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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Parliament Hill protester 'in shock' after being blasted in face with power washer
Nicholas Ewanchuk, 45, sustained large gash on his lip after clash with employee of federal contractor An unidentified employee of Ottawa-based contractor Gemma Property Services right before Nick Ewanchuk was blasted in the face with a high-powered pressure washer in front of the House of Commons. Photo by Courtesy Nicholas Ewanchuk OTTAWA — They're a common sight in front of the House of Commons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Scrawled in chalk on the sidewalk along Wellington St. in downtown Ottawa sit silent protests against the federal government, put there by men and women known as the 'Wellington Street Regulars.' Known for their persistent, colourful and sometimes loud protests against the federal government, the 'Regulars' are famously — or to some infamously — known for their signs, chalk art and livestreamed criticism of politicians and staffers entering and leaving Parliament. Among them is Nicholas Ewanchuk, 45 — originally from The Battlefords, Sask., but who came to Ottawa as part of the 2022 Freedom Convoy — who writes his chalk-rendered protests around the steps leading to West Block, a frequent entry point for politicians, staff and reporters entering the House of Commons. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I don't write vulgar words, we put information on the sidewalk for people to do some research,' Ewanchuk told the Toronto Sun on Thursday. 'We're already into six years of this madness, I guess you can call it my opinion.' Nicholas Ewanchuk, a regular fixture on Wellington St., writes words on the sidewalk in front of the West Block of the House of Commons in Ottawa on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Ewanchuk was cut when he was sprayed with a power washer by an employee of Gemma Property Services while video recording workers clearing his chalk drawings from the sidewalk. Photo by Bryan Passifiume / Toronto Sun Ewanchuk was a truck driver for 23 years when, in the early day of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was fired after objecting to the non-fire-retardant paper face masks he was forced to wear while loading truckloads of crude oil. His EI application was rejected because his dismissal was classified as a pandemic-related infraction. On Tuesday, Ewanchuk was present when Gemma Property Services — an Ottawa-based landscaping contractor hired by the National Capital Commission to maintain Wellington St. — arrived at Wellington and O'Connor St. to clear away his work, along with that of a First Nations artist known locally as 'The Chalk Man.' While Ewanchuk is used to watching his work rinsed away, things took a turn for the worse when an unidentified worker took exception to being recorded and blasted Ewanchuk in the face with with a truck-mounted power washer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. WATCH: Contractor pressure washing chalk in front of the House of Commons turns his hose on a man filming him, leaving him was a bleeding gash on his face — Dacey Media (@chrisdacey) June 17, 2025 The powerful stream of pressurized water slammed Ewanchuk's cellphone into his face, opening a large gash on his top lip and sending his phone flying. 'That's when I saw blood dripping,' Ewanchuk said. 'I was in shock — this guy was supposed to be a professional.' Power washers, particularly industrial grade models, are capable of inflicting severe and life-altering injuries — particularly when directed at the face. Numerous inquiries to Gemma Property Services by the Toronto Sun went unacknowledged. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The incident was witnessed by members of the Parliamentary Protective Services, who separated the men and dispatched paramedics and Ottawa Police to the scene. A police complaint was filed and as of Thursday there was no word of charges — but Ewanchuk said the incident won't deter him from his silent protest. 'My children, their children, it's for future generations,' he said when asked why he persists. 'It's not looking too good here in Canada for the past few years, that's why we're determined to keep doing what we do.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Read More MMA NHL Canada Toronto & GTA NHL
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Judge overstepped power when ordering government to appoint judges faster, appeal court rules
CALGARY — The Federal Court overstepped its authority when it ordered the government to fill an 'unacceptably high' number of judicial vacancies within a 'reasonable time,' the Federal Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday. In a forceful rebuttal of the trial court ruling published Wednesday, the appeal court issued a sharp reminder to both judges and government: stay in your lane. 'No one disputes the utmost importance of filling judicial vacancies to ensure a healthy judiciary, and relatedly, a healthy democracy,' wrote Justice Richard Boivin on behalf of the panel of three appeal judges. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'But it remains that the judicial branch of government, like the other two branches of government — the executive and the legislative — fortify themselves by acting properly within their legitimate spheres of competence,' he continued. Boivin said the Federal Court 'overstepped its jurisdictional bounds' when it ruled that the court could order the government to fill a high number of empty judge positions within a certain amount of time. In his 2024 ruling lambasting the Liberal government, Federal Court Justice Henry S. Brown issued an unprecedented declaration that the prime minister and minister of justice must fill current and future vacancies within a 'reasonable time.' The lawsuit was filed by Ottawa-based human rights lawyers Yavar Hameed and Nicholas Pope who argued that the lingering judicial vacancies were impacting Canadians' access to justice. At the time, there were 75 judge positions waiting to be filled, an unusually high number. Brown said that the long delay was 'failing' Canadians. His ruling noted that nine months after the chief justice of Canada wrote the Liberal government denouncing the situation, nothing had changed. 