This Week’s Rant 📣

Second Chances: How Compassion Pays Off for Canada

Arielle Kayabaga was born in Burundi, a country torn apart by ethnic violence and civil war. When she was 11, her family was forced to flee. They arrived in Canada as refugees, with no money, no connections, and barely speaking the language.

Luckily for Arielle and her family, Canada sees refugees as human beings, not political liabilities.

Arielle learned English in less than a year, growing up in social housing in Montreal, then later, London Ontario. And after seeing the struggles of marginalized communities, she decided to do something about it. She put herself through Carleton University, studying political science. She worked with other newcomers.

And then, at just 27 years old, she became the first Black woman ever elected to London City Council. Three years later? She ran for Parliament and won.

Some leaders build walls. Others build policies that push people to the margins.

But how many more future leaders are out there, arriving in Canada today, full of potential but lacking the opportunity? How many brilliant minds have we overlooked because the lesser-minded among us, and politicians looking to score cheap points with their base, wrote them off.

Arielle Kayabaga’s story isn’t about one woman breaking barriers. It’s about what’s possible when we stop seeing refugees as burdens and start seeing them as neighbours, employers, teachers, and leaders.

This week, Arielle Kayabaga was sworn in as Government House Leader in the Canadian parliament.

She is now responsible for steering the government’s agenda during a time of immense chaos. She’s 34.

From refugee to cabinet minister in just two decades.

That’s not a fairy tale. That’s just Canada: A country that doesn’t just believe in second chances, it benefits from them.

The News You Missed 📰

Dumb-Ass Trade War 🦫

• A Sword, a Tree, and a Shrug?
  A maple tree and a sword may seem like cold comfort for Canadians hoping to hear King Charles defend them against annexaction threats. Royal watchers say the King is showing support for Canada the only way he can.

• Rage Against the Tariffs
  In Halifax, patrons of a “rage room” have been lining up to take part in the “Smash The Tariffs” event. Every patron gets a free Trump picture to destroy… er, at will. Photos of VP Vance and Tesla edgelord Elon Musk cost an extra $5.

• Stars & Stripped
  Mississauga is removing all American flags from several public locations “at the request of many,” the mayor said. (She said it on X, unfortunately, but… old habits I guess.)

• Got Lies?
  The truth about the “250% Canadian tariffs on daily” — spoiler alert: Trump’s lying.

Buying Canadian 🛒

• Scooping Up the Costs
  The family behind one of Canada’s most well-known ice cream brands says they’re absorbing “all immediate increases in our costs.”

Business & Politics 📊

• Bay Days Numbered
  Hudson's Bay says unless it can restructure its business fast, it will start liquidating the entire business... as soon as next week! They're seriously in debt — almost $1 billion dollars. The downfall started after with an American private equity firm bought HBC (I know, shocker) and got obsessed over the real estate instead of the retail business.

• Buy Canadian, Hire American?
  Facing Trump's new tariffs and talk of annexation, Canadian provinces are hiring [checks notes] American lobbyists?! Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Quebec are known to have done this. I guess “Shop Canadian” isn’t a thing with lobbying?

• PTO, ASAP
  With an election looming, is your boss giving you your legally mandated paid time off to vote? Find out what the rules are.

Science Still Matters 🧪

• Panels for Planet
  Scientists explored the impact of covering every rooftop on Earth with solar panels. They found that swapping traditional energy sources for rooftop solar could cool the planet.

• Chasing Daylight
  As provinces consider getting rid of time changes, a new CBC tool shows Canadians how sunrises and sunsets would change in their community.

• The Covid That Won’t Go
  Great piece with Canadian context on the lasting impact of COVID-19.

Justice is Not Dead ⚖️

• Progress, Not Perfection
  First Nations people who were removed from their homes on and placed in care funded by Indigenous Services Canada can now apply for compensation. Caregiving parents and grandparents are also eligible.

There’s Still Good in the World 🙂

• Loads of Hope
  A laundry program in Regina is giving the city's most vulnerable people and families access to clean clothing. Operation Fresh Start is part of a project from a Regina community organization to provide free laundry services.

• Bloodlines Rewoven
  After being separated during the Sixties Scoop, three family members have reunited. They connected through a DNA kit and discovered they shared a birth father. They are planning a trip to Manitoba in 2026.

The Other Stuff

Canadian Trivia 🎲

In Case You Missed It 📺

Canadian Stocks 📈

Let’s Be Friends!

I only post some of my content on the channels below, and I do not read comments or DMs: Facebook • Instagram • Threads • LinkedIn • Mastodon • TikTok • X/Twitter