#Canadian immigration integration

[uglyandtraveling]

Living in Canada as a Newcomer: Essential Tips for a Smooth Start!

Discover essential tips for newcomers settling in Canada! From surviving winters to finding housing, jobs, and more—here's your ultimate guide.

[inc-immigrationnewscanada]

New Canada Caregiver Programs Set to Launch on March 31, 2025

New Canada Caregiver Programs 2025: In a stunning leap forward for immigration policy and human compassion, Canada has announced the launch of new caregiver programs set to redefine the landscape of permanent residency for home care workers. As we delve into the heart of this transformative initiative, we’re not just talking about policy changes; we’re witnessing the dawn of a new era for…

[justinspoliticalcorner]

The Guardian:

Donald Trump said on Monday he would sign an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all products coming in to the United States from Mexico and Canada, and additional tariffs on China.

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Trump said the tariffs would remain in place until the two countries clamp down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border illegally. In a follow-up post, Trump announced that the US “will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America”. He said that the reason for the additional tariff was China’s failure to curb the number of drugs entering the US. China is a major producer of precursor chemicals that are acquired by drug cartels, including in Mexico, to manufacture fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. “I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail … Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.” In response, China warned that “no one will win a trade war”.

Liu Pengyu, a Chinese embassy spokesperson, said China had taken steps to combat drug trafficking after an agreement was reached last year between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. “The Chinese side has notified the US side of the progress made in US-related law enforcement operations against narcotics,” he said in a statement. “All these prove that the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States runs completely counter to facts and reality.” Canada’s deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, released a statement on Monday evening saying that the country places the highest priority on border security and the integrity of its shared border with the US. Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau spoke on Monday night about trade and border security, Reuters reported, citing a Canadian source directly familiar with the situation. Freeland’s statement did not mention the tariffs directly. It also said that the Canada Border Services Agency, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and US Customs and Border protection “work together every single day to to disrupt the scourge of fentanyl coming from China and other countries.”

[...] A tariff is a tax placed on goods when they cross national borders. Import tariffs such as those proposed by Trump can have the effect of protecting domestic industries from foreign competition while also generating tax revenue for the government. But economists widely consider them an inefficient tool that typically leaves consumers and taxpayers bearing the brunt of higher costs.

Donald Trump vows to enact economy-crushing 25% tariffs on fellow USMCA members Mexico and Canada, and much steeper tariffs on China.

See Also:

HuffPost: Trump Says U.S. Will Impose Massive Tariffs On Mexico, Canada And China From Day 1

[eugenedebs1920]

I’ve said it before, I’ll probably have to say it again. Who doesn’t want to be fact checked? F*ckin liars! These claims by Elon musk, a South African immigrant and nationalized Canadian citizen, a man who’s wealth was inherited through his father’s exploitation of black South Africans in his jewel mines, not an inventor or engineer, not some genius businessman, potentially the most infamous and successful welfare queen in American history, who made billions on government subsidies for electric vehicles, a trust fund kid, spreading lies to mislead the American people.

It’s an absolute disgrace the way the right abuses our Constitution. They decry this anthem of free speech. Then use that privilege to deceive and lie. They tout the importance of the first amendment. Then molest it in the most inappropriate manner.

This is what I’m talking about when it comes to the Republican Party. They have no regard for what they pretend to hold dear. To them everything is just a means to an end. Honor, integrity, and truth be damned.

If one were to truly respect the first amendment they wouldn’t use it to spread falsities and mistruths. If one were to revere the Constitution they wouldn’t test the very limits of its meaning. If one truly loved their country, they wouldn’t attempt to transform it into something it’s not simply to form it to their agenda.

The most disheartening aspect is that we have become so polarized, so divided, that nearly half the population doesn’t give a damn regarding the manipulation and mistreatment of the documents, laws and norms that have guided this nation for centuries.

People like Rush Limbaugh, Rupert Murdoch, Newt Gingrich, led to people like, Donald Trump, Elon musk, and Charlie Kirk, peddling lies or at best half truths. Poisoning American against American in a campaign of deception designed to divide and distract, creating the necessary conditions to enact their oppressive agenda.

Some are just pawns, talking heads in this conspiracy of division, others are the brainchild behind the plot. All betraying the United States in their relentless pursuit of wealth and power.

The vast majority of the American people are the victims in this contorted scheme laid out by those who hold no reverence to the core principles of this nation. Yet we act as the expendable soldiers, essential to its fruition, not realizing that the one way to overcome the barriers that shackle us to an existence of mediocrity and a modern form of indentured servitude lies in our united rising against the forces that bind us.

We will never truly be free, we will never live up to the potential granted to us, we will never know liberty until we understand that we can only obtain these fundamental truths when we relinquish the manufactured rift that separates us.

We were gifted with such possibility, squandered in the ongoing culture wars and animosity built to keep us down.

I don’t mean to be a pessimist but the notion of this unshackled prison break from the interests poised to benefit from our segregation appears nothing more than a pipe dream.