'The situation as outlined by the Chief Justice of Canada and Canadian Judicial Council is clearly critical and untenable and thus most serious, and therefore in the Court's view may not simply be ignored,' the judge wrote. 'Very unfortunately, the Court has no reason to expect the situation will change without judicial intervention,' he added, while declaring the government needed to reduce the vacancy rate to 'mid-40s.' But the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that Brown made multiple serious or 'concerning' mistakes in coming to its conclusion, including accepting to hear the case at all. Boivin also found that Brown misinterpreted many jurisprudential decisions in order to support his conclusion, going so far as saying cases the Federal Court relied upon were 'inapplicable or uninstructive.' The FCA further ruled that Brown disregarded binding precedent from the Supreme Court of Canada on the limits of the Federal Court's jurisdiction. Finally, the appeal court criticized Brown for determining that constitutional conventions (unwritten rules that are binding but not enforceable by the courts) were reviewable by the courts. In this case, the convention was that the governor general appoints judges on the recommendation of the prime minister and cabinet. 'Although courts can recognize constitutional conventions, they cannot enforce them,' Boivin wrote. 'In the present matter, the Federal Court nonetheless considered constitutional conventions in relation to judicial appointments as federal laws and further characterized them as 'judge-made rules',' he continued. 'This is misconceived and contrary to the non-legal nature of constitutional conventions.' The appeal court also noted its concern that Brown had created a new constitutional convention compelling the government to henceforth fill judicial vacancies 'within a reasonable time.' It concluded that Brown had bypassed test adopted by the Supreme Court in 1959 that set the conditions for establishing a new constitutional convention. 'The Federal Court could not sidestep the normative requirements… in declaring a new constitutional convention that judicial vacancies must be filled within a reasonable time,' he wrote. Brown's decision may have already had the desired effect despite being overturned Wednesday. After his decision, the Liberals under Justin Trudeau significantly boosted their pace of appointments, dropping vacancies from over 90 to 22 as of June 1. Former justice minister Arif Virani frequently argued that the high number of vacancies was partly because the Liberals had created over 100 new judicial positions across the country since 2015. 'Appointing judges at an unprecedented rate is one of our accomplishments that I'm proudest of, & we will keep filling vacancies with high calibre, experienced jurists. Access to justice will always be a top priority,' Virani said on social media in February. National Post cnardi@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Judge overstepped power when ordering government to appoint judges faster, appeal court rules
Article content CALGARY — The Federal Court overstepped its authority when it ordered the government to fill an 'unacceptably high' number of judicial vacancies within a 'reasonable time,' the Federal Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday. Article content In a forceful rebuttal of the trial court ruling published Wednesday, the appeal court issued a sharp reminder to both judges and government: stay in your lane. Article content Article content Article content 'No one disputes the utmost importance of filling judicial vacancies to ensure a healthy judiciary, and relatedly, a healthy democracy,' wrote Justice Richard Boivin on behalf of the panel of three appeal judges. Article content Article content 'But it remains that the judicial branch of government, like the other two branches of government — the executive and the legislative — fortify themselves by acting properly within their legitimate spheres of competence,' he continued. Article content Boivin said the Federal Court 'overstepped its jurisdictional bounds' when it ruled that the court could order the government to fill a high number of empty judge positions within a certain amount of time. Article content In his 2024 ruling lambasting the Liberal government, Federal Court Justice Henry S. Brown issued an unprecedented declaration that the prime minister and minister of justice must fill current and future vacancies within a 'reasonable time.' Article content Article content The lawsuit was filed by Ottawa-based human rights lawyers Yavar Hameed and Nicholas Pope who argued that the lingering judicial vacancies were impacting Canadians' access to justice. Article content Article content At the time, there were 75 judge positions waiting to be filled, an unusually high number. Brown said that the long delay was 'failing' Canadians. Article content His ruling noted that nine months after the chief justice of Canada wrote the Liberal government denouncing the situation, nothing had changed. Article content 'The situation as outlined by the Chief Justice of Canada and Canadian Judicial Council is clearly critical and untenable and thus most serious, and therefore in the Court's view may not simply be ignored,' the judge wrote. Article content 'Very unfortunately, the Court has no reason to expect the situation will change without judicial intervention,' he added, while declaring the government needed to reduce the vacancy rate to 'mid-40s.'
