du pays. Mais si l'histoire nous enseigne quelque chose, c'est que les mesures qui suivront risquent fort d'être insuffisantes pour sortir la classe ouvrière canadienne de l'impasse dans laquelle elle se trouve. ### La crise de l'unité nationale au Canada/Canada's National Unity Crisis URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/la-crise-de-lunite-nationale-au-canadacanadas/ Last updated: 2025-04-01T20:21:36.000Z [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) ### English version follows below. #### Le Canada fait face à une crise profonde. Notre pays, traditionnellement reconnu pour sa modération et sa capacité à maintenir l’unité malgré ses différences, on se retrouve désormais dangereusement divisé. Ce phénomène, exacerbé par les manifestations des convois de 2022 à Ottawa, a transformé notre climat politique en une polarisation préoccupante, rappelant de façon inquiétante la culture partisane des États-Unis. Cette dérive vers l’intolérance politique devient alarmante lorsqu’elle se traduit par des incidents récents. Le scandale impliquant un candidat libéral, ayant évoqué publiquement une « prime » de la Chine contre un adversaire conservateur, s’ajoute à une escalade encore plus troublante : ce matin, le 1er avril, CTV a diffusé l’enregistrement choquant d’un candidat du parti conservateur appelant ouvertement à l’exécution de Justin Trudeau. Ceci illustre une maladie politique profonde : une mentalité d’affrontement direct, de manque de respect et de déshumanisation de son adversaire. Le nom « Canada » signifie « village », un rappel permanent que nous avons toujours valorisé une attitude de bon voisinage, d’acceptation des différences et de respect mutuel. Historiquement, même avec nos désaccords politiques, nous avons toujours considéré nos voisins comme des membres d'une communauté élargie. Cette tradition canadienne essentielle est aujourd'hui en péril. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) Cependant, au milieu de cette crise, le Québec peut offrir une piste de réflexion précieuse. Malgré nos débats internes, notre culture, marquée par une histoire syndicale forte, une idéologie généralement progressiste et l’importance centrale de la langue française, continue d’encourager une cohésion culturelle remarquable. C’est précisément cette capacité à maintenir une unité fondamentale tout en accueillant des opinions diverses qui pourrait servir de modèle pour contrer la polarisation grandissante au reste du Canada. La transformation inquiétante du paysage politique canadien en un système essentiellement bipartite, avec une rhétorique incendiaire utilisée pour mobiliser l’électorat , est dangereuse à long terme. Cette tendance menace directement la stabilité et l’unité de notre pays. Si nous ne prenons pas immédiatement conscience de cette dérive, les divisions deviendront irréparables. Certaines personnes faisant partie des plus radicaux, envisagent la séparation du Canada en plusieurs petits pays comme une solution possible. Or, cette option n’est ni réaliste ni bénéfique à court terme. Face aux défis géopolitiques majeurs de notre époque, le Canada n’a jamais eu autant besoin d’unité nationale et de solidarité. Enfin, l’avenir des peuples autochtones doit être au cœur de cette réflexion. Leur vulnérabilité face aux gouvernements provinciaux moins sensibles à leurs réalités et leurs droits fondamentaux accentue l'importance d'un gouvernement fédéral fort, engagé et inclusif. L’histoire récente nous a montré les conséquences tragiques lorsque le gouvernement fédéral échoue à assumer pleinement ses responsabilités envers les peuples autochtones. Plus précisément, je fais référence au précédent gouvernement conservateur de Winnipeg, qui avait déclaré qu'il n'était pas nécessaire de retrouver les corps des [femmes autochtones assassinées.](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/03/06/news/manitoba-tories-apologize-families-landfill-search-murdered-women?ref=onthetrail.info) Cette élection pourrait déterminer l’avenir du Canada. Il est urgent que nous nous engagions collectivement à restaurer notre esprit communautaire, à refuser fermement la rhétorique violente, et à préserver notre unité face à la division. Sinon, nous risquons de perdre ce qui fait véritablement l’essence de notre pays et de sombrer dans les pires aspects d'une polarisation à l'américaine. --- Canada faces a profound crisis. Our country, traditionally known for moderation and its ability to maintain unity despite differences, now finds itself dangerously divided. This phenomenon, exacerbated by the 2022 convoy protests in Ottawa, has transformed our political climate into a concerning polarization, alarmingly reminiscent of the partisan culture in the United States. This drift toward political intolerance becomes alarming when recent incidents come into focus. The scandal involving a Liberal candidate who publicly suggested a "bounty" from China on a Conservative opponent is compounded by an even more troubling escalation: this morning, April 1st, CTV aired a shocking recording of a Conservative openly calling for the execution of Justin Trudeau. These events are not isolated cases, but symptoms of a deep political sickness characterized by direct confrontation, disrespect, and the dehumanization of opponents. The name "Canada" means "village," a constant reminder that we have always valued good neighbourliness, acceptance of differences, and mutual respect. Historically, despite our political disagreements, we have always considered our neighbours as part of an extended community. This essential Canadian tradition is now in jeopardy. Amid this crisis, Quebec offers valuable insights. Despite internal debates, our culture, shaped by a strong union history, generally progressive ideology, and the central importance of the French language, continues to encourage remarkable cultural cohesion. It is precisely this