The twin supervillains of political discourse

Laith Marouf and Jeremy MacKenzie

Rachel Gilmore @atRachelGilmore

Ottawa axes funding for anti-racism project over ‘vile’ tweets by consultant

globalnews.caOttawa axes funding for anti-racism project over ‘vile’ tweets by consultant | Globalnews.caDiversity Minister Ahmed Hussen last week asked Canadian Heritage to “look closely at the situation” after what he called “unacceptable behaviour” by a senior consultant.

Recent surfacing of violent and antisemitic tweets by the Beirut-based frontman for the Community Media Advocacy Centre influenced the decision by Heritage Canada to back off from a project for which $133,000 had been earmarked. The funding was for six anti-racism seminars across the country—although three of these events already occurred.

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The trolling of Pierre Poilievre

David Akin 🇨🇦 @davidakin

In Dartmouth NS today, a person federal security agencies say is a “key individual” associated with “ideologically motivated violent extremist” groups went to a @PierrePoilievre event and was photographed with the #CPCLdr candidate. Statement from Poilievre to @globalnews :

A picture of Pierre Poilievre shaking hands with a man who’s been officially deemed a threat to national security led Jean Charest’s campaign to proclaim “some votes should not be counted.” Poilievre replied that he wasn’t vetting every attendee of his events. Also, the other guy in the handshake photo says he only shared it to humiliate the Conservatives.

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Toronto’s transit fare crackdown is picking up where it left off. Fines of up to $425 per rogue rider are being reinforced by the TTC, along with a fall plan to bring full inspection back with a focus on streetcars. Enforcement issues got more intense in winter 2020. Returning from a pandemic pause involved a longer road than originally hoped.

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Where books are a non-story

Closing arguments were heard in the U.S. antitrust trial concerning Penguin Random House’s deal to buy Simon & Schuster, which generated some lively headlines amid a debate over whether publishing is about art or commerce. But the Canadian angle comes down to wondering if the broken market will get worse without government intervention:

Vass Bednar @VassB

"...elsewhere, the arguments against more disclosure here at home are weakened. Perhaps we need a way to have conversations about the mergers that we choose not to review in this country, too."

financialpost.comVass Bednar: Why is Canada ignoring the latest publishing mega-merger?The combination of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster is receiving significant attention in the U.S., but little in Canada. Read more.

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The columns keep coming about Bell Media and Lisa LaFlamme. After a week in which she announced her own dismissal from CTV, followed by Bell executives facing angry staff—then launching a third-party investigation—there’s a swelling petition to bring her back, Lloyd Robertson expressing his support, and Dove marketing grey hair with a wink at her.

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Finally, trying not to bruise it

“The Reflex” music video from Duran Duran was filmed at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 5, 1984. It’s best remembered for a simulacrum of Niagara Falls depicted as rushing from the arena screen—which somehow dampens just one audience member. Four decades later, the band returned to Toronto to play in the rain: