Refugee/Migrant Crisis
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Nova Scotia teen's bail conditions include ban on associating with terrorists
16-year-old boy placed on house arrest, prohibited from using internet, possessing weapons or explosives
Author of the article:Steve Bruce
Published Jul 16, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
A 16-year-old Bridgewater boy accused of plotting attacks at two schools was released from custody by a youth court judge on strict conditions, including house arrest and a ban on using the internet, possessing weapons or explosives and associating with terrorists.
A 16-year-old Bridgewater boy accused of plotting attacks at two schools was released from custody by a youth court judge on strict conditions, including house arrest and a ban on using the internet, possessing weapons or explosives and associating with terrorists. Photo by File photo
A Bridgewater teen’s release conditions on charges of plotting attacks at two high schools include house arrest and a ban on using the internet, possessing weapons or explosives and associating with terrorists.
The 16-year-old boy was granted bail Tuesday in Bridgewater youth court after spending nearly four months on remand at the Nova Scotia Youth Facility in Waterville.
The teen, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was released by Judge Catherine Benton on a bail order secured by $500 pledges by two “responsible adults”: his mother and an older male relative.
The boy must reside with his parent and can only leave the residence when accompanied by her or the other surety or an adult approved by them, or for a number of exceptions, including education programs or activities, legal commitments and medical emergencies or appointments.
He is also permitted to attend counselling sessions, meetings of the South Shore Community Justice Society and leisure activities approved by one of his sureties.
The order requires the teen to remain in Nova Scotia, surrender any passport or travel documents to Bridgewater police, report to police by phone every Friday, and have no contact with a Manitoba boy with whom he is accused of conspiring to commit murder.
Police allege the pair were planning simultaneous attacks at schools in both provinces.
The Nova Scotia teen was arrested March 17, when Bridgewater police searched his home and allegedly seized detailed handwritten plans, imitation weapons, including a roughly made pipe bomb and assault rifle, electronic devices, including a cellphone and a laptop, and articles of clothing with hate symbols and concerning comments on them.
Besides murder conspiracy, he was charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm to students at Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater.
Last month, police laid an additional charge of counselling the Manitoba boy to commit murder.
Bridgewater police announced the arrest March 18, saying Interpol and the FBI had contacted them March 13 about online conversation between two Canadian youths that began in February. In their communication, the pair allegedly discussed “their desire to mount a violent attack on students at Park View Education Centre,” police said.
The police news release said that “while the attack was not believed to be imminent, it was clear that they had committed some thought and planning to the idea.”
On March 16, RCMP in Manitoba arrested a 14-year-old boy who had allegedly been talking to the Bridgewater teen about a plan to carry out an attack at Rivers Collegiate Institute in Rivers, northwest of Brandon.
The Bridgewater teen is banned from using the internet or possessing a computer, cellphone, pager or any other device capable of connecting to the internet, except for an electronic monitoring device.
He is specifically prohibited from being on any social media or communication platform — including, but not limited to, Discord, Roblox, X, Ko-fi, YouTube, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook — and from accessing or possessing any material related to school shooters, “other perpetrators of mass violence” and true crime and from viewing any material published by a terrorist group as defined in the Criminal Code.
He’s also not allowed to possess any objects, literature or documents bearing the logo of a terrorist group and cannot associate or communicate with anyone with a criminal record or anyone who participates in a terrorist group or “aids, abets, counsels or threatens terrorist activity.”
The boy is not to have or consume alcohol or drugs or possess a gun, imitation firearm, crossbow, axe, restricted weapon, prohibited device or ammunition, as well as any explosive substance “or precursor thereof.”
He can’t have a knife or cutting tool or instrument while outside his residence and is banned from accessing or possessing any information that explains how to make or use an explosive or a firearm.
The release order was worked out by provincial Crown attorney Shauna MacDonald and defence lawyers Shawnee Gregory and Claire Levasseur.
The judge did not read the bail conditions into the record in the interest of time. She was assured by the defence that the youth was willing to comply with the terms and that his adult supervisors were aware of their responsibilities.
The case will return to youth court Sept. 2.
torontosun.com
16-year-old boy placed on house arrest, prohibited from using internet, possessing weapons or explosives
Author of the article:Steve Bruce
Published Jul 16, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
A 16-year-old Bridgewater boy accused of plotting attacks at two schools was released from custody by a youth court judge on strict conditions, including house arrest and a ban on using the internet, possessing weapons or explosives and associating with terrorists.
A 16-year-old Bridgewater boy accused of plotting attacks at two schools was released from custody by a youth court judge on strict conditions, including house arrest and a ban on using the internet, possessing weapons or explosives and associating with terrorists. Photo by File photo
A Bridgewater teen’s release conditions on charges of plotting attacks at two high schools include house arrest and a ban on using the internet, possessing weapons or explosives and associating with terrorists.
The 16-year-old boy was granted bail Tuesday in Bridgewater youth court after spending nearly four months on remand at the Nova Scotia Youth Facility in Waterville.
The teen, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was released by Judge Catherine Benton on a bail order secured by $500 pledges by two “responsible adults”: his mother and an older male relative.
