Tutorial #2

Which Liberal Leadership contenders have momentum? | Power play with Mike Le Coureur – CTVNEWS

-              The liberal leadership race features six contenders, including Haime Batist, Frank Bis, Mark Carney, Ruby Dala, Chrisa Freeland, and Karina Gould. Notably absent from the list is Chandra Arya, who was informed by the Liberal Party that he will not be permitted to enter the leadership race. The party's director of communications stated that Arya would not be a candidate for leader due to being deemed manifestly unfit for the office.

-              The leadership contest is shaping up to be a three-way race, with Mark Carney emerging as a party favorite. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of clarity on the disqualification of Arya and the policy planks of the candidates. The discussion focuses on the need for more scrutiny and transparency from the candidates in the Liberal Party leadership race.

-              There is concern about the lack of clarity on the policies and plans of the candidates, especially in the context of the upcoming election. The format of the leadership race is seen as limiting the ability of the candidates to connect with the broader Canadian public and face media scrutiny. The main focus for the candidates at this stage is to secure supporters and get them signed up for the party.

-              There is also criticism of the lack of accountability for some candidates, particularly Mark Carney, who has never sat in Parliament. The discussion is about Mark Carney potentially becoming the Prime Minister and the need for him to articulate his vision and stance on various issues. There is also concern about whether the public will be able to move on from Justin Trudeau's time in office and whether the chosen candidate can differentiate themselves from Trudeau's government.

Ontario Colleges face job cuts amid international student cap | CBC News

Impact on Ontario Colleges & Universities:

-              Federal cap on international student permits has led to financial struggles, including deficits, layoffs, and campus closures.

-              Some schools face significant drops in international student enrolment, such as St. Lawrence College (50% decrease) and Algonquin College ($32M revenue loss).

Job Cuts & Layoffs:

-              St. Lawrence College has eliminated 30 positions, with more cuts possible.

-              Mohawk College and Seneca Polytechnic are also planning layoffs and temporary campus closures.

-              Carleton University faces a $26M deficit, projecting higher due to international student declines.

Financial Impact:

-              International students contribute significantly to Canada's economy ($31 billion in 2022).

-              Ontario universities are facing a projected $300M loss this year, which could double next year.

-              Revenue risks include the potential $2 billion loss as enrolment drops by 54%.

Policy Changes:

-              Federal government limiting international student permits and post-graduation work permits, especially in non-labour shortage areas.

-              These changes have sparked concerns about layoffs, program cuts, and reduced services for students.

Institutional Responses:

-              Schools like Algonquin and the University of Windsor are considering layoffs, hiring freezes, and program cuts.

-              Colleges and universities are tasked with reducing corporate expenses and reviewing hiring decisions.

Government’s Stance:

-              Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) argues that the measures are needed to ensure manageable growth and adequate support for foreign students.

-              Provincial funding has increased, with $1.3 billion announced to stabilize the sector, but universities and colleges face ongoing challenges.

Calls for Support:

-              Ontario university leaders urge for more operating grants and lifting of funding caps for domestic students.

-              Concern that these financial challenges could harm the province’s talent pool and economic growth.

Intelligence chief warns Canadians that China can use TikTok to spy on them

TikTok’s Data Concerns:

-              Canadian intelligence officials, including CSIS director Vigneault, have raised concerns about TikTok's potential links to the Chinese government and its risks to Canadian user data security.

China’s Influence:

-               Byte Dance, TikTok’s parent company, is accused of aiding China’s repressive actions, particularly against the Uyghur minority and in Hong Kong. Critics worry TikTok’s content algorithms may spread misinformation or suppress dissent.

TikTok’s Response:

-              TikTok denies sharing user data with the Chinese government and insists that its servers are outside of China, complying with Canadian privacy laws.

U.S. Action:

-       The U.S. has mandated ByteDance sell TikTok within a year or face a ban. Both ByteDance and content creators have filed lawsuits in response.

Canadian Government Review:

-       Canada is conducting a national security review of TikTok. While no immediate ban has been recommended, the government has already banned TikTok on government devices.

Prime Minister's Position:

-       Trudeau supports CSIS’s concerns, emphasizing the need to ensure TikTok usage is safe for Canadians, particularly younger users, and is waiting to see how TikTok responds to the U.S. bill.

Cybersecurity Official’s Warning:

-       Sami Khoury of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security urged Canadians to be cautious about apps that gather extensive personal data, raising concerns about potential misuse and the risk of sensitive data being shared with unauthorized parties.

TikTok’s Denial:

-       TikTok spokesperson Danielle Morgan dismissed CSIS’s claims as unsupported by evidence.