Neither the Manitoba government nor school boards want you to know this: in some schools, nearly 70% of students are absent by spring break—and no politician seems willing to confront it, talk about it, or listen to solutions. That’s the shocking reality exposed in Absent, a new documentary announced by Kent Dueck of Inter City Youth Alive on Inside Politics. Premiering October 1, the film shines a piercing light on a crisis long hidden behind political spin and buried statistics. Nine years in the making, Absent is more than just a film—it’s a warning. Dueck and community advocate Sel Burrows have been pressing this issue for almost a decade, only to watch task forces produce glossy reports while classrooms emptied out. Schools still collect full per-student funding, but teachers describe dwindling attendance, some calling their schools “ghost towns.” One administrator even said, “If we have 50% of our students attending by spring, we say that’s a success.” Behind those numbers are real children, futures slipping away. Dueck stresses the human cost: “You’re not just losing a student. You’re losing a human being.” He recalls the heartbreaking case of Tina Fontaine, reminding us that “we lost Tina first at school.” For too long, Manitoba has normalized educational failure, often dismissing or disguising the problem instead of addressing it. But Absent doesn’t just deliver grim statistics—it showcases solutions. Through Engage Education, Duick’s organization has tested new approaches, achieving a 73% success rate in re-engaging kids who had dropped out. Stories of students finding their way back to the classroom reveal what’s possible when communities act, even while governments stall. The October 1 premiere will be more than a screening—it will feature a panel discussion with educators, advocates, and a student who has lived through the struggle. It’s a chance for Manitobans to hear unfiltered truths that politicians have avoided for years, and to demand better. Tickets are on sale now at icya.ca, but they’re going fast. If you care about Manitoba’s future, this is not just a film to watch—it’s a conversation to join. Because every empty desk represents more than a number. It’s a life, and it’s time to stop pretending everything is fine. #cdnpoli #politicalnews #canada #mbpoli #manitoba #education

This week’s Inside Politics with Kevin Klein zeroes in on three fronts: the Nahanni Fontaine controversy and Premier Wab Kinew’s response, the national clash over the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, and fresh turmoil in Ottawa. Klein is joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop, Geoff Currier, and King’s Counsel lawyer Lawrence Pinsky. The panel opens with Fontaine’s recent apologies—first for reposting content about U.S. commentator Charlie Kirk, then for remarks about an ASL interpreter caught on a hot mic. The group weighs whether contrition is enough. Currier argues the pattern of behaviour should have consequences; Pinsky says accountability matters more than optics and that cabinet discipline now rests with the Premier. Koop notes the political reality: Kinew and Fontaine go back a long way, but the story keeps crowding out the government’s agenda. From there, the show moves to a bigger constitutional fight. Manitoba has joined arguments at the Supreme Court as part of the litigation orbiting Quebec’s Bill 21 and the future of the notwithstanding clause. Koop questions why Manitoba is spending resources to wade into another province’s law. Pinsky lays out the legal stakes, warning that Ottawa’s push to limit or stigmatize repeated use of the clause risks a national unity crisis. The panel agrees: you can dislike Bill 21 and still defend the constitutional balance that made the Charter possible. Federal politics gets a hard look. With cabinet resignations and realignment in Ottawa, the panel debates whether Mark Carney is “clearing the decks” or just trying to escape bruising files. Currier calls out grand announcements short on detail, pointing to the government’s modular housing pledge and asking basic questions about who builds, who pays, and what the return is for taxpayers. Koop says economic headwinds are worsening and could decide the next election more than any rebrand. On the Conservative side, the panel sees Pierre Poilievre as secure but challenged to broaden beyond a tax message and show readiness to govern. Pinsky says the work now is candidate recruitment and ground game ahead of an earlier-than-expected campaign window. The hour also tackles tone in public life. A clip from a U.S. city meeting—featuring a mayor telling a critic he’s “not welcome”—sparks a wider conversation about contempt for constituents, free speech, and basic decorum. The panel contrasts that with what Manitobans should expect from leaders: pluralism, accountability, and straight answers. It’s a brisk, pointed episode with sharp legal context, on-the-ground political reads, and a clear filter: what matters to Manitobans now. If you want clarity on the Fontaine file, the court fight that could reshape Canadian politics, and where Ottawa’s churn leaves your wallet, this is the one to watch. #charliekirk #cdnpoli #markcarney #politics #canadianpolitics #canadiannews #insidepolitics

