Lebanese Canadians say Canada needs to do more the help end Gaza war before conflict escalates in Middle East
Lebanese Canadians are raising concerns over the Liberal government’s stance on the Gaza war after Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly urged Canadians in Lebanon to fly home. Several airlines have already suspended service to Beirut as fears over a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified. “If tensions escalate, the situation on the ground may not allow us to...
![Canadian border checkpoint on the north side of Rue Canusa. [Photo: Jonathan Got © 2021]](https://capitalcurrent.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Stanstead_Canusa3-585x329.jpeg)
Words matter: Seeking asylum in Canada is not illegal
Earlier in June, U.S. President Joe Biden announced measures on migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border that allow authorities to deport or turn them back to Mexico without having the chance to claim asylum. One of Donald Trump’s main campaign agendas is to deport millions of undocumented migrants and prevent others from crossing borders. In recent years, tensions over Quebec’s Roxham Road...
Two-time Palestinian Olympian and Carleton alumnus says Paris games will be his last
The two-time Palestinian Olympian and Carleton University alum Yazan Al Bawwab says the Paris 2024 Olympics will be his last. Born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Dubai, the son of a Palestinian refugee, Rashad Al Bawwab, achieved his father’s dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer to represent his country. “I am delighted to be here to represent Palestine and...
Letter demands removal of Liberal MP as point person on Jewish community and antisemitism
A letter signed by hundreds of Canadians is demanding the prime minister replace Anthony Housefather as the federal government’s special advisor on Jewish community relations and antisemitism. The letter accuses the Montreal MP of pushing “anti-Palestinian racist and Islamophobic narratives” for months. Addressed to MPs and Senators, the letter asks for a full re-assessment and evaluation of the appointment. and...
Transit advocates in Ottawa alarmed by OC Transpo’s pattern of “cutting services”
Community organizations, workers and residents are raising concerns over a pattern of service cuts after OC Transpo announced its plan to reduce LRT frequency during off-peak hours and accusing the city of ruining Ottawa’s public transit system. OC Transpo says, starting Aug. 26, Line 1 will run every 10 minutes at stations between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays...
In wake of changes to alcohol market, Ottawa brewers urge province to consider dedicated shelves for their beer, incentives and tax cuts
In the wake of the LCBO strike settlement, Ottawa breweries say they welcome Ontario’s plan to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, saying it is an encouraging, but long orverdue move for the local market. But without financial incentives for small breweries, dedicated shelves for local products in sales outlets and a re-evaluation of...
One in 11 people worldwide face hunger: UN report
The global food security has remained stubbornly poor for three straight years, according to a new UN report. Published by five United Nations specialized agencies, the new State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report has found nearly 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, equivalent to one in 11 people on the planet. The total is about...
Faculty for Palestine urges uOttawa to respect ruling by International Court of Justice
The uOttawa chapter of Faculty for Palestine (F4P) is urging the school to honour the recently released advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that found Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories violates international law. In a statement, F4P uOttawa called on the university to divest from all corporations directly involved in the occupation and cut ties with...
Most Canadians fear Trump re-election: poll
A new survey by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) shows two-thirds of Canadians dread another term in the White House for Donald Trump. Some 28 per cent polled say another four years of Trump would be “terrible news” for Canada, while 38 per cent say a Trump win would be “bad.” Fifteen per cent say it would be good or...
Convenience store owner praises liberalizing alcohol market in Ontario
When Premier Doug Ford announced plans to allow Ontario convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, Biruk G. Medhin received the news with enthusiasm and optimism. For 30 years, Medhin has run the A&M Confectionary in Ottawa’s Heron Park neighbourhood. He told Capital Current he had worked closely with community members in the past to sign a petition...
WHO says low vaccination rate driving measles outbreaks
Global childhood immunization against deadly diseases such as measles declined in 2023, leaving millions of children at risk, according to data published this week by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The data shows low vaccination rate against measles last year left nearly 35 million children with no or partial protection. About 83 per cent of children worldwide received their...
The silence is damaging: Society’s denial and ignorance of sexual assaults on men and boys only enabling the abusers
In one of our calls, Dr. Kelli Palfy told me about a personal and professional frustration she has endured for years. Once people find out that she helps sexually abused men, they change the conversation, or avoid the details. Palfy is an Edmonton-based therapist works with male survivors. She retired from the RCMP, as an officer who specialized in sex...
