Federal envoy urges Ontario to act on antisemitism in its public schools

Canada’s special envoy on antisemitism says Ontario needs to take seriously incidents of anti-Jewish bigotry targeted at students in public schools.
Deborah Lyons commissioned a survey of nearly 600 Jewish parents, and found hundreds of children were subjected to incidents including antisemitic bullying and blame for the carnage of Israel’s military conduct in the Gaza Strip.

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Families reported incidents such as children chanting Nazi slogans and giving salutes, and teachers telling students that Israel does not exist.
The survey logged 781 incidents that it deemed antisemitic, including discussions on the Middle East that went beyond forceful criticism of Israel.
Lyons’ office approached various Jewish groups asking for them to promote the survey, and heard form families who have moved their children to other schools or removed markers of Jewish identity.
The report marks a rare move of federal rapporteurs singling out issues outside of Ottawa’s jurisdiction.
© 2025 The Canadian Press


The father of a 21-year-old Bolton, Ont., man left in a coma after being critically injured in a four-car collision caused by an alleged impaired driver, with five prior convictions for DUIs and three separate driving bans, is upset the accused has been released on bail.
“You know that term, ‘insult to injury?’ We really felt it that day because we were like, ‘How can this happen?’” said Riz Arshad, the father, in an interview with Global News outside Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on Monday.
The crash originally happened on July 5, and Arshad, along with his wife and three other children, has been at their son Gabriel’s bedside for the past nine days.
He said his shock has turned to anger since two police officers walked into his backyard on the evening of July 5 to tell him his son was involved in a collision.
“I’ve done my fair share of crying, and I’ve done my fair share of yelling, to be honest. It’s emotional. I’m devastated, to be honest with you. We’ve had many, many plans, and they’ve all changed. Our lives have changed completely,” said Arshad.
Gabriel was driving southbound on Highway 50 through the intersection of Coleraine Drive around 4:15 pm when, according to his father, he was struck by a small transport van that allegedly ran a red light.
“He had the right of way, and unfortunately, the individual ran a red light from my understanding at a reasonable rate of speed, and he t-boned him, more or less into the guard rail,” said Arshad.

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Gabriel was rushed to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he remains in intensive care in critical condition.
“He’s in a coma. He’s maybe having a surgery as we speak to be honest. He’s got a broken femur, he’s got a crushed pelvis, he’s got internal damage that took them three different surgeries to repair, a broken clavicle and severe head trauma. He hasn’t woken up yet. We do see a little bit of movement now, which is reassuring, but he hasn’t woken up yet,” said Arshad.
Arshad is confident his son, who coaches soccer and has dreams of working as a plumber, will pull through. “Really, we don’t have any prognosis, we’re just told it’s going to be a long stay at the hospital,” he said.
“We’re hopeful. I know my son is in there and I’m taking him home, but we’re not sure how long this is going to take.”
Fifty-eight-year-old Koushal Kasiram of Mississauga has been charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, driving with excess blood alcohol and three counts of prohibited driving.
Arshad said he was in shock when he learned Kasiram was released on bail again in relation to this latest collision, despite having five prior convictions for impaired driving and having three separate lifetime driving bans.
Peel police said one of the conditions of Kasiram’s release is that he is prohibited from driving.
“I can’t believe it. I’m not sure in the five previous cases how much time he’s done or if he’s done any, but it’s shocking, it’s disappointing to be honest, that’s our justice system,” said Arshad.
Gabriel’s sister has taken to Facebook and is encouraging people to write to the Crown attorney’s office in Brampton to express concern about the bail decision.
“Mention you’re concerned about the release of Koushal Kasiram. Emphasize the seriousness of impaired driving and its impact. Urge the Crown to seek stricter bail conditions or reconsideration,” wrote Bethany Arshad.
A GoFundMe has also been organized to help the Arshad family cover rising medical and legal expenses.
“Help us give Gabriel the chance to heal, to hope, and to return to the life that was stolen from him far too soon,” Amira Arshad, Gabriel’s sister, who is organizing the online fundraiser, wrote.
Gabriel’s father said he is grateful for the support from the community. So far, more than $34,000 has been raised.
Kasiram is due back in court on Aug. 11.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

TORONTO – Jim Clancy, who made his Major League debut during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 1977 expansion season and spent 12 seasons with the club as a key member of its starting rotation, has died at 69.
The Blue Jays confirmed Clancy’s death in a social media post Monday. A cause of death was not given.
Clancy was selected by the Blue Jays sixth overall in the 1976 MLB expansion draft and made his big-league debut on July 26, 1977, against the Texas Rangers at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. He surrendered five earned runs over two innings in a 14-0 loss.
After going 4-9 in Toronto’s expansion year, Clancy played his first full season in 1978, posting a respectable 10-12 record on a team that finished last in the American League East at 59-102.
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Clancy, along with star pitcher Dave Stieb, provided the bedrock for the Blue Jays’ starting rotation as the team became increasingly competitive. He was Toronto’s opening-day starter in 1981 and 1984.

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He had a 16-14 record with a 3.71 earned-run average and 139 strikeouts in his 1982 all-star season as the Blue Jays finished out of last place in the AL East for the first time with a 78-84 record.
He went 9-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 1985 as the Jays won the division for the first time before falling in seven games to the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship Series.
Clancy signed with the Houston Astros after a disappointing 1988 season in Toronto, where he had an 11-13 record and 4.49 ERA as the Blue Jays failed to return to the playoffs for a third straight season.
He played his final campaign coming out of the bullpen with the 1991 Atlanta Braves. He earned his first-ever post-season victory in the third game of the World Series as Atlanta defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-4 in twelve innings.
Clancy finished the series with a 1-0 record with a 4.15 ERA, but the Twins won the series in seven games.
Over his career, Clancy had a 140-167 record with a 4.23 ERA and 1,422 strikeouts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says cabin crew at Porter Airlines have filed a union certification application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
The union would represent about 1,200 cabin crew at the airline.

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CUPE national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick says Porter is an amazing Canadian success story and the cabin crew deserve to share in that success.
CUPE already represents 18,500 cabin crew at other airlines across the country including Air Canada and WestJet.
Porter started flying in 2006 based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the city’s waterfront.
It has grown to offer service across North America.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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