ability to maintain fundamental unity while accommodating diverse opinions that could serve as a model to counter the growing polarization in the rest of Canada. The alarming transformation of Canada's political landscape into essentially a two-party system, driven by incendiary rhetoric to mobilize voters, poses a long-term danger. This trend directly threatens the stability and unity of our nation. If we fail to immediately recognize and address this drift, divisions may become irreparable. Some among the more radical groups see the division of Canada into several smaller countries as a possible solution. However, this option is neither realistic nor beneficial in the short term. Facing major geopolitical challenges today, Canada has never needed national unity and solidarity more. Finally, the future of Indigenous peoples must be central to this reflection. Their vulnerability to provincial governments that are less sensitive to their realities and fundamental rights underscores the importance of a strong, committed, and inclusive federal government. Recent history has demonstrated tragic consequences when the federal government fails to fully meet its responsibilities toward Indigenous peoples. This election could determine Canada's future. It is urgent that we collectively commit to restoring our community spirit, firmly reject violent rhetoric, and preserve our unity against division. Otherwise, we risk losing what truly constitutes the essence of our nation and descending into the worst aspects of American-style polarization. ### The Politics of Vengeance URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-politics-of-vengeance/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:09.000Z *Today’s Op-ed is by Isaac Peltz. Isaac and Gab will both be writing pieces in their respective first languages. If you’ve not read the Poilievre bio, we recommend it!* The world's largest economic and military power sought revenge on Canada. Donald Trump, elected on a [mandate of retribution](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/political-enemy-retribution-efforts/682095/?ref=onthetrail.info), directed his vengeance towards Trudeau, whom he felt had wronged him for four years. In doing so, Trump inadvertently hindered the "homegrown revenge" of Poilievre and his team. Revenge is the primary objective of the American Republican Party. Trump himself stated his [desire to retaliate](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/opinion/trump-revenge-american-people.html?ref=onthetrail.info) against those who had [portrayed him negatively](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/30/trump-media-attacks?ref=onthetrail.info) in the media and those who had mocked him. His anger, fueled by years of far-right rhetoric, intensified his resolve. His resentment towards "Justin from Canada," as well as other neoliberal European leaders, grew until he took power, where he would begin enacting his revenge against foreign leaders and domestic powers that had made him look like a fool. Then, Chrystia Freeland betrayed her c[losest ally publicly](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/16/chrystia-freeland-resigns-canada-trump?ref=onthetrail.info). And then Trump began enacting his revenge on Trudeau. The combined efforts of Trump’s revenge and internal divisions ended Trudeau’s career. And changed this election. [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) This week, [Trump’s tone shifted](https://globalnews.ca/news/11102525/donald-trump-tariffs-carney-premiers-meeting/?ref=onthetrail.info), and he appeared more willing to engage in discussions with Poilievre or Carney. With Trudeau out of the picture, Trump seemed ready to work with new leadership (although this may not remain the case.) Trump's central focus was not populist protectionism or policies aimed at aiding the working class. His goal was singular: [**"Owning the Libs."**](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/03/21/owning-the-libs-history-trump-politics-pop-culture-477203?ref=onthetrail.info)[ ](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/03/21/owning-the-libs-history-trump-politics-pop-culture-477203?ref=onthetrail.info)This idea has become more important to many conservatives than policymaking or fiscal responsibility. It has become the primary objective for politicians like Trump, his associates, and for Poilievre. In Canada, Poilievre adopted "owning the libs" as his central theme, despite Canada having a party literally named the Liberal Party. Currently, [Poilievre is not open to adapting his language,](https://globalnews.ca/news/11103509/wheels-off-conservatives-think-poilievre-needs-reset/?ref=onthetrail.info) his policies, his rhetoric to face the current crisis. [His opponent is a fiscal conservative](https://torontosun.com/news/national/federal%5Felections/lilley-mark-carney-sounds-more-like-a-conservative-with-each-new-promise?ref=onthetrail.info) who is only nominally Liberal. Poilievre’s message often comes across as a cry for personal revenge, aiming to harm those perceived to have wronged him. In fact, that’s what propelled Poilievre to power. Poilievre began as a far-right attack dog, tasked by Harper to deflect criticism. When Harper did not pivot far enough to the right, Poilievre and Andrew Scheer grew disillusioned. This discontent fueled Poilievre's actions for the next decade, pushing the party further right while embracing a form of [faux populist](https://breachmedia.ca/the-secret-to-pierre-poilievres-success/?ref=onthetrail.info) rhetoric. He sought to avenge what he saw as weak leadership. Witnessing Justin Trudeau's vacillation and tendency to align his views wherever the wind blew, Poilievre became obsessed with "owning the libs." His rhetoric reflected this obsession, leading him to call Trudeau a "wacko," [resulting in his eviction from