Yet if we could become self aware to the villains purposefully pinning us against one another and find that the similarities we have far outweigh the differences limelighted to make us perceive otherwise, all our lives would be exponentially more fulfilling and easy, and mutually beneficial.

I beg of my fellow Americans. Please comprehend that when hate, anger and malcontent are being promoted, stop and contemplate who seeks to benefit from this spread of animosity. When you are being coaxed to harbor distrust and malice against your American counterpart, who will reap the reward of your calloused, untrustworthy view which you were coerced into seeing. Then step back and reflect, does this media personality truly have mine and my country’s interest in mind? Does this person truly reflect the soul of the nation? Is my American counterpart that ideologically opposed to what I consider to be American values.

If you truly internalize it, and mull it over, the answer is we are more alike than we’re portrayed to be. That we have the same goals, hopes, and aspirations, not only personally, but for our nation as a whole.

We will never know freedom until we end the turmoil that enslaves us.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Foreign nationals will no longer be able to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) at the U.S.-Canada border, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Friday. Miller said the move was being implemented to curtail something known as “flagpoling,” which is when some temporary residents of Canada  bypass the normal wait times involved in applying for a work or study permit online by leaving the country and then immediately re-entering to receive same-day immigration services. “The time and effort required to process applications from ‘flagpolers’ takes officers on both sides of the border away from their crucial role in protecting the safety, security and prosperity of Canadians and Americans. This measure will help prevent this practice, while maintaining the integrity of our immigration system,” Miller said in a statement Friday.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[thelostgirl21]

How I'd imagine Trump's attempt to assimilate Quebec into the USA would go...

Seriously, Canada is an officially bilingual country, home to many Franco-Manitobans, Franco-Ontarians, Franco-Albertans, Acadians, etc.

And there is one province, Quebec, where the only official language is French, that makes for 23% of the whole population of the freaking country!

Many of us barely know a single word of English (neither of my parents spoke English when I was a kid, my 14-year-old godson doesn't speak English, a girl in my bellydance class yesterday had no clue what the title of the song "Madness" meant...)!

Ever since the British Empire took the Nouvelle-France (New-France) from us by force back in 1759, we've been bitterly and stubbornly refusing to become linguistically and culturally assimilated into the Anglo-Saxon culture.

As a French Canadian, I've fiercely been taught, pretty much from birth, to fight for my language and my culture, perceive the "Anglos" (i.e. English Canadians and Americans) as evil colonizers trying to dominate us and make us go extinct, and resist forced assimilation into English society with every single fiber of my being, no matter the cost!

Sadly, the consequence of that belief - when taken to the extreme - is that people immigrating into the province from foreign countries (especially non-French speaking cultural minorities coming to live in Quebec), are often perceived as part of a global English conspiracy to thin out our numbers and make the French Canadians go extinct, rather than treated as fellow minorities that should be allowed to keep both their language and their culture of origin and find pride in it, while integrating a new culture and community (the Quebecer people) as well.

I believe most Quebecers - including yours truly - have successfully integrated into a more global Canadian society, and developed a strong dual sense of identity by considering themselves a distinct and unique nation within a nation.

We've moved away from separatist ideals of making Quebec our own country (friendly reminder that 49.15% of people from Quebec voted to "divorce" from Canada back in 1995), found other outlets and means of asserting and expressing our cultural identity and demanding respect from the rest of Canada, and have grown rather proud of contributing to Canada's rich cultural heritage and diversity!

I've personally found that people sharing the same country being different is a good thing. Because the more difference there is amongst all the provinces and immigrants coming to share the land in term of culture, the more we are forced to learn live together, make concessions, and respect each other's such differences.

But, just as French Canadians fear assimilation (and can unfairly opress other minorities they perceive as being "in cahoots" with the Anglos), some English Canadians see French Canadians (Quebec's people especially) as a threat to national unity, and the country being able to have a strong Canadian national identity.

They see Quebecers as whiners that want preferential treatment, consider themselves "too good to be Canadians", etc.

They don't understand why all Canadian provinces should be considered bilingual, except ours.

They do not understand that there used to be a million people part of a distinct Cajun French American community (the descendants of French Canadian people, Acadians more precisely, that were kicked out of their own homes and torn from their families and communities by the British people at the end of the Seven Years War) in Louisiana back in the 1960s.

They don't see (nor care) that, today, there are barely 120 000 of them left that are still able to celebrate their culture in their own tongue, because they live in an uningual country with no strong policies in place to avoid having them become assimilated into English America.

Making Quebec an uningual French province where the only officially recognized national language spoken is French, making sure that only people that can fluently speak both English and French can be elected as Canadian Prime Ministers, and making both English and French the two official languages of Canada, are all part of Canada's efforts to protect its French Canadian minority (if we include those living outside of Quebec, we account for 29.2% of the population) and make sure Canada won't lose part of its rich history and culture.

But there are some French Canadians that feel too discriminated against (and hated) by English Canadians to take pride in a more multicultural Canadian identity, that still refuse to call themselves Canadians to this day, and that only identify with being Quebecers.

