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A passerby found the baby at the intersection of Royale and Bureau Streets in the afternoon of Jan. 1. The mother was found a few streets over. She had given birth outside, police said.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Victor the giant Snowman charms Sillery residents

Dear Shirley,

I heard you write for the Chronicle-Telegraph. If there is such a thing as a little happy story in the editions, I thought I would share that my spouse Kevin loves making snowmen and that we currently have a 10-foot-high one in front of our house. People have spread the word and we have a steady line of visitors coming by each day. Some stop to chat. Some stop to take pictures. It has brought the street and our community closer. 

We name the snowman every year. Victor is the name of our little neighbour; we named the snowman after him because he was the very first to show interest in it and ask questions. 

Kevin intends on keeping Victor the snowman going all winter. We have a giant tarp to cover him when it gets too warm and rainy; it helps preserve him. Right now [Dec. 30] it looks like a giant orange mountain. 

That’s our dog Kika in the photo (below), a rescue animal from Peru. She is adjusting to snow. 

Keep well and Happy New Year!

Anne McConnell

Sillery

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Transparency was a four-letter word for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake in 2025, and it wasn’t because they were good at being transparent.  

And let’s be clear: every politician has things they keep close to their chest, but the MCK really outdid itself this past year. With so many important issues buried, you’d need a hell of a shovel to dig them all out. 

We have written about it multiple times before, but let’s just say the two Dean Montour lawsuits, the Magic Palace lawsuit, the Indigenous Services Canada building moving, Mohawk Online being left for dead, and so many other key stories reported in-depth (and first) by The Eastern Door would not have seen the light of day if we didn’t put you, the community, first. 

Sure, we could have coasted and rewritten press releases and stayed away from the controversial topics to keep everyone happy, but that’s not the real journalism Kahnawake needs. 

You have a right to know what’s going on and we will always dig for the truth for all to see – whether you support us or not. 

Aside from the MCK’s lack of transparency, new grand chief Cody Diabo showed his inexperience and complete lack of professionalism when he attacked The Eastern Door for allegedly leaking confidential issues from a secret public meeting. 

Yes, you heard that right, a public community meeting whose contents were supposed to be kept secret. 

You can’t make this up. 

Peppa Pig fans might remember the Secret Club episode where, well, secrets could not be kept. So why put these alleged secrets in a public forum? 

Oh, wait, there were no real earth-shattering things to share, just a question of whether the MCK should delay a lawsuit against Chateauguay for six months. Sounds more like poor planning. 

We didn’t reveal anything secret, it was all a ruse, but Diabo used his platform on his personal Facebook page, and later an official press release (with a letter signed only by him) to announce the MCK, the governing body of this community of which we’re part, would not be doing business with TED anymore. And that we (although they didn’t name us, a tactic to try to target us without being sued for libel), breached the community’s trust. 

Imagine that. Breached the community’s trust, in an official memo from the Council, signed by the grand chief. If we had a dollar for every time the MCK breached the community’s trust, we wouldn’t have a housing crisis. 

There are many things wrong with how it played out, but when instructions were sent to all other parts of the MCK monster not to talk to us, including when our reporter attempted to cover a low-waste market, we were able to fully see what a rogue grand chief can do when not properly briefed on how to be an effective leader. 

The ban lasted less than a week because of a public meeting (not quite secret) that revealed the truth: the media plays too important of a role to try to control by an Indian Act band council, and although we had haters there who supported the council (and unprofessional chiefs as well), the truth prevailed. 

Besides, our response on Facebook and in The Eastern Door showed people the truth, and the simple question of “Should the MCK delay the lawsuit against Chateauguay for six months” was shown to be not a breach at all, but good reporting that the people needed to know, outside of the few who showed up. 

Our response helped people to understand what really happened, instead of allowing Diabo to speak in generalities to put a target on us and away from a potentially ineffective legal strategy. 

He (along with chiefs Jeremiah Johnson and Ross Montour) even breached his own decree of not communicating with us directly and answered our post on Facebook with half-baked accusations. Then he removed the author of this editorial as a Facebook friend. 

Cody took his ball and went home. 

The MCK has since pivoted to try and have a meeting with the media and select community members to “set ground rules,” so to speak, for future meetings, but as of this writing, nothing has come of it due to scheduling issues. 

We need to have access to community meetings, whether the reporter is non-Native or “not from here,” because reporting to the community is more important than who the reporter is. 

The whole sham of an issue will serve as a lesson in what could happen when politicians are not fully equipped to deal with tough situations and don’t know how to put their emotions aside for the betterment of all in the community. 

Jumping the gun should never be the reaction from a sitting chief, and leading means stopping to think clearly, with a good mind, instead of a knee-jerk reaction done to pressure us and get hate spewed our way for no good reason. 

We are the only media who report on the hard stuff regularly – the court cases, the cover-ups, the drunk driving politicians, the lies – all of the things that need to be exposed – so cutting us out of meetings, as they have done for far too long now, is just plain wrong. 