caucus](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68932614?ref=onthetrail.info). He consistently blamed Trudeau and "the libs" for Canada's problems,[ declaring the nation "broken."](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/everything-is-broken-in-this-country-pierre-poilievre-says-blaming-pm-trudeau/?ref=onthetrail.info) While Canada has many issues, including its colonial past and treatment of Indigenous populations resulting in an apartheid state today, Poilievre's definition of "broken" referred to what he perceived as excessive empathy, or what they used to call “bleeding heart liberals” (I miss that name, it was a funny, pithy jeer.) He has aligned himself with Jordan Peterson, a far right podcaster. Peterson aligns himself closely with Elon Musk and Trump. Canadians can do the math. Suddenly in the states, [Elon Musk was doing ](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/20/trump-elon-musk-salute?ref=onthetrail.info)[**seig heils**](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/20/trump-elon-musk-salute?ref=onthetrail.info). Suddenly, [Trump is attacking democracy](https://apnews.com/article/trump-democracy-autocrats-authoritarian-constitution-threat-542ac437a58880e81c052f8f2df1643f?ref=onthetrail.info). Suddenly Canadians are the target of the revenge mandate given by the American people. Poilievre’s slogans, "Axe the Tax. Stop the Crime. Build the Homes," lack substance and echo revenge narratives. Build a frenzy in a base that wants specific things, that feels vitriol towards a single person and concept. Instead of focusing on a positive vision, the type of vision that often wins Canadian majorities, the Conservatives seemed to react to perceived threats. Their campaign suggested the greatest enemy was the ruling party, which had, they believed, ruined lives. It was a campaign built on **retaliation against liberals and liberal voters.** However, many Canadians do not feel their lives are ruined, just less comfortable than before, and they grew cautious of a leader driven by revenge rather than ideology. *Note: "Axe the tax" is a good slogan. However, "Stop Crime. Build Homes" is awkward. Common phrasing would be "Stop crime, build homes." The inclusion of "the" feels forced and grammatically incorrect. This weakens the slogan. Bad writing. They really should have just tried to diversify their slogans, you don’t need to be perfectly symmetrical when it sounds stupid. Not that CANADA STRONG is a good slogan.* We find ourselves suddenly looking down the barrel of a gun with Donald Trump. Now, a knife fight with the status quo sounds more appealing. Poilievre aimed to stoke anger towards Trudeau and the status quo. Canadians, who largely dislike Trump, see the revenge mandate in full force. Now, revenge has taken a backseat. Voters might strategically vote against Poilievre, similar to trends in France and the UK. Protection, not revenge, has become the priority. Poilievre isn’t rising to meet the challenge. Two years ago, Poilievre criticized the liberal media while simultaneously relying on it for exposure. He granted endless interviews and dominated headlines. The mainstream media, fearing his potential actions, gave him significant attention, albeit often with a mildly negative slant. This drama and constant media coverage fueled his polling surge. Now the larger, more threatening revenge narrative is the center stage. Poilievre has lost all his momentum, because Trump is a vastly more interesting, and sensational figure than him. But Trump makes Poilievre look dangerous, even if he’s less so than Trump. Reports suggest a[ civil war within the party](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-campaign-civil-war-party-1.7497029?ref=onthetrail.info). The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) appears to be splintering. One faction, led by Poilievre, remains focused on revenge and refuses to adjust its strategy. The other faction believes the narrative has changed and the party needs to be more inclusive. When Harper united Canada's right wing parties, he ended the Chrétien/Martin government's long tenure. He brought together the factions that are now splitting apart. Harper tempered the desire for revenge, uniting neo-conservatives with more moderate conservatives. Now, the party is fracturing along the same lines. Policies based on revenge are only effective when the target of that revenge is still in power. It’s hard to make the electorate want revenge against a guy who was in power for nine days. With Trudeau's departure, the desire for revenge has subsided. Some former Trudeau critics are now voting strategically, and older liberal voters are returning to the party. The focus of revenge is gone. Even internal Conservative polling indicates that the Conservatives are losing by 14 points in southern Ontario, which, if the Conservatives don’t win in southern Ontario, they can’t win. Canadians sought a scapegoat for the trauma of COVID-19, and with Trudeau's exit, that desire has been fulfilled. Poilievre bet on vengeance, and now, he may have lost the whole game. ### Pierre Poilievre: The Bio (english) URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/pierre-poilievre-the-bio-english/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:10.000Z We have done tons of research into the life of Pierre Poilievre. We have read two biographies— **Pierre Poilievre** by Andrew Lawton and **Ripper, the Making of Pierre Poilievre** by Mark Bourrie. Along with that, we have gone through some 50ish articles, and watched interviews from various points in his career. We present it to you, our paid subscribers, and **The French version will be out later today.** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) --- Pierre Poilievre’s biological mother is Jacqueline Farrell. She became pregnant at the age of sixteen, and his biological father vanished from the scene, remaining unknown. With no family support, Jacqueline initially considered keeping the baby but ultimately chose adoption. Pierre was born on June 3, 1979, and was adopted by Marlene and Donald Poilievre, both schoolteachers. He grew up in Calgary, Alberta, during the worldwide economic crisis of the 1980s—a period he later blamed on liberal policies, although the crisis was a global phenomenon and is often considered the worst since the Great Depression. During that time, his adoptive father came out as gay. This fact is particularly notable given that Pierre had once voted against gay rights during Paul Martin’s leadership, though he has since criticized conservatives who oppose those rights. Always athletic, Pierre was a competitive wrestler and was frequently seen at gyms around Ottawa. Unfortunately, a bout of tendonitis ended his aspirations of pursuing Olympic wrestling. After his sports career was cut short, Pierre began attending progressive conservative meetings with his mother. As a teenager, he criticized the political left for relying on empty catchphrases and she made him come to anti-abortion rallies with her. In the 1990s, he volunteered for the Reform Party—the precursor to the Progressive Conservatives under Stephen Harper. While in grade eleven, he worked for Telus in corporate collections, and in grade twelve, MP Art Hanger hired him to work on his election campaign. This marked the true beginning of his political career, during which he quickly developed his signature style of pithy slogans and direct attacks against perceived abuses of power. At university, Poilievre studied international relations with the intention of pursuing a career in politics, even though his specific ambitions were not yet fully defined. He later remarked, “I knew I was generally interested in politics, and that international relations would give me an overview of almost all aspects of the political environment.” He considered himself part of a new political movement and often felt like an outsider. His Roman Catholic faith, his Alberta roots, and his distinct social outlook contributed to his sense of being marginalized by mainstream society. Friends and colleagues frequently note his unwavering consistency. With Poilievre, what you see is what you get. At the outset of his career, Poilievre firmly believed that politicians should serve no more than two terms. He stated, “Politics should not be a lifelong career. Elected officials should not be allowed to fix themselves in the halls of power of a nation. I would resign after serving my second term in office.” Elected for the first time in 2004, he has since participated in six federal elections. Throughout his college years and beyond, he consistently expressed his ambition to become Prime Minister. When he arrived in Ottawa in the late 1990s, he encountered numerous setbacks and feelings of isolation—a sentiment shared by many former Reform Party staffers who struggled with the entrenched bureaucracy and transient culture of the capital. Although he longed for mainstream acceptance, his views often set him apart, leaving him and his friends ostracized even among mainstream conservatives. This dynamic shifted somewhat when Stephen Harper began to elevate his profile, though Harper eventually disappointed him. Poilievre’s disillusionment with Harper grew after rumors emerged that Harper intended to steer Canada toward what author Marci McDonald described as a Christian extremist agenda. These rumours wound up being unfounded, and Harper did not follow a Christian extremist agenda. This let down Poilievre enormously. Poilievre’s disapproval led him to hold secret meetings with other conservatives to shift the party further to the right. According to Andrew Lawton’s 2024 biography of Poilievre, he was part of a caucus group during the Harper years that met weekly to explore ways to force the conservative party further right. Over time, Poilievre became increasingly obsessed with achieving victory, feeling that Harper and subsequent conservative leaders were unwilling to work rapidly enough or significantly reduce the size of government. It is clear enough he admires the speed at which allies such as Donald Trump operate. Notably, Poilievre opposed programs that directly supported women, asserting to his friends that men should be the head of the household and strongly criticizing public daycare initiatives proposed by Paul Martin. Many have observed that in private, Poilievre appears amicable and calm—often described as pleasant when not engaged in political debate. However, when the cameras roll or large crowds gather, his performance becomes notably theatrical and superficial. Early in his career as an MP, Poilievre gained notoriety for advocating increased funding for autistic children, partnering with NDP politicians in his criticisms of the Martin government. His knack for delivering pithy insults quickly made him a prominent, if controversial, figure—one whom Stephen Harper reportedly used to absorb political criticism while maintaining a more professional cabinet image. In 2005, as the youngest MP in the House of Commons, Poilievre controversially requested that the Queen dismiss Governor General Michaëlle Jean due to her support for the Quebec sovereignty movement—a request that was ultimately denied. His boldness and passion resonated with many in his riding, as he won more than 50% of the vote in the following election. In 2008, when the government apologized for abuses in the residential school system, he remarked that “former residential school students need a stronger work ethic, not more compensation dollars.” The comment sparked widespread media backlash, and he later issued an apology. He has repeated similar statements repeatedly since. After serving four years, Poilievre emerged as a vocal attack dog for the Conservatives—often disruptive in Parliament to the point of having his