C.D. Howe: Better Evidence, Better Spending: A Call for Stronger Federal Program Evaluation

2026/08/07 Leave a comment

Hard not to agree with most of their recommendations:

…Drawing on presentations and discussions from the C.D. Howe Institute’s 2026 Workshop on Strengthening the Federal Evaluation Function, the report recommends making value for money assessments a mandatory part of federal program evaluations, based on rigorous benefit-cost and cost-effectiveness analysis where appropriate. It also proposes creating an independent evaluator general to help departments build evaluation capacity and improve the consistency and quality of federal evaluations. 

“Governments shouldn’t simply ask whether a program achieves its objectives. They also need to know whether it delivers enough public benefit to justify the resources devoted to it,” says Robidoux, former Senior Associate Deputy Minister at Employment and Social Development Canada. “When fiscal pressures intensify, stronger value for money evaluations give decision-makers better evidence to determine where each additional taxpayer dollar can have the greatest impact.”

The report also recommends expanding the evaluation framework to include spending delivered through the tax system, incorporating a value for money test earlier in the approval process for new programs, making greater use of linked administrative data, and replacing the rigid five-year evaluation cycle with a more flexible approach when programs have already been thoroughly assessed and remain largely unchanged. 

“Too often, federal evaluations focus on how program participants are impacted – without identifying the program’s contribution to these outcomes – rather than on whether programs provide value for money when all benefits and costs are accounted for,” says Lester, Fellow-in-Residence, C.D. Howe Institute. “Policymakers also need to know whether a program delivers enough value to justify the tax dollars required to fund it. Stronger evidence will help them make better spending decisions.”

Ottawa describes its overall expenditure management system as “designed to ensure that all programs are focused on results, provide value for taxpayers’ money and are aligned with the government’s priorities and responsibilities.” 

Making value for money evaluations of programs mandatory while allowing time to build capacity, appointing an evaluator general, and broadening the scope of the evaluation policy would be big steps toward making this worthy goal a reality, conclude the authors….

Source: Better Evidence, Better Spending: A Call for Stronger Federal Program Evaluation

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Classified report reveals how India’s Bishnoi gang uses Canada’s student visa program

2026/08/07 Leave a comment

Another example of policy failure:

…A classified intelligence report obtained by Global News reveals the Bishnoi gang’s Canadian franchise has relied heavily on Indian youths who, like Brar, entered the country on student visas.

Written by the Canada Border Services Agency, the report cites the gang’s “growing operational presence in Canada” and “demonstrated use of Canada’s immigration programs for criminal purposes.”

“Investigations increasingly identify Indian foreign nationals on study permits and work permits as participants in these organized criminal activities,” the CBSA’s Intelligence and Investigations Directorate wrote.

“The sustained expansion of Bishnoi-linked extortions and the involvement of student permit and work permit holders raises significant concerns for CBSA operations.”

The “Tactical Guide,” titled “The Bishnoi Gang: An Emerging Threat in Canada,” was circulated in December 2025 to help immigration officers tackle the crime group as it preyed upon the country’s South Asian communities.

Although classified, a copy made public by the court shows how the government’s controversial foreign student program may have contributed to Canada’s Indian gang problem….

Source: EXCLUSIVE: Classified report reveals how India’s Bishnoi gang uses Canada’s student visa program

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Globe editorial: Thoughts and prayers, Canadian style

2026/08/07 2 Comments

Valid critique. Time to stop using “thoughts and prayers” language with any such incident, no matter the issue or group:

…So how to turn back this growing tide of hatred? As we have argued before, that effort has to begin with understanding, and speaking, the truth: Antizionism is fuelling the rise in antisemitism. The rejection of Israel, of its very right to exist, has become the growth medium for the contagion of antisemitism. The test of courage for any political leader is whether they are willing to speak this truth. Prime Minister Mark Carney failed that test in June, even as he tried to provide comfort to the Jewish-Canadian community.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has failed even more spectacularly. In fairness, Ms. Chow has spoken out against anti-Israel protests being staged in the heart of the Jewish-Canadian neighbourhood near Bathurst and Sheppard in north Toronto. And, of course, she has offered her thoughts and prayers, Canadian style, in condemnation of incidents such as the attack on Kiva’s.

But Ms. Chow has, through her actions, shown where her sympathies lie. The mayor refused to attend a flag-raising ceremony for Israel’s national day in May, 2024, saying such an event was “divisive.” She also declined to take part in the annual Walk for Israel in June of this year.

Yet, the mayor had no problem with blurting out “Free Palestine” – the rallying slogan of those antizionist rallies – during the Pride Parade in late June. 

The mayor’s office did not respond when asked last week why the flag-raising event was divisive, but reciting the Free Palestine slogan is not a problem. Ms. Chow owes Torontonians, particularly Jewish Torontonians, an explanation.