We call English Canada and French Canada "Les Deux Solitudes" (The Two Solitudes) of the country.

Two people struggling to communicate with and understand each other.

English Canada and French Canada tend to bicker like an old married couple, get on each other's nerves, push each other's buttons, complain that the other is always trying to steal all the covers on their side while they sleep.

And yet, when push comes to shove, we're still fond of each other (though sometimes too proud and stubborn to admit it), and remain fiercely protective of each other (much like we're seeing now).

It's almost like "How dare you piss English Canadians off! That's our job! No one's allowed to get on their nerves and make their lives more difficult but us! Now back off, or we'll fuck you up!"

Seriously, I almost wish the other Provinces would just go "Sure, we'll be willing to consider becoming the 51st State if you can convince our French Canadians from Quebec to become Americans!", then send him to negotiate with us, sit back, and enjoy the show!

Because English Canada might not be perfect, and neither are we (like I said, some of us have unfortunately taken nationalism to the extreme! And both sides seem to have a tendency to forget that Native Americans were here first. So the land's not even technically ours, and they, too, have cultures and languages worth protecting that are part of our country's heritage!).

But, at least, English Canadians are aware of our existence and, historically speaking, we've elected leaders that did take how important it is for us to survive as a nation into consideration, and allowed us to govern ourselves for the most part.

The trust between us might be fragile at times, but it's still there and we could have found a worst partner to be married to, regardless of how many time we came close to a divorce.

English Canada, we still love you even though your feet are cold and you tend to fart in bed is what I'm saying.

But the USA?!?! It wouldn't work! We can be neighbors and friends, and regularly have breakfast together (we'll bring the maple syrup, they'll bring the orange juice, etc.)!

But as a married couple?!

Their current President doesn't even know French Canadian people exist, apparently, or how importantly vital our national identity is to us!

Else he wouldn't be talking so flippantly about Canada becoming the 51st State, without specifically addressing those delicate cultural issues, and what his plans would be to make sure Quebec wouldn't need to worry about suffering Louisiana's fate!

Of course, we wouldn't trust a single word he says and know any promise he'd be making would be pure bullshit!

But it would show him having at least the tiniest grasp of Canada's unique political landscape. And he visibly does not.

I used to feel bad for the unflattering American stereotypes depicted in the movie "Bon Cop Bad Cop 2", but seriously, I think these morons were likely modeled after Trump!

Dude, most of us would rather go hungry and freaking die than ever allow ourselves to be swallowed up by you and your English culture! We are a fiercely proud Latin people (not to confuse with Latino, that form their own specific ethnic group) that don't fuck around when you do anything that could remotely threaten our place as a distinct Francophone nation within North America!

We do love the American people and are horrified by the way you are abusing them right now, but we're not them.

We love being friends and neighbours with them, but can do so without becoming someone else!

We can tolerate a sometimes difficult and often challenging, yet still ultimately healthy and rewarding marriage with Canada, because there's usually a genuine effort being made to understand each other, and strive for win-win scenarios between the English Canadian and French Canadian people and cultures.

But Quebec and the USA, even under another President, would face too many irreconcilable differences to make us work as a couple.

And you? You're an abusive and dangerous malignant narcissist bully that would only seek to control and impose your will on us without any regard nor empathy for our own needs!

What you offer your people isn't freedom, it's a freaking dictatorship!

Leave French and English Canadians alone!

[kilov3books]

Canada's Super Bowl LIX commercial Warning to Americans:

Lights Out, Jobs Gone, and how Canada can easily Cripple America Overnight

By: Ki Lov3 Feb 10, 2025 (c)

During Super Bowl LIX, millions of Americans sat glued to their screens, expecting to see the usual mix of beer commercials and blockbuster movie trailers. Instead, they were met with a chilling message from Canada.

The ad, titled "Your Ally to the North," wasn’t selling a product. It wasn’t promoting tourism. It was a not-so-subtle reminder that Canada holds the keys to something Americans take for granted every single day—electricity and jobs.

Canada’s Hidden Power Over the U.S. Grid

Most Americans don’t realize just how dependent their country is on Canada for electricity and employment. Right now, 37 major transmission lines connect the U.S. and Canada, forming an integrated power grid that allows electricity to flow freely across the border. From New England to the Midwest, millions of homes, businesses, and even critical infrastructure rely on Canadian power.

And if Canada flipped the switch? Major cities would go dark. Hospitals, factories, airports—crippled. The economy? Devastated.

But the real disaster wouldn’t just be in blackouts—it would be in job losses. The American manufacturing industry is powered by cheap, reliable Canadian electricity, allowing factories to stay open and millions of workers to stay employed. Without that power, those jobs vanish overnight.

Why Would Canada Drop This Bombshell Now?

It’s no coincidence that Ontario spent a staggering $8 million on a 30-second spot during America’s biggest game of the year. The timing is crucial.

Recent U.S. policies are exerting pressure on Canada as tensions over trade disputes, tariffs, and political instability increase. The target audience for this advertisement was not Washington politicians. It was a stark warning to the American people that if trade ties worsen further, it would be common Americans who suffer, not politicians.