microphone turned off. He became known for generating controversy, a role that served the Harper government’s need to project a combative image. In 2014, Poilievre spearheaded the Fair Elections Act, a bill reducing access to voting and imposing harsh penalties on those attempting to vote without proper identification. He later pushed for the Citizen Voting Act, which would further restrict the ability of expatriates to register to vote. Toward the end of the Harper era, he supported Andrew Scheer’s bid for party leadership, reflecting their close friendship and shared political views. In 2016, he introduced an act aimed at removing income tax for persons with disabilities. Although the NDP backed the proposal, the Liberal government and the Bloc Québécois defeated it. After two consecutive Conservative losses to the Liberals—first under Harper and then under Scheer—Poilievre briefly considered a leadership bid but decided against it to spend more time with his wife and children. However, he eventually entered the 2022 Conservative leadership race, declaring his ambition to make Canada “the freest country on earth,” a stance consistent with his libertarian populist views. During this period, amid the divisive convoy rallies in Ottawa, Poilievre openly expressed his support by attending events and taking photographs with rally attendees. He leveraged the movement as a cornerstone of his election campaign and leadership bid, achieving unprecedented fundraising success and ultimately winning the leadership election. Once in power, Poilievre centered his political strategy on targeting Prime Minister Trudeau. He structured debates and policy discussions around Trudeau, with much of the campaign narrative revolving around his personal image—a shift reflecting a more personality-driven era in Canadian politics. Despite earlier opposition to childcare funding, he later instructed his Conservative staff to vote for bills supporting early learning and childcare when they were introduced by the Trudeau government. He also introduced legislation to divert funds from bureaucratic spending toward new housing projects and opposed updates to free trade agreements with Ukraine. In mid-2024, after frequently using the term “wacko,” Poilievre was ejected from Parliament. Shortly thereafter, CSIS released documents alleging interference by the Indian and Chinese governments in the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election—a development Poilievre only learned about later due to his refusal to obtain security clearance. Notably, when Prime Minister Trudeau offered to disclose the names of implicated MPs, CSIS denied Poilievre access to that information because of his security clearance status. He is extremely smart, and skilled at politics. Today he is in a race against the liberals, and falling behind in the polls as of writing. As to what will happen, it is almost impossible to say. 31 days is a longer time than you think, especially in politics. **Policy Positions** Some key policy positions and proposals associated with Poilievre include: - Advocating for the introduction of right-to-work laws in Canada. - Supporting reduced taxes on the ultra-rich and increased deregulation of industry. - Aiming to eliminate budget deficits. - Seeking to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies in Parliament. - Opposing certain press freedom measures—specifically, he disagrees with the media’s access to Parliament and has proposed defunding the CBC. - Arguing against raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, favoring a lower rate. - Favoring the privatization of more housing and the conversion of unused government buildings into housing. - Believing that climate action should be pursued through increased green energy production and carbon storage while eliminating carbon pricing for corporations. - Supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage. - Rejecting the concept of transgender identity and opposing transgender healthcare. - Being pro-immigration but advocating for a cap of around 100,000 new immigrants per year. - Endorsing the privatization of healthcare, while claiming to support the public system. --- # SOURCES - [CBC – Conservative policy convention on transgender](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-policy-convention-transgender-1.6961991?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CBC – Poilievre on New Brunswick LGBTQ students](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-new-brunswick-lgbtq-students-1.6889770?ref=onthetrail.info) - [The Globe and Mail – Alleged foreign interference](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-india-alleged-foreign-interference-pierre-poilievre-conservative/?ref=onthetrail.info) - [The Tyee – Poilievre’s big bet on convoy politics](https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/04/05/Poilievre-Big-Bet-On-Convoy-Politics/?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CBC – Conservative MP apologizes for hurtful comments on aboriginal people](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/conservative-mp-apologizes-for-hurtful-comments-on-aboriginal-people-1.712106?ref=onthetrail.info) - [The Globe and Mail – Poilievre in Tory theatre](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/pierre-poilievre-stars-in-tory-theatre-of-the-absurd/article4353198/?ref=onthetrail.info) - [HuffPost – The Fair Elections Act](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/the-more-canadians-know-about-the-fair-elections-act-the-less-t%5Fn%5F5169267?ref=onthetrail.info) - [Global News – Poilievre conservative leadership](https://globalnews.ca/news/6453443/pierre-poilievre-conservative-leadership?