Does she, for instance, support the right of Israel to exist? Or is she in line with the hate-infused catechism (recited most weeks near Bathurst and Sheppard) that deems Israel a pariah state?

Until she does clarify, her thoughts and prayers will ring hollow.

Source: Thoughts and prayers, Canadian style

Filed under Antisemitism, Multiculturalism Tagged with , , ,

Rempel Garner: Integration must be immigration’s first principle.

2026/08/07 Leave a comment

Always interesting to see how the Conservatives are engaging on immigration and citizenship. Needless to say, they favour the citizenship guide which has remained unchanged since the Harper years (5 Liberal immigration ministers and counting):

…The Liberals’ lowering of language knowledge standards signalled that a common language is not necessary for national unity or to fully participate in Canadian society. The Liberals’ prioritization of business groups that profit from large numbers of low-skilled temporary foreign workers signals that it’s okay for Canada to develop a caste system of labour. Their tolerance of violent foreign ideology has led to increases in acts of hate perpetrated on Canadian soil, particularly towards the Jewish community. Their abysmal screening processes have allowed agents of terrorist regimes to enter Canada and normalize and spread violent foreign ideology and gang activity within Canada’s borders. The Liberals’ recent Bill C-3, which allows Canadian citizenship to be passed down ad infinitum to people with no significant connection to Canada, erodes the value of Canadian citizenship. Their attempt to erase Canada’s national symbols says there was no national identity for newcomers to integrate into to begin with. And their decision to bring in too many people too quickly for jobs, housing, healthcare and other social supports to keep pace has led to scarcity and its negative competitive consequences.

But the most damaging part of a decade of Liberal destruction of the true first principle of Canada’s immigration system is the impact on people who came to Canada and upheld their end of the deal. These folks comprise the vast, overwhelming majority of immigrants to our country. When the Liberals allow others to get away with breaking the rules, they risk entire communities getting tarred with the same brush.

This is why Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent false claim that “they have taken back control of immigration” is so dangerous. The lived experience of many Canadians says otherwise. On any given morning there is another major story of the system failing (today was no different). 

And integration metrics still do not drive immigration policy.

The good news is that this state of affairs is reversible, which is why Canada’s Conservatives have spent the past year proposing major legislative and policy changes. Rules must be enforced, and the safeguards that once ensured Canada’s immigration system prioritized building the Canadian people and our national identity must be restored. Expect more to come in the fall.

Immigration policy that forgets its first duty – to build and strengthen the Canadian people – will eventually unmake the country it claims to serve.

That cannot be allowed to come to pass.

Source: Integration must be immigration’s first principle.

Filed under Citizenship, Immigration Tagged with ,

Under Hegseth, Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Plunged This Year

2026/08/07 Leave a comment

Not surprising and not justified:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s blocking of promotions for high-ranking women in the military has contributed to the lowest percentage of such nominations for women in at least 25 years, according to a New York Times analysis.

Eight of 201 candidates for high-ranking posts this year have been women, or 4 percent — less than half the average percentage of the past 10 years.

More women could still be promoted this year. And the number of women nominated for promotion in any year is relatively small, so the percentages can fluctuate based on a few individual officers. In 2012, for example, the percentage of high-ranking nominations going to women also fell below 5 percent.

But the proportion of female nominees would be higher in 2026 if not for Mr. Hegseth’s actions. He has blocked at least 40 high-ranking promotions from reaching the Senate in recent months — some for white men, but about half for women and people of color, The Times has reported….

Source: Under Hegseth, Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Plunged This Year

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The U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reaches New Levels and Diversifies, MPI Estimates Show

2026/08/04 Leave a comment

More interesting analysis by MPI:

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) today released its latest estimates of the size of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States, pegging the number at 15.8 million in mid-2024, after hovering in the 11 million range throughout the decade beginning in 2010. 

The increase is primarily driven by record unauthorized arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border and the Biden administration’s wide use of humanitarian parole programs to reduce chaos at the border. As a result of these grants of parole and other Biden administration moves, MPI estimates that, as of mid-2024, a maximum of 40 percent of unauthorized immigrants in the United States held a liminal (or “twilight”) status providing them temporary protection from deportation, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), humanitarian parole or pending asylum application. 

The MPI estimates, developed in concert with Jennifer Van Hook, a demographer at The Pennsylvania State University’s Population Research Institute, derive from a residual method that subtracts estimates of the legally resident foreign born from the total immigrant population recorded in the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). The most recent ACS is for 2024. 

The estimates reflect the growing diversification of the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population, due to the widening array of nationalities arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past several years from within and beyond this hemisphere. The Mexican share of the unauthorized immigrant population was 35 percent as of 2024—a sharp decline from the 62 percent share in 2010 and 49 percent in 2019. …

Source: The U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reaches New Levels and Diversifies, MPI Estimates Show

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Why hundreds of international students are suddenly being denied Canadian work permits: ‘We have done nothing wrong’

2026/08/04 Leave a comment

Necessary correction and a reminder that governments and stakeholders need to be more mindful of raising expectations and avoid creating situations that require reversals or tightening:

…Government says update was to ‘clarify’ criteria 

In 2024, Ottawa made drastic changes to the international student program amid a public backlash against the soaring temporary resident population, in part by restricting access to the coveted postgraduation work permits. 