The subtext was crystal clear: "If you want to keep the lights on and keep your jobs, you better treat us right."

Who Is Actually Stealing American Jobs?

Trump's Hypocrisy. President Trump has been telling Americans for years that jobs are being taken by unauthorized immigrants. He isn't telling you, though, that his own policies are endangering millions of American jobs. Trump is doing precisely what he claims immigrants do: taking employment from Americans, by undermining a century-old U.S.-Canada power agreement that has sustained the American economy.

There will be more than simply higher electricity costs if Canada reduces its power exports. It means American manufacturers will come to a standstill, workers will be laid off, and entire industries would close.

There will be millions of job losses. So, consider this: Who is the true danger to American employment? Is Trump blaming the immigrants or himself?

What If the U.S. Tries to Take Control? 🪖🇺🇲

What if the U.S. government, under pressure from blackouts and public outrage, forcibly seized Canadian power stations?

It sounds like a dystopian nightmare, but in a world where economic warfare is becoming more common, it’s not unthinkable. If an administration were to take such an extreme measure, it would lead to:

🌎International Chaos – A blatant act of aggression against a longtime ally, sparking diplomatic crises, economic retaliation, and possibly even military consequences.

🔌Grid Collapse – The U.S. power grid isn’t designed to suddenly replace massive amounts of lost electricity. A Canadian energy embargo could take years to fix, leaving parts of America in permanent energy shortages.

💲Skyrocketing Prices – Even a brief disruption in power imports could send electricity costs through the roof, crippling industries and draining Americans’ wallets.

This Wasn’t Just an Ad—It Was a warning ⚠️

Canada’s "Your Ally to the North" campaign was anything but friendly. It was a strategic reminder of a truth most Americans don’t think about: our lights, our jobs, and our way of life are more dependent on Canada than we ever realized.

With tensions rising, it’s time for Americans to ask a hard question:

What happens if the north decides we’re no longer worth helping?

The answer?

You might want to:

✅start buying candles🕯️

✅looking for a new job 💼

✅Shop for new country &/or president 🇺🇲

[vlovann]

I’ve heard that some non-binary and transgender friends are having issues with their passports being denied.

I want to remind you that there are a lot of other countries that are accepting with real protections of the LGBT+ community and I’m sure, like my girlfriend and I, you’re looking at them specifically for getting out.

I had a realization that if more states start denying gender corrections on passports, I understand that it will be painful and I’m sorry the world is coming to it, but it might be safer to retract the request, let it revert to your incorrect identity, using your real identity socially when safe, and use that to get the hell out of America. Then, once you’re safe and a citizen, you should be able to get your gender changed in your new home.

I am unsure if the current state of America justifies applying for asylum to other countries, yet, or if it has to get even worse, but I already think it should be.

I’ve done my best to gather information from the top safest countries for LGBT+ people (in no particular order) below:

Norway (16+, guardian permission, citizen or registered resident): https://www.skatteetaten.no/en/forms/changing-gender/

Iceland (under 15 needs guardian permission and/or expert statement and case consideration, unsure about citizenship, but most likely similar to others): https://www.government.is/topics/human-rights-and-equality/equality/lgbti-affairs/

In Iceland, no one can come for your rights. It just ends there, period. No explanation needed.

Sweden (18+, guardian permission, registered in Sweden, gender dysphoria assessment, “transsexualism” diagnosis and gender assessment team contact for at least two years according to, unsure of citizenship, most likely similar to others): https://www.rfsl.se/en/organisation/vard-for-transpersoner/transvaard/

Denmark (I can only find an LGBT Denmark article about how families with a non-binary minor are encouraged to apply to state their gender identity, I’m assuming citizenship or residency is required. My iPhone is saying a lot of these websites are trying to steal my information and the ‘visit site anyway’ button doesn’t do anything 🙄): https://lgbt.dk/en/denmark-opens-up-to-legal-gender-change-for-minors/

Netherlands (16+, citizen or resident for 1 year, expert statement, meaning a declaration to an expert that you are not your assigned gender and understand the risks): https://www.denhaag.nl/en/certificates-and-official-documents/change-your-registered-gender-you-were-born-abroad/

Germany (14+, guardian permission, easier for citizens, but options seem to be available if you aren’t registered yet if I understood correctly): https://dublin.diplo.de/ie-en/self-determination-2689792

Spain (all ages, but under 16 needs guardian permission, semi-related as of last year allowing illegal immigrants to earn residency and work permits according to PBS.org, citizenship needed as far as I can tell): https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/en/Tu-espacio-europeo/derechos-obligaciones/ciudadanos/familia/genero.html#-92e7156cb2a7

Malta (16+, citizens, people protected under their Refugee act, anyone entitled to an ID card, assuming similar residency of other countries; if you already have an official X from your previous country, they will honor it): https://humanrights.gov.mt/legal-gender-recognition-and-bodily-integrity/b

Portugal (+ name change, legal age or 16-17 through guardian or legal representative, need citizen card): https://www2.gov.pt/en/servicos/pedir-o-registo-de-mudanca-de-sexo-e-de-nome-proprio

Canada (all ages, presumably filled by parents under 16, citizen and immigrant resources readily available): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/change-sex.html

Most countries will require citizenship or residency. Some don’t explicitly say.