If we close up shop tomorrow, who will report on these vital issues?  

Something has to change but we fear with the rise in anti-journalist sentiment, the average person won’t know The Eastern Door from CBC, or won’t be able to see they are quite clearly different, with different ways of reporting, of fighting FOR the community, and for standing up for the truth; as we see people at the bank or grocery store; as we spend our money here and help to support orgs, businesses, individuals, and important causes. 

We aren’t going anywhere so accepting our role means we can be better at it in the future, with more voices coming forward to tell their stories. 

Mainstream media like CBC come and go. We do not. We’re here for all of it, warts and flowers, the truth and conspiracies all in one. 

Taking this time now to raise these important issues demonstrates who we are and what we stand for, and we also hope it equally shows the ones who just yell without thinking of the consequences that we are fighting for them too. Even though we also sometimes have to fight against them. 

And that includes the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. 

After all, we want a better community and we know they do too. 

Steve Bonspiel 

The Eastern Door 

This editorial was originally published in print on January 3 in issue 34.01 of The Eastern Door.

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The National School Food Program aims to deliver healthy meals in schools across Canada to 400,000 kids every year — who aren’t already served by existing school food programs. Last April, the federal government announced their investment in the program of $1-billion over five years.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Ontario signed on to the program in the fall. The feds are currently in talks with Canada’s other provinces, territories and Indigenous partners in order to roll out the program nationwide this year.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre voted against the National School Food Program.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the program “a game changer.”

“The National School Food Program is a game changer. The program will take pressure off of families, invest directly in the future of our kids, and make sure they’re able to reach their full potential – feeling healthy and happy. This is about fairness and doing what’s right for our kids to get the best start in life.”

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

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The patrol of local highways largely used by non-locals takes up a major chunk of the Kahnawake Peacekeepers’ resources. Accidents along Route 207 and Highway 138 happen on a weekly basis, and the work the police force has to dedicate to preventing fatalities isn’t being fairly compensated for by the province, according to many on the Council table. 

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has a transport agreement in place with Quebec to make up for the resources the force has to expend on policing these drivers, and has since 1999, but there haven’t been any modifications to it since 2000.  

“We don’t receive enough from the transport user fees agreement to account for traffic growth and the growth in demographics on the South Shore, or the amount of truck traffic,” Council chief Paul Rice told The Eastern Door. “It takes quite a lot of resources on our end.” 

The agreement brings in a set amount per year, one that goes up incrementally to reflect the consumer price index and interest rates set by banks. This year it brought in $2.6 million. Five years ago, it brought in $2.41 million.  

There’s long been talk at the Council table over approaching Quebec to negotiate the agreement. That desire has been reignited since the election, with both Rice and MCK grand chief Cody Diabo repeating on numerous occasions the need to rewrite all existing infrastructure agreements the band council currently has with the province. 

“You look at each of these agreements that need to be negotiated. You look at the different revenue opportunities for the community, and you prioritize them, which is what we’re doing right now,” Rice said. 

He said any extra money secured through a negotiated agreement would first and foremost go toward the policing and upkeep of the roadways, which include highways 30, 132, 138, and Route 207. 

The transport agreement the MCK has with Quebec automatically renews every five years. The Council table has sat down with officials and negotiators from the province’s Indigenous affairs secretariat and transport ministry numerous times over the years about it – the most recent time being last year.  

The province has since invited the MCK to submit a request outlining how it hopes to kickstart new negotiations over the agreement, something it’s still waiting to receive, according to a statement shared with the Eastern Door from Quebec’s transport ministry. 

“We’re having a whole bunch of internal discussions about what we’re doing with traffic,” Diabo said, saying that agreement is very much part of those conversations. “The transport user fee agreement is very outdated. It doesn’t match the realities of today.” 

Both he and Rice have also reiterated the need to renegotiate all other existing third-party funding agreements the band council has, such as those over the Seaway and rail lines that run through the territory.  

That’s one means through which the MCK is hoping to increase its revenue from Quebec. The other option the table is seriously considering is pushing for the implementation of tolls on major routes.  

A study has already been carried out revealing the MCK stands to bring in between $30 million to $50 million per year, depending on where the tolls are placed.  

The desire for tolls has come up routinely at community meetings, Diabo said. 

“We’re probably going to be coming back to the community relatively soon to discuss the social impacts of that,” the MCK grand chief said, saying it will be up to the community to decide what demand he’ll bring to the Quebec government. “I tried pushing it last term, but now I’m in a position where I can do more, definitely, and I think a lot of the Council feels the same way about it.” 

[email protected]

This article was originally published in print on January 3 in issue 34.01 of The Eastern Door.

Now that Wihse Stacey has become interim fire chief of the Kahnawake Fire Brigade (KFB) after David Scott retired last month, he has taken over many of Scott’s files – including matters of KFB funding from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). 

With the agreement between KFB and ISC concerning Medical Transport’s funding up for renewal in 2025, Stacey said that they are looking to change from a “set funding” model to a “flexible funding” model, a process that was started by Scott two months ago while he was still fire chief. 