This week’s Inside Politics doesn’t tiptoe. It starts where Manitoba’s leaders refuse to stand: the line between civil debate and celebrating political violence. On the program, I’m joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop, Professor of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba, and Lawrence Pinsky, K.C. Together, we take apart the most alarming story in Manitoba politics right now—Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine’s Instagram share expressing “no empathy” for Charlie Kirk after his assassination—and what Premier Wab Kinew must do about it. We broke the story at the Winnipeg Sun Friday morning. The episode walks viewers through the facts: a cabinet minister amplified a post dehumanizing a murdered 31-year-old husband and father. Fontaine later deleted the share and issued an apology. Our panel asks the only question that matters in a democracy that polices itself by standards, not slogans: Does a pattern of conduct disqualify someone from cabinet? Koop is blunt. A minister isn’t a keyboard warrior; a minister holds a leadership role that demands restraint and empathy. Saying you have “no empathy” for a murdered political opponent isn’t online snark—it’s a failure of judgment that corrodes public life. Pinsky goes further, calling the conduct “arrogant, cruel, and incompatible with the portfolio she leads,” and points to reports that the minister reshared someone else’s words, reinforcing that amplification is endorsement. Both analysts agree: this crosses a line, and the Premier’s next move will define his credibility. We also examine the broader climate. Days earlier in Winnipeg, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned that democratic arguments must never slide into ostracization, cancellation—and certainly not assassination. He’s right. Our conversation tracks how elite excuses and casual celebration of violence—from some academics to partisan corners—fuel a culture where political opponents are treated as enemies, not citizens. Viewers will see how this rhetoric migrates from timelines into lecture halls and newsrooms, and why leaders must shut it down, not shrug it off. Inside Politics also holds media to account. When coverage frames Kirk primarily as “polarizing” while overlooking the taking of a human life, that’s not context—that’s moral evasion. We call it out. And when a minister’s apology arrives only after public blowback, we test it against her record of inflammatory posts and prior controversies. Words are easy. Standards are hard. Cabinet should be the latter. Most importantly, we put the obligation where it belongs: on Premier Wab Kinew. He issued a decent statement condemning the murder. Now he must act in line with it. Keeping Fontaine in cabinet tells Manitobans that this behavior carries no consequence. Removing her says something different—that Manitoba still draws a bright line against political dehumanization. If you care about the health of our democracy, about your kids’ right to speak without fear, and about a government that holds itself to a higher bar than the angriest corner of the internet, you need to watch this episode. Hear the receipts, the analysis, and the stakes—laid out plainly. Watch Inside Politics with Kevin Klein now. Share it. Hold power to account. #charliekirk #canadianpolitics #democracy #NahanniFontaine #WabKinew

This week’s episode of Inside Politics with Kevin Klein dives deep into the state of Canada’s economy, energy policies, and growing concerns about crime. Kevin Klein is joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, King’s Counsel, and University of Manitoba professor Royce Koop, for a wide-ranging discussion that challenges both political leadership and public safety priorities. The panel begins with Mark Carney’s recent announcements, including the rollback of the federal electric vehicle mandate. While some viewed the move as a correction, Pinsky and Koop argue it raises more questions than answers. Carney, once celebrated as a steady hand during financial turbulence, is now facing criticism for flip-flopping on policies he once endorsed. As Pinsky noted, “He even waffles about waffling.” The conversation zeroes in on whether Canadians can trust a government that dismantles policies it championed only months before. Carney’s talk of reducing one tax while quietly floating new levies, such as a proposed 17-cent gas tax, is described as a hidden burden on households and businesses. Klein highlights that despite Carney’s promises, Canada lost 165,000 jobs in the last three months—a figure the panel says reflects a troubling trend of companies leaving for friendlier markets. From there, the discussion shifts to crime, where the panel argues that Canada’s bail system is failing citizens. Koop points out cases of violent repeat offenders, including children as young as 12, who are committing serious crimes while out on bail. “Youth crime is turning into a sleeper issue in this country,” Koop warns, stressing that Liberals have failed to amend the Criminal Code in a way that prioritizes community safety. Klein presses the question of judicial accountability, asking why judges and Crown attorneys aren’t held responsible when offenders reoffend. Pinsky explains that Liberal amendments to the law now emphasize release over safety, a change he describes as both dangerous and avoidable. The panel also highlights shocking recent crimes across Canada—an eight-year-old killed in his sleep, a three-year-old raped, and multiple cases of youth-involved violence—illustrating a disturbing pattern that goes beyond isolated incidents. “We’re not talking about thousands of young people,” Koop clarifies. “We’re talking about a relatively small group of repeat violent offenders. And yet, the system keeps releasing them.” The episode closes with a pointed exchange on anti-Semitism in Canadian politics. The panel discusses Liberal MP Anthony Housefather’s failed attempt to get his caucus to sign a letter condemning rising hate crimes against Jewish Canadians. Only 20% of Liberal MPs supported the statement, a fact that left Pinsky calling it “one of the most shameful incidents in modern Liberal policy history.” Koop adds that the Liberal Party has abandoned its tradition as a “big tent” organization, narrowing its voice and alienating long-time members. Klein doesn’t shy away from underscoring the stakes. From economic uncertainty to violent crime and a divided Parliament, he frames the conversation around a central question: is Canada’s leadership failing to provide stability when it’s needed most? The episode is a mix of sharp analysis, fact-based criticism, and unflinching commentary. It offers viewers not just a recap of headlines but a deeper look at the forces shaping Canada’s future. For anyone concerned about the economy, crime, or the country’s direction under Carney, this discussion is essential viewing.

This week’s panel pulled no punches. With columnist Geoff Currier away for the long weekend, Klein was joined by Winnipeg Sun columnist and attorney Lawrence Pinsky and political science professor Royce Koop. Together, they dissected a series of blows to Canada’s economy and unity: a plunging GDP, another round of carbon taxes, Canadian businesses shifting south, and rising hate speech going unchallenged. The episode began with Klein highlighting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s travel record. “Since March, Mark Carney has taken nine foreign trips, none of which resulted in a formal trade deal. Not one. And today we learn our GDP has plummeted, and Crown Royal is moving bottling to the United States.” Pinsky didn’t hesitate: “This is the continuation of disastrous policy. The Canadian economy was a healthy patient when Mr. Harper left it. Then Trudeau applied bad medicine, and Carney has doubled down. Every time the patient gets sicker, they give it more of the same bad medicine. Canadians should be very, very concerned.” Koop underlined the stakes: “The GDP numbers are frightening. This isn’t abstract. It will show up in Canadians’ daily lives. Cost of living, already the top concern, is about to get worse. And Crown Royal leaving? That’s a symbol of decline everyone can understand. Carney has to wear this.” The panel then turned to Carney’s climate policy. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre recently warned that Carney’s so-called “Clean Fuel Standard” is just Carbon Tax 2.0. “It will add 17 cents a litre to your gas,” Poilievre said in a clip played during the show. “The new tax looks exactly like the old tax.” Klein pressed the point: “He never ended the carbon tax. He paused it—long enough to win the election. Now Canadians are stuck with 17 more cents a litre, and that will ripple through everything we buy.” Pinsky agreed: “This isn’t just about policy, it’s about people. The working poor will be hit hardest. Gas prices go up, food prices go up, and the cost of everything transported goes up. Canadians need to wake up—credentials on a résumé mean nothing when families can’t afford steaks for dinner.” Koop noted the political fallout: “Carney’s honeymoon is over. An Abacus poll shows Conservatives are now more popular than Liberals for the first time since the election. Economic pain is driving that.” The discussion expanded to Canada’s social climate, where threats and anti-Semitism have escalated. Klein read aloud a post from a decorated Canadian business leader suggesting supporters of Israel lack “Canadian values.” Pinsky’s response was sharp: “That’s a threat, plain and simple. The Order of Canada should be stripped from him. Our leaders are failing to confront this hate, just as they failed at Folklorama when Jewish kids were targeted. Politicians are silent, police are told not to enforce laws, and that silence is dangerous.” Klein tied it back to the Prime Minister: “Canadians are facing chaos—in our economy, in our streets, and in our politics. And Carney’s government isn’t leading, it’s hiding. Nine foreign trips, no trade deals, and now Canadians pay more while business leaves the country.” This week’s Inside Politics made one thing clear: the debate over Canada’s future is heating up, and Carney’s leadership is under fire from every angle.