Feel free to comment or reblog with any corrections or additional countries or inside citizen information! Please help with more resources if you can. I can’t find or access some government websites because Apple is stupid.

[coherentcats]

crossposted from cohost: transcript of james somerton thread (12/11/2023)

I did a twitter thread about james somerton (and nick herrgott) but twitter is blocking all the URLs for some reason. so here's a transcript of the whole thing (while correcting a couple typos) with the links, except for the tweets in the middle that are about how the links don't show up on twitter lol.

Edit: I have now created a transcript of the entire video, that also includes some fact-checking, including the fact-checking I originally did in the thread

Edit from 9/30/24: transcript of the video on github

I wasn't sure if I should say anything about james somerton since it's been over a week since the controversy broke and most everything in a general sense has been said. however, I haven't seen anyone bring this up so I figured I would.

it was live-streamed and archived on youtube and is probably the only publicly available video of james talking at length left. youtube link

first, I wanted to go over some of the strange things they said that I think are either made up or lies?

james claims that denis villeneuve wanted arrival (2016) to "take place in ontario" and "make it through the canadian system so that he could employ canadians" (13:29) but that the federal government turned him down, so it had to become an american-funded movie set in the usa?

I can't find anything supporting this and in fact, while the movie is set in montana, it's filmed in quebec and employed a lot of canadians. villeneuve is very proud of this.

"Denis Villeneuve says Arrival's Oscar nods recognize Quebec film scene" article link

he also claims james cameron wanted to get funding for titanic and avatar ("both avatar movies") from the canadian government (12:05).

also it just doesn't add up to me. why would he go to canada to fund avatar, which was extremely expensive at the time and required multiple investors, including his own money?

"A Movie’s Budget Pops From the Screen (Published 2009)" article link

somerton also talk about some scottish guy who immigrated to ontario during the 18th/19th century and had a "twinkie boyfriend" who was a werewolf who killed cops? and that the library of toronto was research this but the socttish government made them stop?

(sorry, timestamp for that is 19:21). I couldn't find anything and have no idea if this is just obscure or bullshit. feels like it would at least pull up some unsourced tumblr post if it was at all true.

there are other things he says that are true (such as canada decriminalizing homosexuality in the 1960s while it took the usa until the 2000s to do the same) and other ones I can't sort out clearly (such as margaret atwood having trouble getting published in canada initially).

anyway this video has less than 1000 views (it was under 500 when my partner first showed it to me). but I think it's worth flagging that he (and his co-writer) was not above just saying whatever outside of youtube.

I also think it's worth pointing out how an event hosted by a public institution like this can build social capital and an air of legitimacy for his self-appointed queer historian reputation.

it feels like at a minimum, they took a spot during a pride event that could've gone to someone else who has like. integrity and decency.

also there's a (very short) negative dig at forrest gump (!!) from nick lol? (1:15:30)

finally maybe my view is tainted, but doing a talk titled "canadian queer identity" and spending 70% of the time talking about the american cultural hegemony and how hard it is to get movies made in canada seems. odd!

neither of them bring up much historical or current canadian lgbtq+ media besides a mention of gingersnaps and "elliot page going around and doing his documentary" (edit here to add that that paraphrased quote is from the time stamp 32:15)

like this letterboxd list seems to do a better job of highlighting canadian queer identity

"LGBT Canada" letterboxd list link

I won't say the talk itself is bad (besides the stuff that is 100% not true) but it doesn't feel especially relevant to what it should be about. and it feels strange in retrospect when somerton himself never specifically focused on canadian queer media on his channel

even after gaining more subscribers and fames. (wow I wonder if he was just mining topics people made discourse about on twitter 🤔🤔🤔)

anyway kind of hope more people, especially canadians, see this video so they can better fact check it than me.

wait I forgot to add (edit: to this QRT of a thread tweet link) that the closest thing I could find about this was some merchant involved in a sodomy accusation sex scandal. wikipedia page for "alexander wood (merchant)"

I might come back and comb through more of the video for parts I missed (such as a lot of the canada-specific legal stuff) but if anyone else spots any weirdness, let me know.

wait, I also want to add this video by jessie gender. it's a good analysis of how somerton didn't really care about and exploited the lgbtq+ community and other marginalized people "James Somerton & Community Solidarity" youtube link

I think it contextualizes how slimy his presence at a local pride event is. he wanted to posture himself as an authority and trustworthy figure while doing all of that.

(I don't blame the library for this, I have no idea what their logistics were at the time and they obviously didn't know. I feel bad that they were associated with him.)

wait he just took that from a horror novel??? from a gay canadian writer??? QRT of a reply link

I checked out the ebook for "red x" from the library and this is definitely it. I don't have the knowledge or access to resources to say if this historical exposition is accurate (google turns up nothing), but weird that neither of them just don't mention this book at all!