“Being in a set funding model means that we need to spend the money the way they tell us to. If we don’t spend the money the way that they dictate, then we have to give the money back to ISC,” said Stacey. 

Flexible funding, meanwhile, allows for money to be carried forward to the next fiscal year as long as it is for the same program. 

“They were forced to give back money to the federal government, which is a big no-no for us,” said Ryan Montour, the lead on the Community Security portfolio for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK). 

Montour said that a change to flexible funding would be a big positive for Medical Transport’s ability to plan and manage the service, and that council was “dismayed” that under the set funding model, unused funds needed to be sent back to ISC.  

To him, having Medical Transport be able to use their funds in the way that is best for them – not easiest for the federal government to manage – is what is best for the community.  

“Our community members need this service. That’s why it’s better for us to properly manage the federal funding dollars, which we hold them responsible for, by dishing it out for our community member’s needs,” said Montour. 

“After some discussion internally and with ISC over the past few years, their recommendation would be to request a change from set to flexible funding,” said Stacey. 

There are certain requirements to be eligible for flexible funding, however. The program or organization must already have a longstanding relationship with ISC, have met a threshold level of capacity set by ISC, and must be willing to enter a minimum two-year agreement. 

Stacey said that the main ways flexible funding would help is by being able to set money aside for vehicle replacement and attracting staff by being able to pay competitive wages. 

“We’re having difficulties in maintaining staffing with Medical Transport. Because of that funding model, we are obligated to follow the national salary scales and national standards,” said Stacey.  

As for vehicles, Stacey said that they have had to wait for a year or more to be approved for funding for repairs or replacements. 

“In the flexible funding model, we can use some of that money put aside when we do need to purchase new vehicles. Sometimes, we need to do $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 repairs. These vehicles are easily doing 150,000 kilometres in three years. So, we generally get about three years out of these vehicles,” said Stacey. 

Before going to ISC, KFB needed to go to the MCK to get approval to move forward with this request. That request was approved during the December 9 council meeting. 

“Now that we have the MCK’s approval, it should move forward,” said Stacey. 

But, there is still one hurdle left to overcome: government bureaucracy. 

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take. That seems to be one of the biggest problems when dealing with ISC, because there’s so much staff turnover,” said Stacey. “People that are familiar with what certain files are, they leave.” 

[email protected]

This article was originally published in print on January 3 in issue 34.01 of The Eastern Door.

Those on social assistance will continue to be offered inflation benefits in the new year, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) announced.  

The benefits offered since 2023 were initially expected to end after the summer. That was until the MCK realized there was still some prior funding left over from an envelope from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), said Alexis Shackleton, director of Client-Based Services.  

The amount is enough to allow the department to continue offering the benefits until at least the end of March, she said. Some already started being rolled out this month.  

A total of 360 households in the community rely on social assistance, Shackleton said, a much lower number in comparison to prior years. 
“We are very happy to be able to support the community in the best way we can,” said Shackleton, whose department is responsible for overseeing the MCK’s social assistance program. “We’re seeing that the majority of people are working in the community.” 

Most of the benefits that’ll be offered next year aren’t any different from those offered previously under the inflation program, except for two that are new.  

The first is a “household essentials hamper,” a basket that’ll be gifted to community members with items like cleaning products and toilet paper, which are expected to be delivered by January. 

Two more courses are also now available under their “inflation support courses.” They include a financial literacy course that’ll be offered through Kahnawake’s Caisse Populaire, as well as a nutrition course that’ll be hosted in collaboration with the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC).   

“This is a special initiative, and it’s something we’re looking to continue in the future,” Shackleton said.  

Benefits that’ll continue to be offered include one that helps community members buy winter coats or boots, one that can be used to pay toward heating costs, and funds for essential items like groceries. Those eligible for the benefits automatically receive them, there’s no need for them to apply for them ahead of time.  

Shackleton said she’s hoping Canada will continue offering inflation-related funding for First Nations in the next year. Right now, however, it’s up in the air what kind of funding ISC will be willing to contribute - in April, the department announced the temporary funding relief measure had come to its end.  

The annual inflation rates fell to 1.9 percent in November, according to a report released by Statistics Canada. The cost of groceries went down slightly in November in comparison to the same time last year, falling by 2.6 percent. That said, grocery costs are still high, having risen by 19.6 percent since November of 2021.   

Rental costs are particularly high for new tenants. For two-bedroom apartments, the cost of rent for turned over apartments rose by 23.5 per cent across the country, according to an annual report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released in November. This segment of the rental market contributed to over 40 percent of total rent increases in 2024. 

[email protected]

This article was originally published in print on January 3 in issue 34.01 of The Eastern Door.

The Christmas spirit was in full swing this year, with anonymous Onkwehón:we families in need receiving thousands of dollars from fundraising that included a holiday edition of Chase the Ace. 

The initiative, Families in Need 2024, was organized by Al Harrington and Karonhienhawe Nicholas, who said they were inspired by their own experiences trying to make ends meet with a young family. The two have been fundraising every holiday season for over a decade, since their daughter, Sage, was a young child. 

