Au Canada, le chemin de croix électoral de Justin Trudeau

Des manifestants démontrent leur hostilité à Justin Trudeau lors de sa tournée de campagne électorale à Brantford, au Canada, le 6 septembre. CARLOS OSORIO/REUTERS
LE FIGARO : À dix jours des législatives, le premier ministre ne séduit plus et est devancé dans les sondages par le conservateur, Erin O’Toole.

À Ottawa
Cette campagne électorale a véritablement commencé chez le barbier. À l’aube de la fête nationale du Canada, le 1er juillet, Justin Trudeau a rasé sa barbe grisonnante et coupé ses cheveux longs, ainsi portés depuis le début de la crise sanitaire. Avec l’été, les mauvais jours de la pandémie devaient être un mauvais souvenir. Et Justin Trudeau, le premier ministre flamboyant du scrutin de 2015, de retour. Tous les chefs de partis ont alors compris le symbole. Ils ont pris le chemin d’une campagne électorale qui n’était pas officiellement déclarée. L’héritier de Pierre-Eliott Trudeau, à la tête d’un gouvernement minoritaire, a peaufiné sa stratégie. Après la découverte de tombes de milliers d’enfants amérindiens assassinés dans les pensionnats catholiques au XIX et XX siècles, Justin Trudeau a versé avec talent dans le pathos, puis nommé une gouverneur générale autochtone. » | Par Ludovic Hirtzmann | jeudi 9 septembre 2021

Réservé aux abonnés

Canada election: rivals force Justin Trudeau on to defensive in leaders’ debate: The prime minister was under fire for his record on climate change, Indigenous affairs and economic hardship ahead of 20 September poll »

Astérix, Tintin, Lucky Luke... Au nom de la cancel culture, des écoles canadiennes détruisent 5000 livres jugés offensants

La petite amie autochtone d'Obélix dans Astérix et les Indiens a suffi aux yeux d'un comité d'«experts» pour bannir le livre des rayons de plusieurs librairies scolaires. Bridgemanimages/Leemage
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Des autodafés, baptisés «cérémonies de purification par les flammes», ont même été pratiqués sur certains ouvrages.

Dans le sud-ouest de l'Ontario, près de cinq mille livres jeunesse ont été détruits, dans un «geste de réconciliation» avec les Autochtones, rapportent nos confrères de Radio-Canada. Les ouvrages, supprimés des bibliothèques, ont été tout bonnement jetés, enterrés, voire brûlés, sous l'égide du Conseil scolaire catholique Providence, qui regroupe trente écoles francophones dans la région.

Des autodafés - baptisés «cérémonies de purification par les flammes» pour l'occasion - auraient notamment été perpétrés en 2019 «dans un but éducatif», comme en atteste une vidéo destinée aux élèves et mise en ligne par ledit Conseil. Les cendres du brasier ont ensuite été enterrées, afin de servir d'engrais pour planter un arbre et «tourner du négatif en positif» : «Nous enterrons les cendres de racisme, de discrimination et de stéréotypes dans l'espoir que nous grandirons dans un pays inclusif où tous pourront vivre en prospérité et en sécurité», professait l'auteur de la vidéo, Suzy Kies. D'autres festivités de ce type devaient se tenir par la suite. Mais celles-ci ont dû être reportées en raison de la pandémie de Covid-19. » | Par Lou Fritel | mercredi 8 septembre 2021

Réservé aux abonnés

Queen Victoria Statue Toppled in Canada amid Anger at Deaths of Indigenous Children

THE GUARDIAN: Smaller statue of Queen Elizabeth also removed in Winnipeg during protest at treatment of Indigenous children in notorious residential schools

A statue of Queen Victoria has been toppled in Canada amid growing outrage over the discovery of unmarked graves belonging to Indigenous children.

A group gathered at the Manitoba legislature pulled down the statue on Canada Day – an annual celebration on 1 July that marks the country’s confederation.

Members of the group, wearing orange shirts to honour Indigenous children sent to the country’s notorious residential schools, covered the statue and its plinth in red handprints and left a sign that read “We were children once. Bring them home.”