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CBC – Poilievre, O’Toole, convoy, and vaccine mandate](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-conservative-otoole-convoy-vaccine-mandate-1.6335286?ref=onthetrail.info) - [The Hamilton Spectator – Right-to-work legislation proposal](https://www.thespec.com/opinion/columnists/tim-harper-pierre-poilievre-wants-to-bring-right-to-work-legislation-to-canada/article%5Ff37ea244-7245-5126-bd26-c4c9584a5f02.html?ref=onthetrail.info) - [Our Commons – Vote record](https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/votes/44/1/277?ref=onthetrail.info) - [Toronto Sun – Tax cut promises](https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/poilievre-promises-tax-cuts?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CBC – Defunding the CBC](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-defund-cbc-change-law-1.6810434?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CBC – Inflation, Trudeau, and pandemic supply chains](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inflation-trudeau-poilevre-pandemic-supply-chains-1.6261611?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CTV News – Scrapping carbon tax in Saskatoon](https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/pierre-poilievre-promises-to-scrap-carbon-tax-at-saskatoon-campaign-stop-1.5804727?ref=onthetrail.info) - [La Presse – Poilievre on same-sex marriage](https://web.archive.org/web/20220405093806/https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2020-01-17/le-mariage-gai-est-un-succes-dit-pierre-poilievre) - [The Star – Poilievre on gender](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/pierre-poilievre-says-he-is-only-aware-of-two-genders/article%5F19f4d394-d8ec-11ef-9d28-7bbbc49d4a6f.html?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CBC – Conservative immigration outreach](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-immigration-outreach-efforts-1.6690244?ref=onthetrail.info) - [CTV News – Private delivery of public healthcare](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/trudeau-watching-as-ford-plans-to-expand-private-delivery-of-public-health-care-singh-calls-for-conditions-1.6232700?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Sutherland House Books – Pierre Poilievre** [https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/pierre-poilievre/](https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/pierre-poilievre/?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Biblioasis – "Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre"** [https://www.biblioasis.com/shop/forthcoming/ripper-the-making-of-pierre-poilievre/](https://www.biblioasis.com/shop/forthcoming/ripper-the-making-of-pierre-poilievre/?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Vox – Canada's Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Party, Populism & Democracy** [https://www.vox.com/politics/24140480/canada-pierre-poilievre-conservative-party-populism-democracy](https://www.vox.com/politics/24140480/canada-pierre-poilievre-conservative-party-populism-democracy?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Politico – Poilievre Fires Tiff Macklem During Bank Debate** [https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/11/pierre-poilievre-fire-tiff-macklem-canada-bank-debate-00032012](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/11/pierre-poilievre-fire-tiff-macklem-canada-bank-debate-00032012?ref=onthetrail.info) - **The Walrus – Is Canada Ready for Life Without the CBC?** [https://thewalrus.ca/is-canada-ready-for-life-without-the-cbc-pierre-poilievre-thinks-so](https://thewalrus.ca/is-canada-ready-for-life-without-the-cbc-pierre-poilievre-thinks-so?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Global News – Poilievre Pressured to Explain Misogynist YouTube Tag** [https://globalnews.ca/news/9181715/poilievre-pressured-explain-misogynist-youtube-tag/](https://globalnews.ca/news/9181715/poilievre-pressured-explain-misogynist-youtube-tag/?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Britannica – Pierre Poilievre Biography** [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-Poilievre](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-Poilievre?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Counterfire – Pierre Poilievre: Canada's Tories, an Attack Dog at the Ready** [https://www.counterfire.org/article/pierre-poilievre-canada-s-tories-an-attack-dog-at-the-ready/](https://www.counterfire.org/article/pierre-poilievre-canada-s-tories-an-attack-dog-at-the-ready/?ref=onthetrail.info) - **Lethbridge News Now – From Harper to Poilievre: Conservative Vision for Indigenous Peoples** [https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2023/09/28/from-harper-to-poilievre-what-is-the-conservative-vision-for-indigenous-peoples/](https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2023/09/28/from-harper-to-poilievre-what-is-the-conservative-vision-for-indigenous-peoples/?ref=onthetrail.info) ### Des juifs contre la guerre/Jewish Conscientious objectors URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/des-juifs-contre-la-guerrejewish/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:10.000Z [Subscribe now](https://onthetrailmtl.ca/subscribe?ref=onthetrail.info) [Lire l’article ici—Read the article here](https://presence-info.ca/article/actualite/politique/les-refuseniks-des-juifs-contre-la-guerre/?ref=onthetrail.info) Bonjour à tous ! On espère que vous allez bien. Ce matin, un article écrit par Isaac est paru dans Présence. Il parle des premiers objecteurs de conscience en Israël contre les violences israéliennes à Gaza. C'est une lecture très intéressante, et nous espérons que vous prendrez le temps de la lire. L'article est en français. --- Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing well. This morning an article written by Isaac was released in Présence. In the article, they talk about the first conscientious objectors in Israel against the violence in Israel against Gaza. It's a very interesting read, and we hope you'll take the time to go look at it. It is an article in french, but for those who do not speak or read french, the translating software in most browsers are highly effective. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) ### Mark Carney- The Bio/La Bio URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/mark-carney-the-biola-bio/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T15:22:10.000Z **This small biography is an overview of Mark Carney’s life. Usually there are many articles and assessments of politicians before they become prime minister. Although Carney is still only the Prime Minister Delegate, we wanted to release this small summary of his life prior to any changes happening.** **Cette petite biographie donne un aperçu de la vie de Mark Carney. Plusieurs articles et analyses sont consacrés aux hommes politiques avant qu'ils ne deviennent premiers ministres. Bien que Mark Carney ne soit encore que Premier ministre délégué, nous avons voulu vous faire part de ce petit résumé de sa vie.** [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) --- **Français en bas.** Mark Carney was born on March 16, 1965, in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. He turns 60 this year. His father, Robert Carney, was a principal at a school in the North before moving the family to Edmonton, Alberta, when Mark was six. There, Robert became a professor at the University of Alberta. Carney grew up passionate about hockey and once dreamed of making it to the NHL. However, he realized he wasn’t good enough and settled for being a backup goalie at Harvard, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from 1984 to 1988\. He graduated with honours. His friends describe him as an incredibly intense student, never taking a break from his studies. He remains very physically active, holding a regiment of exercise every day. After Harvard, Carney joined Goldman Sachs in 1988, working there for a total of 13 years. He left in 1993 to pursue a doctorate at Oxford, then returned to Goldman in 1995, eventually rising to co-head of "sovereign risk," managing national stock portfolios. He played a significant role in reintegrating South Africa into international bond markets post-apartheid and was involved in Russia’s 1998 financial crisis, facing criticism for betting against the Russian ruble while also managing the crisis—though such conflicts are common in the world of Goldman Sachs. His role at the bank during this time was threefold: 1. **Risk Assessment:** Evaluating the creditworthiness and economic stability of sovereign entities to inform investment decisions and risk management strategies. 2. **Policy Analysis:** Analyzing the impact of fiscal and monetary policies, as well as geopolitical events, on sovereign risk profiles. 3. **Stakeholder Collaboration:** Working closely with internal teams, such as legal, compliance, and operations, to ensure comprehensive risk governance and adherence to regulatory requirements. Carney entered public service as Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Finance under Prime Minister Paul Martin. He later became Governor of the Bank of Canada under Stephen Harper, where he was widely credited with steering Canada through the 2008 financial crisis. Harper now tries to downplay Carney’s role, but at the time, multiple sources—including Gordon Nixon, CEO of RBC—described him as the "go-to guy" on financial policy. During this period, Carney was known for his aggressive stance on banking regulation. He even threatened to revoke TD Bank’s license if they didn’t reform their financial structures. It was this hard line approach that allowed Canada to remain relatively unaffected during the global recession. In 2013, Carney became Governor of the Bank of England, where he opposed Brexit and helped the UK navigate its economic fallout. He cut the interest rates in half, and encouraged local financial investments in order to prevent a major recession in the country. He is often described by those close to him as cocky and direct, with little tolerance for mistakes. His estimated wealth is at around $7-10 million, and so with the added factor of assets and home ownership, we would estimate his wealth could be between $15 to $25 million, roughly equivalent to Pierre Poilievre. There are no hard facts around this data, and we do not present this to you as “fact,” but as an educated guess. When there is more public data and disclosures available, we will happily release it to you. Despite his financial expertise, critics argue that being a successful banker doesn’t necessarily translate to being an effective political leader—especially on cultural and social issues. He has no “rizz” and remains, at his core, a banker. The largest question around this election is whether or not he can compete against Poilievre or not. Poilievre is a strong communicator, and is very capable of staying on message and condensing his ideas down to simple, easy to understand phrases. The effectiveness of this communication has been proven, seeing as he has moved the Conservative party significantly to the right, and has gained a lot of momentum. Carney, on the other hand, has shown that he is not an incredible debater. His extremely calm and professional tone could prove to be either an advantage or disadvantage. We don’t know yet whether he will be thrown off by Poilievre’s attacks or not. We also do not know, as of writing, the timeline for when he will call an election. We will see, and remain vigilant for you. **FRANÇAIS** Mark Carney est né le 16 mars 1965 à Fort Smith, dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest. Il aura 60 ans cette année. Son père, Robert Carney, était directeur d'une école dans le Nord avant que la famille ne déménage à Edmonton, en Alberta, lorsque Mark avait six ans. Il y devient professeur à l'Université de l'Alberta. Mark Carney a grandi en étant passionné de hockey, caressant