“I know the feeling, so it’s really, really gratifying to see that you can do that for somebody,” said Nicholas, who said the funds were split between two local families and two Inuit families in Montreal, with more going to families in Shoal Lake #39, where Harrington is from. All the funds and other gifts, including food baskets, were distributed to single mothers in need. 

“It’s really something. It gives me goosebumps just to think of it,” said Nicholas. 

It was their first time doing Chase the Ace as part of the initiative, and with sales going slowly, the pair took to the Route 344 hill, with the assistance of Perimeter Security, and raised around $2,000 in just an hour from passing cars. Funds from this effort were allocated ahead of Christmas to give families a chance to buy gifts. 

On December 23, there were still more than 20 cards left to claim for Chase the Ace, but by Christmas Eve, when it was time to broadcast on Facebook Live, the whole board of 52 cards had been sold. These went for $20 each, with the prize going to the person whose name was on the back of the ace of spades. 

Kahnawa’kehró:non Joel Jacobs was the lucky winner who bagged the $560 pot. 

“I participate with our sister community when I can when it’s for a good cause in the spirit of giving,” Jacobs said. “Families struggle more this time of year. I’m glad that some single mothers and their kids were able to benefit from it. Compliments to the organizers for making it happen. It feels good to have good people who go out of their way to assist those in need.”  

Jacobs decided to donate his entire winnings to the initiative. 

“I love the fact that we still do have lovely, caring souls within our community,” said Nicholas, who noted Jacobs frequently donates to her fundraisers. 

Harrington sounded a similar note on the generosity of participants. 

“It means a lot,” he said. “When it comes to family values, it still thrives here.” 

He named several donors who went above and beyond. One anonymous donor even kicked in an extra $100 to benefit a local elder, while Bayside Convenience contributed some of the turkeys, stuffing, and other fixings that make a holiday meal feel special. 

“What we’ve learned doing this in the last 15 years is that there are so many out there that are willing to help,” said Harrington. “They just need that extra awareness, like ourselves to go out and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do, would you like to help?’” 

Harrington said he is looking forward to putting together future editions. 

“We get a lot of personal stories when we drop these off after of how much it’s needed,” he said. 

“We kind of go back to hard times in our families in the past, even starting out with our new family. We were struggling as well. People showed kindness to us and helped us at that time, around Christmas. We always kept that in mind.” 

[email protected]

This article was originally published in print on January 3 in issue 34.01 of The Eastern Door.

For the first time, undergraduate students in McGill University’s social work program will be able to learn from not just one but three of the brightest minds in Kahnawake, who have each signed on to be course lecturers for the winter semester at the university. 

“We’re so excited,” said Loanna Zacharie, a counsellor at Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) who will be one of the three lecturers for “First Peoples and Social Work,” a mandatory class for all third-year social work students at McGill. “This is monumental.” 

Zacharie had taken a leap of faith when she taught the class for the first time last year alongside fellow Kahnawa’kehró:non Thomasina Phillips, who will also be teaching a section this year. Despite having no prior teaching experience, Zacharie excelled and was invited back as a lecturer this year, as well as Taylor Goodleaf, a current McGill Law student and social worker who will be teaching for the first time. 

The three Kahnawa’kehró:non will lead separate sections of the class, helping to train the next generation of social workers at McGill with key information about the policies that affect Indigenous people across Turtle Island. 

“I feel honoured to be teaching the course to begin with, but to be working alongside two other Kanien’kehá:ka women will enrich this course and the overall experience for all of us,” said Phillips.  

Zacharie and Phillips are both graduates of McGill’s social work master’s program, and Goodleaf has worked at various shelters in Montreal as well as in youth protection at KSCS, having received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Toronto. Phillips is also particularly well acquainted with the university’s daily life, serving as the Indigenous Case Manager at McGill’s health centre and as the university’s associate director of Indigenous Student Success. 

“Taylor and Loanna bring valuable areas of knowledge and experience and their own point of view as individuals, and I have a couple of years of experience and understand the way the university works, so we’re fortunate and well positioned,” Phillips said. “We’re already collaborating on content, and there is built-in mutual support.” 

Third-year social work students will be split into three sections, likely of around 20-30 students, which will allow for more intimate learning environments.  

Zacharie said that when she taught the course last year, working in these small groups meant that students could more productively engage with materials – something especially important to ensure, since the vast majority of students in the program are non-Indigenous. 

“I really want them to leave feeling confident that they understand, rather than just spitting out a bunch of stuff on paper and making it look good with references, but not really getting it and feeling it,” Zacharie said. “I feel like that would be a disservice to my history. I want these students to go and be social workers having really connected as human beings with the human experiences of Indigenous people.” 

Students will study modules that cover areas like the Indian Act, residential schools, and Indigenous governance and self-determination, and guest speakers will be visiting the course to share additional information, ensuring that students learn from those who have experienced the realities being taught. 