Ottawa police using force against black and Middle Eastern individuals in disproportionately high rate: report
Black and Middle Eastern people were more likely to be subjected to use of force by Ottawa police officers in 2023, with no improvement over numbers from 2022, according to a report by the police made public by the Ottawa Police Services Board. The report revealed that police used force against 310 individuals last year, including 81 perceived as Black and...
Neo-Nazi organization run by Canadian teens promotes racial violence, watchdog group says
In a recent report, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network is drawing attention to a small, but growing neo-Nazi group in Canada that has emerged onto social media platforms and is apparently run by teenagers. The group is an offshoot of an organization founded in the U.S. in 2013 as the Atomwaffen Division. There are now active cells in Canada, the United...
Down on the farm: Despite serious concerns, Canadian agriculture remains surprisingly hopeful, survey shows
A new Angus Reid poll finds while farmers and the agriculture community have concerns about the sector, there is hope too.
Update: UOttawa students end encampment after more than two months
Students announce the end of their encampment at uOttawa
Alexandra Bridge replacement begins with deconstruction starting in 2028
The Alexandra Bridge will begin to come down in 2028 with a new bridge in place in 2032, says a plan prepared by the NCC and PSPC.
As many as one in four males in Canada experience a sexual assault: experts say
The number of males who are sexually assaulted is much more than is currently thought, experts believe.
Carleton students form large, wide-ranging pro-Palestinian coalition to push university to meet demands
Carleton students, faculty and unions form large Carleton4Palestine coalition to push university administration to reveal involvement with Israel.
UOttawa encampment students say they will reject an injunction to leave
Pro-Palestinian uOttawa students are bracing for action by the university. In this recent public media conference supporters were out in force at the uOttawa encampment.[Photo @ Ali Al Ashoor]
Advocates say disproportionately high number of traffic stops involving Middle Eastern and Black drivers requires accountability
Community advocates say the the report of disproportionate traffic stops by police involving Middle Eastern and Black drivers demands some sort of accountability for the police making the stops.
Professors and workers say if police move to break up uOttawa encampment, ‘they will have to go through us’
Supporters of uOttawa encampment ready to defend students from police action.
UOttawa encampment warned they are now considered to be trespassing by university administration
UOttawa has warned students to leave the encampment in from of Tabaret Hall be today, students say.
$1.6M cost of policing pro-Palestinian protests in Ottawa shocking, uOttawa student says
A police report that talked about the cost of policing pro-Palestinian demonstrations condemned by protesters and students at an Ottawa Police Board meeting.
OC Transpo’s bus route changes are really just cuts, say transit advocates
The OCTranspo route overhaul is facing criticism from local advocacy groups who are concerned that it will reduce service to those who use he system.
Ottawa aims to prioritizing building community resilience to face climate change
Building community resilience is one of the top focused areas in the Ottawa 2024 priorities of emergency preparedness as the City of Ottawa is developing a new emergency management strategy and public alerting system to enhance emergency response and adapt to the new realities of climate change. Advancing ways to increase communication and information sharing, and working with community groups...
Researchers say more regulation would help make technology accessible for seniors
Digitizing essential services creates a digital divide and that puts illiterate people in a disadvantageous situation.
Senior’s struggle to get a paper phone bill points to barriers for illiterate Canadians
Telecom companies lack protocols for dealing with illiterate seniors, leaving them vulnerable and exposed to abuse.
In the crosshairs of racism: Why Muslim women bear the brunt of Islamophobia
Her heart racing, Wati Rahmat hurries down a side street, heading to the closest bus stop from her office in Montreal. A car is slowly trailing her. She knows what’s coming. Sure enough, as she turns around, a man rolls down the side window of the car and yells, “You terrorist! Go back to your home!” That is just one...
Hate on the rise: Advocates say more needs to be done to stem tide of incidents in Canada
Advocates say that more needs to be done to prevent hate crimes in Canada.
Planned cuts to transit alarm Ottawa coalition warning of further erosion of public system
Cuts to OC Transpo's capital budget threatens to erode public transit further, critics say.
Intense frustration: Heron Park community concerned about growing garbage, pests and parking problems
Heron Park community concerned about growing densification and the concerns that it creates such as garbage, pests and parking.