même le rêve d’un jour faire partie de la LNH. Il se rend rapidement compte qu’il n’a pas le niveau pour atteindre son objectif et se contente d'être gardien de but remplaçant à Harvard, où il étudie en économie entre 1984 et 1988 et obtient son diplôme tous les honneurs. Ses amis le décrivent comme un étudiant très studieux, ne prenant jamais de pause dans ses études. Il reste très actif physiquement, s'astreignant à un régime d'exercices quotidiens. Après Harvard, Carney entre chez Goldman Sachs en 1988, où il travaille pendant 13 ans. Il quitte l'entreprise en 1993 pour préparer un doctorat à Oxford, puis revient chez Goldman en 1995, où il devient co-responsable du « risque national », gérant les portefeuilles d'actions nationales. Il joue un rôle important dans la réintégration de l'Afrique du Sud sur les marchés obligataires internationaux après l'apartheid et est impliqué dans la crise financière russe de 1998, essuyant des critiques pour avoir parié personnellement contre le rouble russe tout en gérant la crise - bien que de tels conflits soient courants dans le monde de Goldman Sachs. À cette époque, son rôle au sein de la banque est triple : 1. **Évaluation des risques** : Évaluation de la solvabilité et de la stabilité économique des entités souveraines afin d'éclairer les décisions d'investissement et les stratégies de gestion des risques. 2. **Analyses politiques** : Analyse de l'impact des politiques fiscales et monétaires, ainsi que des événements géopolitiques sur les profils de risque des États souverains. 3. **Collaboration avec les parties prenantes** : Travailler en étroite collaboration avec les équipes internes, telles que les services juridiques, la conformité et les opérations, afin de garantir une gouvernance globale des risques et le respect des exigences réglementaires. M. Carney entre dans la fonction publique en tant que premier vice-ministre associé aux finances sous le Premier ministre Paul Martin. Il devient ensuite gouverneur de la Banque du Canada sous Stephen Harper, où on lui donne le crédit d’avoir fait passer le Canada à travers la crise financière de 2008\. M. Harper tente aujourd'hui de minimiser le rôle de M. Carney, mais à l'époque, de nombreuses sources, dont Gordon Nixon, PDG de RBC, le décrivent comme « l'homme de la situation » en matière de politique financière. Au cours de cette période, M. Carney est connu pour sa position agressive en matière de réglementation bancaire. Il menace même de révoquer la licence de la banque TD si celle-ci ne réforme pas ses structures financières. C'est cette approche rigoureuse qui permet au Canada de rester relativement à l'écart de la récession mondiale. En 2013, M. Carney devient gouverneur de la Banque d'Angleterre, où il s'oppose au Brexit et aide le Royaume-Uni à surmonter les conséquences économiques de la crise. Il réduit les taux d'intérêt de moitié et encourage les investissements financiers locaux afin d'éviter une récession majeure dans le pays. Ses proches le décrivent souvent comme quelqu'un d'arrogant et de direct, ayant peu de tolérance pour les erreurs. Sa fortune est estimée à environ 7 à 10 millions de dollars, et si l'on tient compte de ses investissements immobiliers, sa fortune pourrait se situer entre 15 et 25 millions de dollars, ce qui équivaut à peu près à celle de Pierre Poilievre. Il n'y a pas de faits avérés autour de ces données, et nous ne les présentons pas comme des « faits », mais comme des suppositions éclairées. Nous nous ferons un plaisir de vous communiquer les données publiques et les informations disponibles dès qu'elles le seront. Malgré son expertise financière, ses détracteurs affirment que le fait d'être un banquier prospère ne se traduit pas nécessairement par un leader politique efficace, en particulier sur les questions culturelles et sociales. Il n'a pas de « rizz » et reste, à la base, un banquier. La question la plus intéressante autour de cette élection est de savoir s'il peut ou non rivaliser avec Poilievre. Poilievre est un excellent communicateur, capable de rester fidèle à son message et de condenser ses idées en des phrases simples et faciles à comprendre. L'efficacité de cette communication a été prouvée, puisqu'il a fait évoluer le parti conservateur vers la droite de manière significative et qu'il a gagné beaucoup en popularité. Carney, quant à lui, a montré qu'il n'était pas un grand débatteur. Son ton extrêmement calme et professionnel pourrait s'avérer être un avantage ou un inconvénient. Nous ne savons pas encore s'il sera déstabilisé par les attaques de Poilievre ou non. Nous ne savons pas non plus, à l'heure où nous écrivons ces lignes, quand il déclenchera les élections. Nous verrons, et resterons à l’affût pour vous. ### Isaac Peltz is interviewed by Fucking Cancelled URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/isaac-peltz-is-interviewed-by-fucking/ Last updated: 2025-02-12T22:31:44.000Z [https://www.fuckingcancelled.com/p/housing-sucks-because-everyone-in?fbclid=PAY2xjawIaAJFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpvVtZhTpXU-uXbmsguP1M271fiN2Aqyw0Qy5HkovB--PyVAHAJD8D6wvpQ\_aem\_1Gx4Dg-bekWzTGCO3TU7dg](https://www.fuckingcancelled.com/p/housing-sucks-because-everyone-in?fbclid=PAY2xjawIaAJFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpvVtZhTpXU-uXbmsguP1M271fiN2Aqyw0Qy5HkovB--PyVAHAJD8D6wvpQ%5Faem%5F1Gx4Dg-bekWzTGCO3TU7dg&ref=onthetrail.info) This week Gabrielle is in transit across the country, but Isaac did an interview with a well known leftist podcast called Fucking Cancelled! Please check it out for a deep dive into the housing crisis, journalism, and class based warfare! --- Cette semaine, Gabrielle est en transit à travers le pays, mais Isaac a fait une entrevue avec un balado de gauche bien connu appelé Fucking Cancelled ! Veuillez y jeter un œil pour une plongée en profondeur dans la crise du logement, le journalisme et la guerre des classes !