“We want to bring in Metis perspectives and Inuit perspectives, because we’re not experts on that,” Goodleaf said. “We’re acknowledging that we’re situating ourselves here in Kanien’kehá:ka territory and this is where we speak from, but we’re making sure we don’t exclude other voices in this course.” 

Students will be asked to reflect critically on their own positionality and the role social work has played in relation to colonialism and reconciliation, and will be tasked with translating that understanding into an actionable plan that they will match to one of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  

Goodleaf said it’s vital students be guided through these processes by Indigenous lecturers, adding that it’s been a special process for all three women to work together on the curriculum. 

“I never really thought it would be an option. It just seems so historical that all of this is happening, and I’ve advocated throughout all my educational career that these courses need to be taught by Indigenous people, because otherwise we’re just perpetuating different biases, and you’re not getting the full story,” she said.  

“Usually, we’re always taught from the Western perspective, and we’re really trying to flip that.” 

Goodleaf, Phillips, and Zacharie will welcome students to their classrooms starting next week. 

[email protected] 

This article was originally published in print on January 3 in issue 34.01 of The Eastern Door.

Music has always been an integral part of the gaming experience. Even when technology didn’t allow much more than ringtone-like melodies, they managed to strike a deep impact on generations. Those who grew up playing video games in the 80s and 90s can sing Super Mario’s themes by heart, and until this day, remember which song opened FIFA 98 by EA Sports. 

Games that are based on popular movies and franchises never fail to use the original soundtrack. Why is music so important for the gaming industry? How have soundtracks changed over time? Keep reading and find out. 

Music and Online Games

Today, video game music is a massive market. It closed in 2023 at a market value of USD 1.52 billion and is set to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% until 2032. The number of new games hitting the shelves yearly surely contributes to the growing demand. Online games like League of Legends not only have memorable soundtracks for each moment of the game but also host virtual concerts by real-life pop stars using holographic projections. 

The rise of the online casino industry also opens new avenues for composers and record labels. There are countless slot machines based on famous rock bands and legends like Elvis Presley, all with high-definition soundtracks. Music and casino game enthusiasts will find plenty of these games at www.10bet.com/casino/. 

The Psychological Game

Scientists have extensively documented the psychological effects of music and how our brains react to it. Game developers play with those effects to create more relatable moments in the adventure. It works because nice and harsh sounds trigger different parts of the brain. Pleasurable sounds are linked to the same area that is triggered by food or excitement, while the contrary triggers reactions of anxiety and apprehension.  

So, a game’s soundtrack is much more than background music; it supports the entire narrative. Indeed, it’s part of the storytelling, bringing peace or raising hell according to the moment. Moreover, it adds a new dimension to the game experience. Nearby threats that aren’t yet visible, like hidden monsters, can be felt with music. When mixed with ambient sounds like storms, winds, or birds chirping, it can bring players into the story. 

The Key to Success

Naturally, there isn’t a recipe for writing a top-hit soundtrack. There are some unifying features among them, though. Those who have enjoyed the Destiny franchise know how the mixture of synthetic and orchestral sounds can affect players’ nerves. Melodies inspired by folk music from different parts of the world help players adapt to new scenarios. 

Additionally, the choice of repertoire sets the cultural period, creating a feeling of nostalgia. One of the best jazz singers from the 30s sets the mood of the pubs in BioShock 2, for instance. Above all, a top-hit soundtrack must serve the storytelling. It must fit seamlessly into every part of the adventure without sounding generic. It means triggering tension and relaxation at the right moments contributes to the gaming experience.

The post Gaming and Music: The Soundtrack of Our Games appeared first on Cult MTL.

The City of Laval is saddling up for more legal action after a failed attempt to secure a court injunction against the company behind a popular light attraction for occupying land slated for a housing development.

Montrealers have had a long and tight-knit relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family. With that relationship potentially coming to an end, feelings are mixed about what the future holds.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Jan. 6 his decision to step down as Liberal Party leader and prime minister once his party selects a new leader. Trudeau also confirmed the prorogation of Parliament until March 24, granting the Liberal Party time to focus on its leadership race. The announcement underscores Trudeau’s acknowledgment of political and parliamentary stagnation, coupled with increasing internal dissent.

“Parliament has been paralyzed for months after the longest minority Parliament in our country’s history,” Trudeau stated at a press conference in Ottawa. Citing a need for fresh leadership to face growing domestic and global challenges, he said, “Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election.”

While Trudeau’s resignation marks the end of a nearly decade-long tenure, political analysts suggest the timing and manner of the announcement could profoundly impact Canada’s political landscape. Reactions from two Canadian politics experts highlight the challenges and opportunities awaiting the Liberal Party.

Resetting the stage

Dr. Jacob Robbins-Kanter, Assistant Professor at Bishop’s University, explains that proroguing Parliament provides the Liberal Party breathing space. “It’s essentially a time-out for Parliament,” he said. “The leadership race will consume significant energy, and this pause allows the party to focus entirely on selecting Trudeau’s successor without the distraction of parliamentary business.”

However, Robbins-Kanter emphasized that this strategy is not without risks. The government’s hiatus from parliamentary duties could leave pressing issues, such as U.S.-Canada trade relations, inadequately addressed. “Some of the key players likely to run for leadership, like Chrystia Freeland and Dominic LeBlanc, may be pulled away from critical files during this period,” he noted. This shift of focus could delay essential negotiations or weaken Canada’s ability to respond to external challenges, such as the U.S. administration’s potential tariff threats.

Dr. Emmanuel Choquette from the University of Sherbrooke echoed this sentiment. “This decision leaves too much room for opposition attacks,” he said. “Trudeau’s continued presence as prime minister during the leadership race might exacerbate internal divisions within the Liberal Party.”

These divisions, already evident in recent months, stem from dissatisfaction within the Liberal caucus and Trudeau’s declining popularity. According to Choquette, “Many members felt that Trudeau’s departure was overdue, and keeping him as a caretaker leader may intensify these rifts.” This internal tension could make it harder for the party to present a unified front in upcoming parliamentary debates.

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Normally, someone trying to lead a country would never sit down with a someone as toxic as Jordan Peterson — unless you’re Pierre Poilievre.

Poilievre was quick to agree with Peterson’s claim that racism was imported to Canada.

Historically illiterate statements ought to be as disqualifying as committing to an interview with a psychologist who makes his living hating people for who they are.

But hate is Poilievre’s currency. From the Fuck Trudeau troglodytes at the Freedumb Convoy to antisemitic conspiracy theories, Poilievre has never been shy to capitalize on hate to advance his career.

That his interview with Peterson was treated as newsworthy in and of itself (rather than the mutual self-gratification that it was) is more evidence that Poilievre benefits immensely from establishment media’s inability to challenge conservative bullies. Poilievre traffics in anti-fourth estate hysteria with asinine and obnoxious behaviour unbecoming of most teenagers, let alone presumptive prime ministers.

But this attitude reveals more about Poilievre than he realizes: the man is an empty suit, devoid of meaningful ideas for the future of this country.

Now that Trudeau is resigning, Poilievre has nothing to oppose. His supporters have no one left to blame. There is no anti-Trudeau wave left to ride.

And the election is a long way away.

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L’article Brome County News, January 7, 2025 est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

When Demi Moore won for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes, she mentioned this was the first award she’d ever won. It seems unbelievable considering her longevity and acclaim, but scrolling through IMDB, prior to The Substance, this seems more true than not. Her speech was one of the highlights of the night — it was thoughtful, heartfelt and intelligent. It rooted her personal history within a greater legacy of femininity — its heights and cruelties. On Moore’s awards tab, the biggest surprise are the dozens of “Worst Actress” wins at the Razzis, the Stinkers, etc.

While I’m hardly a fan of The Substance, the film does capture the horror of Hollywood’s attitude towards women. Demi Moore, at 62 years old, looks stunning. I’d argue she’s always been a compelling screen presence and she’s often been a great actor. It’s not easy to forget the pointed barbarity of the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly when it came to women’s bodies and their age. Moore was a victim of that long beforehand, maybe because she was the wrong class, or messier than the tabloid culture would allow. Her redemption has been gratifying. Though part of me does wonder what a different film The Substance might have been if Demi Moore didn’t look the way she does; if she didn’t already defy the perceived laws of nature and ageing.

Yet, as is often the case with these awards shows, there seems to be a disconnect. While I’d generally argue it’s uncouth to comment on people’s bodies or appearances, there’s no denying that Hollywood is going through its own Substance-like transformation. Actors of all ages are looking slimmer and tauter; age really is “just a number” for those able and willing to put in the money and work to metamorphose into younger or heightened versions of themselves. It’s not that I begrudge them, but it also points to my frustration with a film like The Substance in the first place: it’s a movie that accurately captures a genuine fear and problem, and offers no real spiritual or moral reprieve. 

Some of the biggest winners of the night: The Brutalist and Shōgun are works of art I haven’t seen. Overall, though, the night seemed intent on celebrating or focusing on craft and personal journeys above anything else. If The Substance is about anything, it’s about shallow concerns that we all feel consumed by, the people in the room most of all, but that ultimately mean very little. As Brady Corbet won his second prize for The Brutalist, he read off his phone to the audience, “Final cut tiebreak goes to the director.” He’s likely right, particularly in increasingly data-driven industry practices, that this might be a controversial statement but it’s one that also demonstrates the distasteful self-centeredness of these awards.

The films and series themselves, many dealing with “big” ideas, felt like window dressing. If films like Emilia Pérez deal with questions of transgender inclusion and identity, or The Substance about unrealistic standards of beauty, you’d hardly know that the pressing ideas of these movies were in any way connected to the real world. There’s something alienating about experiencing the “best” movies of the year and seeing them flattened and reduced to merely craft or financial risks. It surprises me that more film fans aren’t totally disillusioned by the whole mainstream process, gutted by the absolute meaninglessness of art within the churn of marketing and self-congratulation.

