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00:00:34.120Let's discuss the top stories of the day and the True North exclusives you won't hear anywhere else.
00:00:43.120Waterloo Region District School Board staff are being trained that the word family is a harmful concept rooted in white supremacy.
00:00:51.140True North obtained internal training materials delivered to the staff at Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School
00:00:56.600by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, which assert that terms like objectivity, perfectionism,
00:01:03.860and worship of the written word are hallmarks of whiteness and upholding white supremacy.
00:01:08.520In Culturally Relevant Pedagogy by Laura May Lindo, one slide states that, quote,
00:01:14.280biases are the socialized teachings of the white culture, and we use keywords and phrases to promote the dominant culture.
00:01:21.860One of the offensive words in question is family, which is said to be harmful to racialized students because it implies male authority,
00:01:29.000demands obedience without question, and erodes personal boundaries by, quote, prioritizing the family's needs.
00:01:35.480Another slide asserts that asking for evidence for claims of racism or acknowledging racism toward white people is a characteristic of whiteness that must be dismantled.
00:01:45.040The pain and hurt and discomfort are not ancillary to anti-racism work.
00:01:51.740Without them, change simply does not happen.
00:01:54.460The WRDSB's 2024 workforce census reports that 90% of staff are white and 79% are women.
00:02:01.300Another slide promotes the use of BIPOC affinity groups, described as exclusive, invitation-only spaces for non-white staff or students.
00:02:09.840These groups are deliberately kept confidential, justified by the claim that school culture is inhospitable to racial minorities.
00:02:16.820A source within the board who provided the materials and asked to remain anonymous questioned whether the messaging truly reflects the views of most staff.
00:02:23.900The source said, quote, teachers just want to get on with their job of teaching.
00:02:27.740Ideology, if you will, is just something many teachers acknowledge as being present.
00:02:32.080They just want to get on with their jobs.
00:02:34.160True North reached out to the WRDSB for comment but did not receive a response.
00:02:39.120Anti-racist hiring practices have followed similar lines.
00:02:42.440On March 23, WRDSB hosted a job fair specifically for Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals.
00:02:49.080The stated rationale was to ensure that students see themselves reflected in the education system.
00:02:54.720So, Jeff, for the average Canadian parent, has so-called anti-racism in education gone too far?
00:03:01.140The average Canadian parent is definitely likely to view the anti-racism training as a step too far.
00:03:07.420A 2023 Angus Reid poll found that 62% of Canadians believe schools should focus on core academics like math and reading rather than these types of social issues,
00:03:17.480of only 18% supporting the inclusion of anti-racism as a primary education focus.
00:03:22.640This suggests that parents, on average, prioritize practical education over ideological training,
00:03:27.660which aligns with the WRDSB's source's comment that teachers just want to get on with their jobs.
00:03:33.540The idea of banning words like family, of all things, or framing objectivity as a hallmark of whiteness,
00:03:40.120likely strikes many as excessive, even offensive, especially when 54% of parents in a 2024 Leger poll
00:03:46.600expressed concern that schools are overemphasizing identity politics at the expense of basic learning.
00:03:52.100Moreover, the push for exclusive BIPOC affinity groups and race-specific job fairs,
00:03:57.380like the one WRDSB held on March 23rd for Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals
00:04:03.400may further alienate parents who value inclusivity over segregation.
00:04:07.540A 2022 Enveronics Institute survey showed that 67% of Canadians oppose race-based hiring practices in public institutions,
00:04:16.720preferring merit-based approaches, which contrasts with the WRDSB's anti-racist hiring rationale.
00:04:22.740While the board's workforce census notes 90% of staff are white,
00:04:26.900the average parent might question whether such measures address representation without fostering division,
00:04:32.320especially when only 29% of Canadians in the same survey felt anti-racism training in schools was effective.
00:04:39.100For many parents, these initiatives likely feel disconnected from their primary concern,
00:04:43.400which is ensuring their children receive a quality education.
00:04:46.480The Kearney government proposed a border security bill that would grant sweeping new powers to authorities,
00:04:54.880such as intercepting communications and accessing information without a court-approved warrant.
00:04:59.540The primary goals of the legislation, known as Bill C-2, are to secure the border,
00:05:04.420combat organized crime, crack down on fentanyl smuggling,
00:05:07.760and bolster the authorities' ability to fight against financial crimes.
00:05:11.380If passed, the bill would allow the government to intercept and search communications, including mail.
00:05:16.760It also includes new provisions for anti-money laundering rules,
00:05:20.340asylum claimants, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
00:05:22.760It would also extend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service's access to information,
00:05:27.200including gathering certain data without a court-approved warrant.
00:05:30.520Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangare told reporters,
00:05:33.400In order for me to bring forward legislation, it needed to have the safeguards in place.
00:05:38.620It needed to be in line with the values of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
00:05:42.640and I fundamentally believe that we have struck the balance.
00:05:45.780Tabled on Tuesday, the legislation would also prohibit people in Canada from having their refugee claims
00:05:51.120heard by a tribunal if they've already been in the country for more than a year.
00:05:55.260Additionally, the government would be permitted to cancel or pause immigration applications en masse
00:06:00.100if deemed to be in the public interest.
00:06:02.080There would be exceptions for those fleeing war zones, such as those coming from Gaza or Ukraine.
00:06:07.460The bill would also extend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service's access to information,
00:06:13.220including gathering certain data without a court-approved warrant.
00:06:17.140The Canada Border Services Agency's ability to search containers leaving
00:06:21.140would also be broadened by requiring transport and warehouse operators to provide site access
00:06:26.380to border agents for inspections before exportation.
00:06:29.460It also intends to fix a loophole often abused in the safe third country agreement with the U.S.,
00:06:35.120whereby asylum claims are made 14 days after an applicant furtively enters Canada from the U.S. by land.
00:06:41.560The legislation comes in response to mounting pressure of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration,
00:06:46.640which has accused the Canadian government of being too lax when it comes to border security.
00:06:50.940So, Isaac, is the Strong Border Act a step in the right direction in securing Canada,
00:06:56.420or an encroachment on the Canadians' rights and freedoms?
00:06:59.400Yeah, Jeff. So, the Strong Border Act is drawing debate across Canada
00:07:03.180because it strikes at the heart of two competing national priorities, security and civil liberties.
00:07:09.000The bill could support border security, as you mentioned, by cracking down on organized crime,
00:07:13.960fentanyl smuggling, abuse of the asylum system.
00:07:17.280These enhancements would occur as U.S. officials pressure Canada to tighten enforcement,
00:07:21.560and the expanded powers for intelligence and border authorities could be seen as crucial
00:07:26.760to keeping up with modern threats, including financial crimes and smuggling operations that exploit legal loopholes.
00:07:33.320However, sweeping surveillance powers, such as warrantless communication interception and mail searches,
00:07:40.100are potential violations of Canadians' charter rights to privacy and due process.
00:07:45.380The authority to cancel immigration applications en masse or to bar refugee claims based on time spent in Canada
00:07:51.240also could raise some immigration concerns.
00:07:55.600But Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasongeri insists the bill is charter compliant and balanced,
00:08:00.940but that doesn't mean it isn't leaving room for abuse and overreach.
00:08:04.980Ultimately, whether it's a step forward or an overreach depends on how those new powers are used and overseen.
00:08:11.380Canadians will need to weigh the benefits of stronger border enforcement
00:08:14.340against the risks of eroding long-standing civil protections.
00:08:18.620And this debate echoes past moments in history, perhaps most notably after 9-11,
00:08:23.820when airport security was overhauled at the cost of passenger convenience and privacy.