It is Thursday, June 4, and here are the top stories we are following today.
Alberta separation poll: Fewer than half would stay
According to a new poll, only 39 percent of Albertans say they would continue to live in a newly independent province if Alberta were to separate from Canada. Meanwhile, 38 percent said they would move elsewhere in Canada, 19 percent were unsure, and two percent would move to another country entirely. The survey suggests that Alberta could face a significant exodus if it ever secedes.
Criticism of 'continuing genocide' ruling on Canada's Indigenous
Terry Newman writes that a non-binding ruling by the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, which declared a 'continuing genocide' against Canada's Indigenous peoples, should not be taken seriously. She criticizes Canadian media for reporting the story uncritically, calling it proof that outlets often publish activist claims without balanced information.
In-person census visits face backlash
Statistics Canada has hired thousands of enumerators to follow up with households that have not completed the census. The agency says this helps identify unoccupied or missed dwellings. However, the practice has drawn criticism, with some arguing that taxpayers should not fund bureaucrats knocking on doors.
Weight bench dispute leads to gym assault in B.C.
Two men have been convicted of assault causing bodily harm after a dispute over a weight bench at a British Columbia gym. The judge noted that both sides could have easily left the situation, but instead, the two accused beat the victim. The incident was described as an escalation driven by machismo.
First Reading: Immigration artificially juicing Canadian GDP
Tristin Hopper argues that immigration has been artificially boosting Canadian GDP, masking a per-capita recession that has persisted for much of the last four years. He warns that when population growth is accounted for, the economy is not as strong as it appears.