On a purely superficial level, the Golden Globes were otherwise mostly a success. Nikki Glaser did a great job hosting. Though jarring at first, having the presenters turn away from the audience was surprisingly interesting, and though occasionally patience-testing, the decision to allow winners to speak without being rushed off the stage was the right decision. The show was well-rehearsed and well-directed, an inventive but reliable work of live television. ■

For the full list of Golden Globes winners, please visit their website.

For our latest in film and TV, please visit the Film & TV section.

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The ongoing accolades showered on Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez rank among the year’s most baffling developments. It’s a movie that, on the surface, feels epic: a musical drama about the intertwined destinies of three women in Mexico. It’s a film about class, gender and power; one that reaches for the stars and ends up frequently in the gutters. It’s at best a magnificent mess, at worse, a nonsensical chore — engulfed by its own absurdity. 

The film opens by following Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an overworked lawyer hired by the leader of a criminal organization to fulfill an unconventional need. Rita is good at her job but she’s also desperate, a lethal combination that allows her to perform what many others could not. Her fate becomes pulled into the lives of two other women: Jessi (Selena Gomez), the criminal leader’s wife, and the mysterious Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón).

For those who spend any time online, it’s not a surprise to learn that the film deals heavily with the subject of gender identity and transness. For those unaware and wanting to go into the movie cold, this might be a good time to stop reading. Rita’s quest revolves around the crime boss’s plan to become a woman; not to hide from his crimes but to live the life he always imagined, even if that means abandoning his old life. Much of the film’s first half follows Rita as she travels the world, learning about the different procedures and searching for doctors willing to step up to the plate.

The film’s handling of gender identity exists quite clearly in the realm of fantasy. It’s not possible to undertake as many surgeries in a single procedure as our cartel leader demands. The treatment of gender identity, particularly that of a trans woman, often feels careless, varying from cruel to kitschy in its broad-strokes approach to femininity. The film plays up a certain element of horror at the idea of transition without much reflection, often playing up Emilia’s body for laughs or shocks. While, textually, the film insists that Emilia’s transition is one rooted in sincere desire, the film often amplifies her more masculine qualities to punctuate her less desirable qualities. It’s a film that tries to have it both ways, while also endorsing a strange gender essentialism that positions femininity as inherently good and delicate, in a way that often feels off-putting.

Among the issues with this approach is that the film takes itself a little too seriously, particularly considering the absurdity of most of the music and musical sequences. While clearly inspired by the tone and melodrama of telenovelas, the film also reaches towards high-art and only ever ends up feeling confused and uneven. There’s too much going on to feel any strong relationship with any of the characters or plot. There’s little to no cohesion within the film’s ideas or themes. 

Audiard remains a showman in his direction. Many of the musical sequences are colourful and vibrant. The editing is quick, though not always gripping. Saldaña gives a strong performance and Karla Sofía Gascón gives a very compelling go at a character that’s poorly developed and poorly handled in terms of direction. To be very honest, it’s unclear to me why this film is being celebrated when it’s closer in tone and execution to something like Southland Tales than high art. And at least with Richard Kelly, there’s a little irony and playfulness that makes it a little more fun. At the end of the day, that’s Emilia Pérez’s greatest sin: it lacks any real pleasure and is little more than a tonally confused social message picture without any real social message.

Emilia Pérez is now streaming on Netflix.

For our latest in film and TV, please visit the Film & TV section.

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Members of Quebec Doctors Against Genocide and Health Workers Alliance for Palestine joined an international campaign in which they halted non-essential work to protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza. They say patients won’t be impacted by the strike.

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party this morning, we revisit a study by Léger that asked Canadians about Trudeau’s greatest accomplishments in office.

According to Canadians, among Trudeau’s top accomplishments are cannabis legalization (16%) and managing the COVID-19 pandemic (15%), followed by affordable childcare (7%), reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples (7%), improving Canada’s reputation internationally (6%), gun control (5%) and climate action (4%).

“The greatest proportion of Canadians feel the legalization of recreational marijuana and managing the COVID-19 pandemic top his list of accomplishments. The greatest proportion feel integrity issues top his list of disappointments.”

A web survey was conducted among 1,501 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, via Leger’s online panel, LEO.

For the latest in news, please visit the News section.

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Earlier today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially resigned as leader of the Liberal Party, and prorogued parliament until March 24.

While responding to questions from journalists, Trudeau spoke about how Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision for Canada is not right for Canadians.

“Pierre Poilievre’s vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians. Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense. Backing off on the values and strength in diversity that Canada has always worked to pull itself together on is not the right path for the country. Attacking journalists, the CBC, institutions — that’s not what Canadians need in this moment.

“We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future and Pierre Poilievre is not offering that. I look forward to the fight as progressives across this country stand up for the kind of vision for a better country that Canadians have always carried despite the tremendous pressures around the world to think smaller, to veer towards the hard right and to be less ambitious for what we can be and do as a country when the world really needs Canada.”