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Is it OK to wear shorts in the office? We asked the experts
There is a silent debate raging in the workplace, an unspoken war of knees and shins and inseams and socks. There is sun, there is sweat and there are shifting concepts of what it means to be professional. There is one central question: Are shorts in the office acceptable? Some say absolutely not and others ask why not, and now, as June heads toward July, is the time to ask. The Star turned to a fashion designer, stylist, university professor and workplace culture consultant to get to the bottom of what's acceptable, what's not and how to figure out the difference. Don't like shorts? Blame tech companies — and the pandemic Michael Halinski says he has never worn shorts or sandals to teach at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he's a professor in the school of business management and studies workplaces and organizational change. He's not a purist, though. He has worn T-shirts. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW He said there's been a shift in workplace dress over the past 20 years, propelled by three distinct influences. The first is the rise of tech companies. From the Steve Jobs turtleneck to the Mark Zuckerberg T-shirt, Silicon Valley has embraced a more relaxed dress code and has, in turn, pushed other industries to loosen theirs. The second, Halinski said, was the pandemic. Working from home inspired more relaxed attire and it became commonplace to see coworkers wearing T-shirts or sweaters on Zoom calls. There's even a term for the video call outfit: the mullet. Business on top, casual on the bottom. Business 'Comfort is king': Workers are returning to the office but formal wear isn't following suit Joshua Chong There's also been a shift in the treatment of employees. 'People were robots. You were not allowed to show any empathy, you were not allowed to show any emotion,' Halinski said. 'The acceptance of differences, diversity, emotions … perhaps has allowed for greater acceptance of different dress codes.' It depends on the workplace There are still many different approaches. Carol Ring, an Ottawa-based workplace culture consultant, has seen rules that run the gamut. There are authoritarian codes with strong language and threats of disciplinary action, 'almost like parents scolding children,' and there are more trusting policies. The policy at Ross Video, a Canadian live production company, works with the mantra of 'dress for the day,' Ring said. A day spent in your own cubicle allows for casual wear. A meeting with clients demands more professional attire. If you're presenting to the board, you probably want a suit and tie. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'They trust their employees,' said Ring, a former Rogers executive. 'They empower their employees to dress appropriately.' TD has changed its dress code to be more relaxed when an employee isn't meeting with a client, Halinski said. Shorts are probably still frowned upon. Shorts can give the impression of a workplace that is 'loose and carefree and casual,' said Tracy Richardson, a media image consultant and stylist. That's why it matters if your job will be public facing that day or not. '(If) a client comes in, what it says is, this is a casual environment,' Richardson said. 'It can come across as not having respect.' Ultimately, you should read the room before wearing shorts to work, advised Michael Jafine, the Toronto-based head designer of Ahiri, a womenswear label. How to decide whether to wear shorts … Richardson believes shorts shouldn't be worn at work. For Jafine, it depends on the circumstances, but ultimately, he advises caution. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'For the men reading this article who have no clue about fashion,' Jafine said, 'don't wear the shorts. Don't do it.' Fashion Are shorts OK at work? Should men wear sandals? Summer office dress codes, decoded Sarah Laing Ring offers a three-step decision process. First, check the dress code, if there is one. Next, consider if you can perform your job safely in shorts. Finally, consider having a conversation with your manager. 'Just say, 'I'm curious. Under what circumstances would it be acceptable for me to wear shorts?'' Halinski suggests a simple rule: 'Dress the way your boss dresses.' … and how to pull it off If you've decided to wear shorts, Richardson suggests a pair of chinos or linen shorts, sitting just above the knee for men or a little higher for women. Avoid loud colours, Jafine said. '(Stick) to more neutrals, dusted colours, grayed-out shades,' he said. 'Classic silhouettes, something with a little more of a tailored approach.' But for those looking for a clear answer on the shorts debate, you're out of luck. It doesn't appear to be headed to a resolution. 'Will there be a time when shorts are accepted? I don't know,' Halinski said. 'I think there's always going to be this tension.'