This week’s edition of Inside Politics featured sharp debate and blunt truths as Kevin Klein was joined by Sun columnist and broadcaster Jeff Currier, political science professor and columnist Royce Koop, and new columnist Lawrence Pinsky, a King’s Counsel lawyer and former human rights adjudicator. Together, they tore into some of the most pressing issues facing Canadians: money fleeing the country, dangerous hate at Winnipeg’s Folklorama, and a justice system many believe no longer protects law-abiding citizens. The show opened with Klein pointing to a staggering investment flight. “$8.3 billion left this country in June, and $14 billion in May. What does that say about Carney’s Canada?” he asked. Pinsky didn’t mince words: “We have a bankrupt medical system. We have roads that don’t work, hospitals that don’t work, transportation systems, education that doesn’t work. People who have the ability to leave are leaving—and they’re taking their capital with them. There is a huge crisis and brain drain that is not being reported on. It’s really a disaster going on in Canada on many fronts, and we all need to wake up before it’s too late.” Inside Politics: Billions Flee Canada, Hate on Our Streets, and Carney’s Canada Currier drove the point home with a biting analogy. “In the old communist Soviet Union, people got to keep 50% of their income. Here in Canada, the wealthy are losing more than 50% in taxes. And what do we do? We resent them. It’s like the Canadian lobster story—every time one lobster tries to climb out of the barrel, the others pull it back down. That’s Canada today.” But it wasn’t just economics on the table. The panel turned to shocking events at Winnipeg’s Folklorama, where the Israel Pavilion was targeted by protestors blasting gunshot sounds, screaming threats, and hurling slurs at children. “It was unbelievable,” Pinsky said. “People were yelling sexualized slurs at little girls. Others shouted, ‘Hamas is coming for you.’ This wasn’t a protest—it was harassment, unlawful assembly, mischief, and a hate crime. And yet police stood by. If this had happened outside a mosque or the Rainbow Resource Centre, politicians and police would have acted immediately. Why is the standard different for Jews?” Currier echoed the alarm. “We have a country, but do we still have a nation? What binds us together anymore? We’ve become so increasingly tribal that we no longer have a cultural mosaic—we have a fractured society.” Klein was blunt on what he sees as political cowardice: “Mayor Gillingham won’t talk about it. Premier Kinew won’t talk about it. Politicians would rather stay quiet than take a stand. That silence is more dangerous than taking a side.” The discussion then shifted to crime and self-defence after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made headlines with a viral line: “If you don’t want to get shot or beaten up, don’t break into people’s houses.” “That’s the quote of the decade,” Klein said. “It’s common sense. Yet in Carney’s Canada, criminals are coddled while law-abiding Canadians lose faith in the justice system.” Pinsky explained the legal complexity of self-defence cases but agreed that the law doesn’t reflect real life. Currier was more direct: “If somebody breaks into my house, one of us is going down. The word ‘proportional’ should be removed from the law. It’s theoretical nonsense. In the real world, you protect your family by any means.” The show also touched on Mark Carney’s retreat on tariffs with the U.S., Air Canada’s strike fiasco, and what the panel described as a government addicted to self-inflicted wounds. Koop summed it up: “We’re 100 days into this government, and I can’t name one win. Carney ran as the adult in the room, the great negotiator. Instead, it’s been own-goal after own-goal.” Klein closed the show with a stark warning: “There’s an existential crisis in Canada. On the economy, on immigration, on hate in our streets, on crime—the leadership failures are piling up. And Canadians are paying the price.” This week’s Inside Politics isn’t just another panel discussion. It’s a wake-up call. Watch the full episode at winnipegsun.com to hear the sharpest political talk you won’t find anywhere else.

This week’s Inside Politics with Kevin Klein takes on some of the most contentious issues facing Canada, and it’s anything but a polite conversation. Joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Geoff Currier and Royce Koop, Klein leads a fast-moving discussion that jumps from trade disputes to court rulings with massive national implications. China hits Canada with a tariff on Canola, Carney avoids the subject entirely, Klein, Currier, and Koop question how long Ottawa can ignore the problem. Manitoba farmers and other producers could take a serious hit, they warn, and Carney’s reputation as a skilled negotiator is taking a beating. The panel also points out Canada’s own role in escalating trade tensions, including a staggering 1,000% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles that, they note, makes little sense when the federal government is pushing an EV mandate. From there, the conversation shifts to what Klein calls “a Canada I no longer recognize.” A Supreme Court ruling has allowed judges to hand lighter sentences to non-citizens in order to avoid triggering automatic deportation even in serious cases like sexual offences. Koop outlines how this stems from a 2013 precedent, while Currier raises the broader question: Is it Parliament or the courts that make Canada’s laws? All three agree that a proposed Conservative private member’s bill to end the practice will face resistance in Ottawa. The panel also tackles a British Columbia Supreme Court decision granting Indigenous title over parkland in Richmond, a ruling with the potential to unsettle property rights across Canada if upheld. Klein warns it could open the door to claims on high-profile sites like Winnipeg’s The Forks, creating uncertainty that could scare off investors. Currier and Koop highlight how British Columbia’s unique lack of treaties sets it apart, but agree the decision raises tough questions about land ownership, taxation, and federal leadership. Along the way, the discussion touches on the end of non-binary gender options for Nexus cards, the dangers of political cowardice, and what happens when governments keep citizens dependent through handouts. If you want unfiltered talk on the issues other outlets shy away from — trade wars, judicial activism, immigration law, and who really controls Canada’s land, this episode of Inside Politics with Kevin Klein doesn’t hold back.

Protesters burn our flag and media downplay Israeli hostages, even as violence targets Jewish families here at home. Another weekend in Canada, another round of anti-Israel protests. Same slogans. Same signs. Same blind rage directed at Israel—and, increasingly, at Canada. One video circulating online shows a woman in a niqab, a guest in this country, standing in front of Palestinian flags with a megaphone, telling a cheering crowd how much she despises Canada. She calls Canadians “colonizers,” linking us to Israel, accusing both of being part of “the same project, same ideology, same crime.” She says she has no faith in our Parliament, no faith in our press conferences, and puts her hope in “the resistance” from Turtle Island to Palestine. Read the entire story at www.winnipegsun.com