A smaller statue of Queen Elizabeth II was also toppled on the east side of the grounds. Both royals are seen as representative of the country’s colonial history. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Friday, July 2, 2021

The Guardian view on Canada’s residential schools: an atrocity still felt today »

Deadly Extreme Heatwave in Canada | DW News

Jun 30, 2021 • A slew of sudden deaths is being blamed on a record-breaking heatwave sweeping British Columbia and Alberta. Temperatures hit a record high for a third straight day on Tuesday, reaching 49.5 Celsius (121 Fahrenheit) in the village of Lytton.

Police in Vancouver said they had responded to 65 sudden-death calls between Friday and Tuesday. The deaths were still under investigation and many of the deceased were seniors.

British Columbia closed schools and educational institutions due to the record-breaking temperatures. Prior to the weekend, the historical high in Canada was 45 Celsius, set in Saskatchewan in 1937.

Record-breaking Heatwave Hits Western Canada

Jun 29, 2021 • There are worries about public safety as Western Canada’s dangerous heatwave intensifies, with no relief in sight.

How Canada Became a Country of Smokers | The Agenda

Daniel Robinson's new book, "Cigarette Nation," draws a link between cigarette marketing strategies of the 1950s and today's global pandemic and examines the history of smoking to discover why Canadians continued to light up despite the health risks. Robinson, a historian and associate professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at the Western University, discusses his research.

Ontario Shifts Strategy as It Scrambles to Combat Worsening Covid Outbreak

THE GUARDIAN: Province announces plans to make coronavirus vaccines more accessible in response to public pressure

Canada’s most populous province has announced plans to make coronavirus vaccines more accessible and the federal government pledged emergency aid as authorities scramble to combat a worsening outbreak in Ontario.

The shift in strategy comes after the premier, Doug Ford, was forced into a U-turn over deeply unpopular new restrictions announced on Friday.

In response to mounting public pressure, Ontario announced late on Sunday that it would lower the age threshold to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from 55 to 40.

Earlier on Sunday, the federal government promised it would help send nurses and doctors from other provinces to help in Ontario hospitals, where the ICU admissions continue to grow and doctors fear the province may soon begin triaging care. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Monday, April 19, 2021

W5: The Shadowy Underworld of Contraband Tobacco (2018)

Off-brand and tax-free cigarettes produced on First Nations reserves look like a deal for smokers, but as W5's Kevin Newman reveals, organized crime is reaping the profits and costing the government billions in lost revenues.

Canada Designates Proud Boys as Terrorist Organization beside Isis and Al-Qaida

THE GUARDIAN: Move follows allegations that the rightwing group played a role in the mob attack on the US Capitol in January

Canada has designated the far-right Proud Boys group as a terrorist organization alongside Isis and al-Qaida, amid growing concerns over the spread of white supremacist groups in the country.

On Wednesday Bill Blair, public safety minister, also announced the federal government would designate the white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups the Atomwaffen Division, the Base and the Russian Imperial Movement as terrorist entities. The federal government also added offshoots of al-Qaida, Isis and Hizbul Mujahedin to its list.

“Canada will not tolerate ideological, religious or politically motivated acts of violence,” Blair said. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Outcry as Super-rich Trump Donor Given Permission to Avoid Canada Quarantine

THE GUARDIAN: Billionaire Liz Uihlein landed in Toronto in August and did not have to follow mandatory 14-day coronavirus self-isolation rules

A billionaire backer of Donald Trump who has been outspoken in her criticism of coronavirus restrictions was granted an exemption to a mandatory quarantine when she visited Canada by private jet.

Liz Uihlein, the head of Wisconsin-based packaging company Uline, landed at Toronto’s Pearson airport on 25 August to visit one of the company’s warehouses, according to a report by CBC News.

Under the Quarantine Act, visitors to Canada are required to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival to the country. Failure to comply with restrictions carry a maximum penalty of up to $750,000 in fines and/or imprisonment for six months.

But neither Uihlein, nor her two travelling companions, were required to quarantine. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Friday, September 18, 2020

Trudeau Announces Canada Is Banning Assault-style Weapons

THE GUARDIAN: Move comes after murder of 22 people in worst mass shooting in Canada’s history

Canada has banned assault-style weapons following the murder of 22 people in the worst mass shooting in the country’s history, Justin Trudeauannounced on Friday.