I realized I could check this easily by just looking up her bibliography and verifying the publishing companies of her early books. which were all canadian (primarily mcclelland and stewart). this includes the handmaid's tale. QRT of a reply link

update: somerton did not do any intensive historical research and plagiarized the plot of red x and passed it off as obscure canadian folklore?

QRT of a previous tweet in the thread

it's both more devastating and predictable that he didn't just make some bullshit up, but just stole other people's writing. for the nth time.

[sketch-shepherd-art]

Reupload + re-edit of old We Bare Bears OC's from 2017-18. I've heavily changed some of their backstories based on the ending of the WBB movie

The tall bear is an Asiatic black bear named Moon Bear who immigrated to San Francisco from China. She took a while to integrate into her new culture and make friends, but she eventually found her family by adopting a grizzly/polar bear hybrid named Nanulak ("nanulak" being a name that some Canadian wildlife officials use for grolar bears)

Nanulak's story is unfortunately a lot more tragic, as she was raised and put on display solely for profit by a roadside zoo that exploited hybrid animals. At least until she finally escaped and found her adoptive mother

[agregoenv3000w25]

Do you have integrity?

I’d like to preface this post by saying that the opinions in this blog are entirely my own, and do not reflect on the University of Guelph or anyone else. That being said, there are some emotionally charged and/or heavy topics included in this post so please keep that in mind while reading. 

Do you have integrity? I think most of us would like to think we do. I know I would like to believe that I have “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.” I like to think that I know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. But what about in the broader context of history instead of the individual level?  

The quote we’ve been asked to unpack this week essentially says that we must keep the past whole if we want to understand it in an honest, genuine way. To me, this quote is saying that you can’t omit a part of history and still call yourself honest. Which begs the question, in my mind, “do we, as a society, have integrity in the history we tell?” 

Our textbook says that one reason we interpret history is to remember. It also says that “without interpretation, artifacts are merely old things, historic buildings are just old buildings, and ceremonies and festivals are merely entertainment.” So, what happens when we don’t remember? What happens when atrocities are forgotten? What happens when old things are merely old things and historic buildings are merely old buildings?  

I grew up in the U.S. and only recently moved to Canada, so I have much more knowledge of American history than Canadian history. And what I’m seeing happen today in the U.S. is pretty concrete proof that we've forgotten, that we’ve let historic lessons become idle chatter.  

In school, I never learned about the Mexican Repatriation that occurred during the Great Depression. During the 1930’s it is estimated that as many as 1.8 million people were forcibly removed from the U.S. and sent to Mexico. Even more appalling, it’s estimated that about 60% of the people deported were American citizens.  

Can you even imagine going through what Mr. José Lopez went through - being taken from the only home you’ve ever known at the age of 5? Forced to move from his home, he contracted whooping cough, a disease that killed thousands of people throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s. Sick and most likely scared, José then proceeded to lose both his mom and one of his brothers (read more about the Mexican Repatriation and Mr. Lopez’s story here). 

They say history is doomed to repeat itself and I guess that’s true. I didn’t learn about the Mexican Repatriation that occurred in the 1930’s until after I was out of high school, and I learned it on my own, not from any school or teacher. But since I have learned about it, I now see the similarities between what happened then and what’s happening now.  

Since taking office, the Trump Administration has authorized raids, carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, that has resulted in the deportation of more than 8,000 people in about a month (read more about the current ICE raids here). 

How can we possibly call ourselves honest when we erase parts of our history from our history books? How can we say we have integrity when we carry out the same atrocities today that we carried out 100 years ago? We’ve let old things become simply old things and look where it’s brought us – tearing families apart and ruining lives once again. 

Our textbook talks about how we need to be careful when we interpret history, to not tell inaccurate or false information. It says that we should “strive for the truth through thorough and unbiased research.” I think this is especially hard because our society has been built on a foundation of biases. It is natural for us to want to tell history through a white-washed lens because that’s what we’ve been taught to do for many years.  

I appreciate what our textbook says about interpreting history, I just worry that it’s already too late to have integrity when it comes to telling historical stories. I fear that we’re doomed to let our own history happen again and again. I fear we’ve already forgotten. 

But hopefully, through good interpretation, we can change the narrative that has been forced upon us for so many years: that there is only one right way and that is the white, man’s way. I think as we move forward in our interpreting, despite being nature interpreters and not historical interpreters, we need to carefully consider our history and try to incorporate it wherever and whenever we can.

Citations: A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). The deportation campaigns of the Great Depression. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/great-depression-repatriation-drives-mexico-deportation

NBC Universal News Group. (2025, February 7). Some people caught in trump immigration crackdown released in U.S. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/people-caught-trump-immigration-crackdown-released-us-rcna186360

[uglyandtraveling]

From Curry to Career: The Struggles of South Asian in Canada

Discover the silent struggles facing every South Asian in Canada—from cultural tensions to career hurdles—in this insightful blog post.

[beardedmrbean]

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that the country will significantly reduce the number of new immigrants it allows into the country after acknowledging that his government failed to get the balance right coming out of the pandemic.