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Defence spending boost can only go so far to lessen U.S. reliance: experts
MONTREAL – In early 2002, Glenn Cowan touched down in Kandahar province as part of the first wave of regular Canadian Army troops deployed to Afghanistan, serving in a U.S.-led brigade combat team. After joining Canada's elite special operations unit Joint Task Force 2 in 2003, he spent the next 13 years collaborating with American soldiers on raids, rescues and reconnaissance missions. 'If you're going to get into a fight with someone, you want the Americans on your side,' said Cowan, founder of ONE9. His Ottawa-based venture capital firm focuses on national security investments. The same might be said of the gear Canadian troops use, and the industry behind it. An infusion of fresh defence funding is poised to flood parts of Canada's aerospace, manufacturing and information technology sectors in a bid to reduce reliance on the United States, but experts say this country will remain firmly fastened to its neighbour as a military-industrial partner by necessity. While not a military powerhouse, Canada has expertise in areas ranging from flight simulation and shipbuilding to armoured vehicles and artificial intelligence. The $9.3-billion in additional defence spending announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday is poised to boost those sectors, with the goal of greater procurement from domestic companies. 'We're too reliant on the United States,' Carney said. 'We will ensure that every dollar is invested wisely, including by prioritizing made-in-Canada manufacturing and supply chains. We should no longer send three-quarters of our defence capital spending to America.' But a massive cash injection means Canada will have to scale up fast, including via foreign suppliers, said Jim Kilpatrick, in charge of global supply chain and network operations at Deloitte. 'Defence supply chains can often go 10 or 11 tiers deep,' he said, stressing their complex international reach. 'Canada will not be self-sufficient in defence products required by our military.' The country's relatively small production capacity means it will continue to shell out money on American equipment, technology and aircraft, including 88 U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets at a cost of tens of billions of dollars, experts say. However, some of that spending will go to American military giants that have a big presence on Canadian soil, even if the profits end up in pockets south of the border. General Dynamics churns out light armoured vehicles bristelling with turreted mortars and assault guns in London, Ont., as well as tactical communications systems in Ottawa. Lockheed Martin works on 'advanced technology systems' such as naval command software in five provinces. Defence contractor Raytheon counts 8,500 employees and 2,500 suppliers in Canada. 'The wider Canadian economy features a lot of branch plants,' noted David Perry, CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. While high-tech weapons and machinery come to mind at the mention of defence procurement, much of the extra funding this year may well go to more mundane items. Housing and infrastructure upgrades for Canadian troops make up some of the biggest priorities for Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan, she told Quebec radio host Patrick Lagacé on Thursday. Perry also highlighted the ripple effects of that spending for myriad business types beyond the purely military realm. 'Some of it is done through the big stuff — we think about fighter jets. But a lot of it pays for office furniture, software licenses, electricity contracts, snow removal, grass cutting.' Taking a step back, Perry framed defence investment in terms the prime minister, formerly the head of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, could appreciate. 'If you think of our defence relationships as an investment portfolio, the PM is saying we're way over-indexed in the Dow Jones and the S&P,' he said. 'Diversify.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