“These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada,” said the prime minister. “Effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade assault weapons in this country.”

After the Nova Scotia shooting last week, Trudeau said his government intended “strengthen gun control” to fulfil a campaign promise to restrict certain weapons – a plan that had initially been derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Friday, May 1, 2020

Nova Scotia Shooting Death Toll Rises as Trudeau Calls on Canadians to Stand United

THE GUARDIAN: Death toll from country’s deadliest mass shooting rose to 18, including the gunman

Justin Trudeau has called on Canadians to stand unified in the face “senseless violence” as the death toll from the country’s deadliest mass shooting rose to 18 people, including the gunman.

“No one man’s action can build a wall between us and a better day, no matter how evil, how thoughtless or how destructive,” the prime minister said on Monday morning. “As families grieve the loss of a loved one, all Canadians are standing with them.” » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Monday, April 20, 2020

Most Canadians Don't Want to Cover Harry and Meghan's Costs, Poll Says | Power & Politics

A large majority of Canadians don’t want to pay for Harry and Meghan’s security costs during their time in Canada, according to a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute.

Quebec to Ban Public Employees from Wearing Religious Symbols

THE GUARDIAN: Critics say move targets Muslim women wearing hijabs / Justin Trudeau says legitimising discrimination is ‘unthinkable’

The Canadian province of Quebec will ban public sector employees from wearing religious symbols during work hours, in legislation introduced on Thursday, a controversial move that critics say targets Muslim women who wear hijabs or other head coverings.

The proposed law sets the province’s right-leaning Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government on a collision course with the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, who promotes religious freedom, in a federal election year with Quebec a vital battleground.

“It is unthinkable to me that in a free society we would legitimise discrimination against citizens based on their religion,” Trudeau told reporters in Halifax on Thursday. » | Reuters in Ottawa | Thursday, March 28, 2019

Why Trudeau's Popularity Has Taken a Nosedive

Justin Trudeau became Canadian prime minister on a platform of being nice and a clever social media campaign. The FT's Ravi Mattu explains why maintaining his carefully constructed image was always going to be difficult

Interview: Rahaf Mohammed On Escaping Saudi Arabia to Canada

In her own words, Saudi teen Rahaf Mohammed talks to Susan Ormiston about fleeing her family, how she finally ended up in Canada and what she plans to do next.

Saudi Woman Who Fled Family Pledges to Fight for Women Escaping Persecution

THE GUARDIAN: Rahaf Mohammed said she will work in support of ‘the same freedom’ she experienced after arriving in Canada

Rahaf Mohammed, the Saudi teen who shot into the headlines after barricading herself into a Thai hotel room, has pledged to fight for women fleeing persecution after she successfully escaped abuse and the fear of death in her home country.

“Today and for years to come, I will work in support of freedom for women around the world – the same freedom I experienced on the first day I arrived in Canada,” she told reporters at a press conference in Toronto.

After her plans to seek asylum in Australia fell apart and she feared deportation back to Saudi Arabia, UNHCR intervened and granted her refugee status. Canada offered to resettle her and she landed in Toronto on Saturday. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi Teen Granted Asylum in Canada

BBC: A Saudi woman who fled her family and became stranded at Bangkok's main airport is flying to Canada after being granted asylum status.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, had been trying to reach Australia via Bangkok, but was initially told to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting.

She refused to fly back and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room, attracting international attention.

She said she had renounced Islam, which is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. » | BBC | Friday, January 11, 2019

900 Litres of Maple Syrup Rejected by Saudi Arabia Have Been Sold

Canadians from across the country offered to buy Anna Hutchinson's 900 litres of maple syrup after the government of Saudi Arabia rejected her shipment amid the diplomatic dispute between the Canadian and Saudi government.

Saudi-Canada Diplomatic Row Obscures Canada’s Support for the Deadly War on Yemen

Canadian Journalist Anthony Fenton Explains Canada’s Extensive Arms Sales to the Saudi Autocracy