Trudeau's Liberal government was criticized for its plan to allow 500,000 new permanent residents into the country in each of the next two years. On Thursday, he said next year’s target will now be 395,000 new permanent residents and that the figure will drop to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

“In the tumultuous times as we emerged from the pandemic, between addressing labor needs and maintaining population growth, we didn't get the balance right,” Trudeau said.

“Immigration is essential for Canada's future, but it must be controlled and it must be sustainable.”

Trudeau, who is facing calls from within his own party not to seek a fourth term, has endured mounting criticism over his immigration policies and the negative impact that population growth has had on housing affordability.

He said his government will reduce the number of immigrants Canada brings in over the next three years, and that this will freeze population growth over the next two years. Canada reached 41 million people in April. The population was 37.5 million in 2019.

Trudeau said Canada needs to stabilize its population growth to allow all levels of government to make necessary changes to health care, housing and social services so that it can accommodate more people in the future.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said the lower immigration numbers will help with the country's housing shortage.

He also acknowledged the change in public opinion about immigration.

“That volume that we have put forward is of concern,” Miller said.

Miller said the government sees the pressures facing Canadians, and that it must must adapt its policies accordingly. He said government leaders have listened and will continue to protect the integrity of the immigration system and grow Canada's population responsibly.

“We are an open country, but not everyone can come to this country,” he said, noting that Canada will continue to welcome outsiders and that the government's immigration targets remain ambitious.

Trudeau's government has long touted Canada's immigration policy and how Canada is better than peer countries in welcoming newcomers and integrating them into the economy.

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party, accused Trudeau of destroying the national consensus on immigration.

“He has destroyed our immigration system through his own personal incompetence and destroyed 150 years of common sense consensus with the Liberals and Conservatives on that subject," Poilievre said.

“He cannot fix what he broke on immigration and housing or anything else because he is busy fighting his own caucus,” he added.

Poilievre was referring to calls by some lawmakers from Trudeau's own party to not run for a fourth term. Those calls represent one of the biggest tests of Trudeau's political career, but he said Thursday that he intends to stay on through the next election.

Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, said the Trudeau government messed up badly on immigration.

"The government’s logic — to grow the economy and sustain an aging Canadian population by bringing in more young immigrants — was sound. But Ottawa has little control over meeting the housing, health, education, and other welfare needs of residents, whether they are citizens or immigrants,” Wiseman said.

"These are all provincial government responsibilities, and there was little cooperation or coordination between the two levels of government," he said.

A certain percentage of Canadians have always been xenophobic, but much less so than in some other countries, Wiseman said.

“Many Canadians have turned against the recent growing immigrant and temporary worker/student influx because of the growing housing, health, education, and other welfare challenges. Ottawa has read the polls and is responding according," he said.

[ahenvs3000w24]

03: Privilege

Privilege is a subconscious advantage. Privilege takes many forms in our modern society and is often misused against the lesser. It is the assumption of those who consider themselves to be “privileged” that the level of accessibility to resources and experiences is undifferentiated. When we consider nature interpretation, factors such as socioeconomic factors, cultural background, native language, and lack of knowledge all influence the depth at which the natural world can be related to (Beck et al., 2018). 

Peggy McIntosh’s metaphorical approach to describing privilege is an excellent foundation to this discussion (Hooykaas, 2024). She references an “invisible backpack” as the vessel that carries our assets and knowledge (Hooykaas, 2024). These assets are unearned and often do not surface to our awareness (Hooykaas, 2024). Assets such as economic status, cultural background, language, and education are examples of what the invisible backpack would be composed of (Beck et al., 2018). Each asset directly influences how we perceive, acquire, and relate to the world around us (Beck et al., 2018). 

I am a young, white, university student. I am of the middle-class and am one of two children. My “invisible backpack” has facilitated the rich relationship I have with the natural world from a young age. My economic privilege rendered incredible travel expeditions across the world and exposure to exceptional environmental programs. I attend a recognized Ontario University and am on pace to receive a bachelor’s degree. My cultural background has seamlessly led to opportunities in my professional and personal life, allocating more time for leisure. I recognize that with English as my first language, a greater number of nature interpretation programs and literature are  accessible. Considering the level of privilege I possess; privilege is defined as the accessibility to opportunity unaffected by fear and the lack of sacrifice that enable a richer quality of life.  

Economic privilege is an integral component when considering the accessibility one may have to nature. Individuals who have disposable income may indulge in travel and higher-end nature experiences (Beck et al., 2018). While it can be debated that the natural world is free to all people, the diversity of experiences is accompanied with a price. It is the responsibility of the nature interpreter to create affordable, inclusive experiences that are close to home (Beck et al., 2018). Education and immersive programs are a right, not a privilege and they must be delivered as such.

 Cultural privilege is a sensitive aspect when discussing the accessibility one may have to nature. The participation of different cultures in nature is largely dependent on social constructs and values (Beck et al., 2018). Camping in tents is an activity that wealthy white people participate in however, to urban minorities is their reality (Beck et al., 2018). To address cultural privilege, inclusivity should be the number one priority. Personal invitations to instil that all are welcome and wanted will strengthen the bond between cultures (Beck et al., 2018). 