International graduates must meet new language proficiency requirements and those completing public college diploma programs will only be eligible for postgraduation work permits if their field of study is linked to labour market shortages in Canada.

According to data obtained recently by Vancouver immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens, the approval rate for postgraduate work permits has dropped by 8 percentage points from 87 per cent in 2023 to 79 per cent as of November 2025.

The Immigration Department said there have been no changes to the eligibility criteria for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) program, and the website was updated just to “clarify” the existing rules involving non-credit programs.

“To be eligible for a PGWP, applicants must complete a program of study that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate from a designated learning institution,” it explained in an email. “This long-standing requirement does not include general interest programs, ESL/FSL programs, and other types of non-credit programs.”

The department said it does not track data specific to non-credit study programs and therefore couldn’t provide the number of postgraduation work permit refusals based on this ground.

Source: Why hundreds of international students are suddenly being denied Canadian work permits: ‘We have done nothing wrong’

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ICYMI – Geoff Russ: Multiculturalism is a terrible reason to drop hockey for soccer

2026/08/04 Leave a comment

Culture wars come to sport?

…Despite the disappointing finish at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Canada is still the world’s premier hockey nation, but we can only remain so if the country remains committed to it being our national winter sport.

The glorious past of hockey, and the ice it is played upon in winter lets Canadians recognize each other and their forebears in a way that soccer could never. So goes that, and so goes a pastime that connects today’s youth players to those at Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink in 1877. If any sport has earned the lion’s share of a $1 billion investment, it is not soccer.

Revitalizing Canada’s winter pastime, which creates common ground and connection between a logging town on Vancouver Island to the ramparts of Quebec City, should be a national priority, as is maintaining our international supremacy in the sport, so shaken at the present time.

This is Canada, and we Canadians play hockey. There are many who evidently prefer that we didn’t. When they rear their ugly heads, what they deserve is a stiff, verbal check into the boards, every single time.

Source: Geoff Russ: Multiculturalism is a terrible reason to drop hockey for soccer

Filed under Multiculturalism Tagged with ,

ICYMI: Trump Immigration Policies Make It Harder To Get And Keep Citizenship

2026/08/03 Leave a comment

Of note:

The Trump administration is implementing policies to make U.S. citizenship harder to acquire and easier to revoke. The Department of Justice has prioritized denaturalization, aiming for 100-200 cases monthly, a major increase. USCIS has made the civics test more difficult, proposed significant fee hikes up to 80% and eliminated hardship waivers. Naturalization denial rates have more than doubled, and application processing has plummeted by 75%, leading to a growing backlog despite fewer applications. Critics argue these measures are designed to discourage naturalization and restrict immigration.

Source: Trump Immigration Policies Make It Harder To Get And Keep Citizenship

Filed under Citizenship, Trump administration

ICYMI – Bouie: Why Do We Tolerate Elon Musk’s Racist Commentary?

2026/08/03 Leave a comment

Indeed:

…As Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff show in their book “Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed,” an important part of Musk’s vision is to see the world as a compound, where “the horizons of humankind” are shrunk “into the defense of white fertility.” This in turn is tied to a larger effort to liberate humanity from the “woke mind virus” that Musk sees as a self-destructive tendency responsible for the “empathy” that has led Western nations to open their societies to others.

This too is little more than a restatement of themes and ideas found in “The Turner Diaries,” where the titular character believes that whites have been corrupted by a “Jewish-liberal-democratic-egalitarian plague.” Slobodian and Tarnoff observe that these views are also downstream of Musk’s upbringing in South Africa, where apartheid leaders fretted over birthrates and the future of white society.

Musk’s virulent racism and vicious, disturbing views are no secret. He does not hide them. They sit in plain view, easily accessible on the social media website he owns, where he does everything he can to promote similarly far-right and white supremacist ideas.

If there is a question to ask, then, it is this: Why does Musk get a pass? Why do politicians, journalists and commentators treat his far-right racist radicalism as a sideshow rather than the core of his political, ideological and industrial project, seen in everything from his deep support for Donald Trump in the United States and Restore Britain in Britain to his decision to construct a massive pollution-generating data center in predominantly Black Memphis?

Musk spends a large part of his free time fomenting violence and spreading the same hateful ideology that motivated some of the deadliest shootings and attacks ever to happen on American soil. It is that fact, and not the cars he builds or the rockets he launches, that ought to define his place in public life.

Source: Why Do We Tolerate Elon Musk’s Racist Commentary?

Filed under Multiculturalism, Racism Tagged with ,

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