You can watch the complete press conference here.

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will resign as leader of the Liberal party this morning, according to CBC News sources. Trudeau has scheduled a press conference at Rideau cottage for 10:45 a.m.

He will reportedly stay on as prime minister until a successor is chosen.

A growing number of Liberal MPs have been calling for Trudeau to step down since the resignation of former finance minister Chrystia Freeland on Dec. 16.

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

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Jeannie Naluiyuk was last seen in the LaSalle borough. Police say she's mentally disabled and fear for her health and safety.

On Sunday, Montreal Public Health reported a new measles case in Montreal. Montreal Public Health says a "very large" number of places in Montreal have been exposed to the virus in recent weeks.

New research shows the rate of myopia among children and teens worldwide has tripled over the past three decades, with a particularly steep increase noted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

Quebecers, including elected officials paid tribute to comedian Julien Poulin, famously known for his title role in the Elvis Gratton films.

Quebec provincial police are investigating the death of a man who was found on a snowmobile on Sunday in Val-Paradis, Que.

Over a dozen people suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a bus swerved and crashed onto its side near the Canada-U.S. border in Quebec's Eastern Townships region Saturday night.

The Canadian Cancer Society isn't alone in supporting the U.S. surgeon general's push for cancer risk labels on alcoholic products, like those seen on cigarette packs.

If you’ve seen (or heard about) the proliferation of F*ck Trudeau signs and flags across Canada, and were wondering where that level of anger at the prime minister comes from, a large part of it originated with COVID. Conservatives (and PPC voters) still hold Justin Trudeau accountable for a global pandemic. They’ve never forgiven him for wanting to keep Canadians safe, and implementing safety measures at the recommendation of Health Canada in order to stop the spread of a deadly, hyper-contagious virus. (The fact that most pandemic restrictions were imposed by provincial governments doesn’t seem to register with the “F*ck Trudeau” crowd.)

Canada did well in managing the pandemic relative to other peer countries. The irony is that if the federal government hadn’t taken COVID seriously, Justin Trudeau is the first person Conservatives would have blamed for the increased death toll.

It’s a tough time for incumbents

There’s been a clear anti-incumbent movement following the pandemic. COVID caused economies all around the world to collapse. In response, governments, including Canada’s, injected fiscal and monetary stimulus into their economies. This, combined with supply chain issues (and of course greed) caused prices to increase. Thankfully, inflation in Canada remained within the Bank of Canada’s target range throughout 2024.

To the Canadians still arguing against pandemic relief: What should Canada have done instead? Had the government not created financial support programs like the CERB and CEWS, Canadians would have had to live on their savings and credit cards during the lockdown — and for many, that would not have even been possible. Was the government’s COVID response perfect? Of course not — this was an unprecedented and historic crisis. But we would all be in a far worse position if the government hadn’t supported Canadians during COVID. As Justin Trudeau stated, “We took on debt so Canadians wouldn’t have to.”

Trudeau’s biggest mistake

In reality, Trudeau’s biggest mistake during the pandemic, and possibly even his entire run as prime minister, was letting the trucker convoy set up shop in Ottawa, where they were allowed to block traffic, disrupt people’s everyday lives for weeks and politicize science. The convoy, whose organizers were a right-wing group of anti-vaxxers, QAnon conspiracy theorists and grifters, cost downtown Ottawa up to $200-million in sales and wage losses and halted almost $4-billion in trade with border blockades. The feds had been given fair warning that the intention of the convoy was to overthrow a legally elected government. Incidentally, Pierre Poilievre openly supported the convoy — despite reports of Nazi imagery, Confederate flags, urination on war memorials and the desecration of the Terry Fox statue — which ultimately led to him becoming the leader of the Conservative Party.

Poilievre sought CPC leadership using the rallying cry of “freedom” in order to attract support from the anti-vax movement and angry crowds who’d camped out in downtown Ottawa.

Justin Trudeau is still paying the price for this mistake.

In fact, you could argue that much of the F*ck Trudeau movement — designed to give rise to the far right in Canada — emerged from exploitation of the resistance against pandemic restrictions. This cause was aided tremendously when (less than two months after the end of the trucker convoy) Elon Musk acquired Twitter and turned the platform into a far-right social network where misinformation and hate speech are allowed to live and spread unchecked.

Most Canadians trust science

The vast majority of Canadians believe in science and understood that pandemic restrictions were implemented in Canada and around the world to keep us and our loved ones safe. However, many on social media still criticize the pandemic response as a disguise to reinforce an anti-science narrative supported by a very loud minority of Canadians. It’s no surprise that there’s a clear link between support for the Conservatives and the anti-vax movement. A study by the Angus Reid Institute found that 50% of CPC voters are sceptical of vaccines.

According to a separate study by Léger, Canadians say that Trudeau’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic is among his greatest accomplishments — not that Pierre Poilievre and the CPC would ever care to admit this. Credit where it’s due: The Trudeau government deserves praise for the way they handled the pandemic. It’s time to stop pretending otherwise. ■

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

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