Language privilege or proficiency is often overlooked in Canada. Canada is a country whose two national languages are English and French. Most programming, advertisements, and professionals are fluent in English and are aware of basic French (Beck et al., 2018). Courses, signage, and maps when entering a provincial park are always in English (Beck et al., 2018). Immigrant families and non-native Canadian citizens are not able to connect with the information on the natural world the same as those who are fluent in English (Beck et al., 2018). Nature interpreters must actively reduce communicative barriers and utilize multimedia approaches.  

Privilege influences how one may perceive, relate, and accept the natural world (Beck et al., 2018). It is the role of the interpreter to develop strategies and programming to address these limitations and postulate solutions to become more inclusive. I recognize the privilege I have and how said privilege has exposed me to several opportunities. I encourage my peers to work alongside me in developing a sustainable, inclusive future for nature interpreters.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 3: Risk versus reward in interpretation. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/858004/viewContent/3640017/View

[kxantares]

I suspect that a major question for the left in Canada in coming decades will be how to confront:

* open land/resource expansionism from US politicians

* transborder capital supporting it

* Canadian politicians being pushovers about it

without promoting Canadian chauvinism.

(It'll involve Land Back.)

The sub-faction of Canadian and US capitalists that stand to gain from greater integration are an ally to *no one* here, but screwing over Indigenous people, immigrants, and other national minorities within Canada's borders is both reprehensible and will also just shoot these efforts in the foot.

US big business wanting unfettered access to water and land that's currently under Canadian jurisdiction is just a more shocking (to settler-colonialism-supporting Canadians) version of the mentality that leads Canadians to feel entitled to building LNG pipelines under sacred rivers, for example.

So the question is — how do we do the necessary consciousness-raising and also political struggle, really, within our movements to ensure that we're ready to respond to these forces in a way that doesn't just kick the problem down the road at great cost to everyone who isn't a white Anglophone?

[yaoi-hate-machine]

top 5 meronia headcanons.......

FINALLY POSTING THIS ty for bearing w me anon!!!

housewife mello and spoiled princess near

mello is the domestic daddy of the relationship. he does the cooking, cleaning, and general house stuff. he genuinely enjoys having his routines and he's also just unwilling to live in squalor after sharing a room with matt growing up <- guy whose idea of cleaning is shoving everything into a closet/under the bed. near isn't necessarily incapable of doing these things, but let's be real. the man is a princess. i imagine he does do some cleaning when mello asks him for help and that he also does other things like paying bills and budgeting.

russian mello and french-canadian near

ok listen. i know some of you think that russian mello is overdone. HEAR ME OUT THO. first, statistically speaking, the surname keehl is most popular in russia, aside from the u.s. (1) and mihael (михаил) is also an extremely common russian name. aside from all that, he just truly strikes me as Such a russian (<- guy who is russian and also has a degree in russian and spent 4 years studying the language and culture) like between his no nonsense, independent, standoffish nature and his long blonde hair and sharp features? soooo russian coded imo

and as for near, to be fair, canada has around the 12th densest population of the surname river (2) but it does have both english and french origins-- "rivers" seeming to be more french-coded, but immigration loves to fuck up ppl's names to be fair (3) i have less evidence for near being french-canadian but i think it's cute and since morgan put this concept in my brain it has lived there rent free

near having the power to dom mello

we all know that on the outside, mello's a dominant power-hungry bitch. HOWEVER. a lot of the time those kinds of people fantasize about releasing power and letting someone else take the reins. and we also all know how obsessed this man has always been with near (for better or for worse). i fully believe that with the right tone of voice, near could tell mello to sit and bark like a dog and he would. not to mention uhh other acts. know what i'm saying?

mello never hated near. he hated himself.

it was never about mello being better than near or truly disliking him. it was always about mello's lack of self-esteem, security, and faith in himself. he felt like he needed to prove something, he felt like his inferiority to near was like a flashing neon light to everyone in the world and for that reason, he was like This dude Sucks and i'm so much better than him. and then he grows up a little and actually has accomplishments of his own that he feels proud of and creates security for himself so his nervous system is able to calm down and actually recognize that near had always been one of his closest friends and one of the people he related to and looked up to the most.

matt is an integral part of their dynamic.

listen. don't hate me bc i'm right. whether it's in a romantic or platonic capacity, matt has something that near and mello do not-- the combined power of realistic non-deranged observation and communication skills. he is the one they go to (esp mello bc yk they're besties) when they get into a fight and can't even figure out wtf they're fighting about. mello comes over in a shit mood and matt pours him a drink, listens to him vent, and gives him a much needed dose of reality and sound advice. and if we're talking about nearlymellodramattic, he is the glue of the relationship. mello is hotheaded and near is socially inept most of the time. matt is the goofy jester moderator of the relationship, keeping the gears oiled and helping everyone to communicate their feelings.