The boy must reside with his parent and can only leave the residence when accompanied by her or the other surety or an adult approved by them, or for a number of exceptions, including education programs or activities, legal commitments and medical emergencies or appointments.
He is also permitted to attend counselling sessions, meetings of the South Shore Community Justice Society and leisure activities approved by one of his sureties.
The order requires the teen to remain in Nova Scotia, surrender any passport or travel documents to Bridgewater police, report to police by phone every Friday, and have no contact with a Manitoba boy with whom he is accused of conspiring to commit murder.
Police allege the pair were planning simultaneous attacks at schools in both provinces.
The Nova Scotia teen was arrested March 17, when Bridgewater police searched his home and allegedly seized detailed handwritten plans, imitation weapons, including a roughly made pipe bomb and assault rifle, electronic devices, including a cellphone and a laptop, and articles of clothing with hate symbols and concerning comments on them.
Besides murder conspiracy, he was charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm to students at Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater.
Last month, police laid an additional charge of counselling the Manitoba boy to commit murder.
Bridgewater police announced the arrest March 18, saying Interpol and the FBI had contacted them March 13 about online conversation between two Canadian youths that began in February. In their communication, the pair allegedly discussed “their desire to mount a violent attack on students at Park View Education Centre,” police said.
The police news release said that “while the attack was not believed to be imminent, it was clear that they had committed some thought and planning to the idea.”
On March 16, RCMP in Manitoba arrested a 14-year-old boy who had allegedly been talking to the Bridgewater teen about a plan to carry out an attack at Rivers Collegiate Institute in Rivers, northwest of Brandon.
The Bridgewater teen is banned from using the internet or possessing a computer, cellphone, pager or any other device capable of connecting to the internet, except for an electronic monitoring device.
He is specifically prohibited from being on any social media or communication platform — including, but not limited to, Discord, Roblox, X, Ko-fi, YouTube, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook — and from accessing or possessing any material related to school shooters, “other perpetrators of mass violence” and true crime and from viewing any material published by a terrorist group as defined in the Criminal Code.
He’s also not allowed to possess any objects, literature or documents bearing the logo of a terrorist group and cannot associate or communicate with anyone with a criminal record or anyone who participates in a terrorist group or “aids, abets, counsels or threatens terrorist activity.”
The boy is not to have or consume alcohol or drugs or possess a gun, imitation firearm, crossbow, axe, restricted weapon, prohibited device or ammunition, as well as any explosive substance “or precursor thereof.”
He can’t have a knife or cutting tool or instrument while outside his residence and is banned from accessing or possessing any information that explains how to make or use an explosive or a firearm.
The release order was worked out by provincial Crown attorney Shauna MacDonald and defence lawyers Shawnee Gregory and Claire Levasseur.
The judge did not read the bail conditions into the record in the interest of time. She was assured by the defence that the youth was willing to comply with the terms and that his adult supervisors were aware of their responsibilities.
The case will return to youth court Sept. 2.
Bridgewater teen's bail conditions include ban on associating with terrorists
A Bridgewater boy's release conditions on charges of plotting school attacks include house arrest and a ban on associating with terrorists.
U.K. village wants to join U.S., saying Trump only hope
Sleepy village of Piddington, population 350, would see 1,250 migrants arrive in government relocation plan
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published Jul 28, 2026 • 2 minute read
The tiny village of Piddington, England.
The tiny village of Piddington, England. Photo by X
A tiny English village wants to leave the U.K. and join the United States because of migrants, and it believes U.S. President Donald Trump may be its only hope.
The sleepy village of Piddington in Oxfordshire, England, has a population of 350 people. But the U.K. government wants to considerably increase the area’s population, with plans to house 1,250 male migrants at a nearby military site.
The residents have now voted in favour of protesting the migrants’ arrival and joining the United States.
Tyranny in the U.K.
The villagers could only separate with the permission of the government, which they’re unlikely to get. But they say it’s their only hope as the government is press-ganging them into accepting the migrants, who would be allowed to leave the military site and wander into the village. Residents are concerned about their safety, particularly the women and girls who live there.
Local parish councillor Joe Marshall, 26, told the U.K. Sun: “Donald Trump loves old quaint English villages, but he’s not so keen on migrants. So we are sure he would not let this happen to us.”
Electrical engineer Mario Terzino told the Sun: ” We are particularly angry that there no consultation about this, no advance warning. Instead, we learned about it through the media. Our independence referendum is a cry to be heard, a warning to the government that we won’t just sit back and accept this.
“This is a tranquil little village of just 350 souls and two thirds of those are women or children. We’re not equipped to have more than 1,000 young men, most of whom won’t speak English, descending on us. But tiny though Piddington is, we still do have quite a bite. And our voice will be heard. Elon Musk has already taken up our cause, and hopefully Donald Trump will too.”
Public figures back villagers
Tesla trillionaire Elon Musk has come out in support of the move, posting on X: “What has happened to towns who did nothing to deserve it, like little Piddington village, will happen to all of Britain, unless there is fundamental political change. It’s not right. Not right at all.”
British comedian John Cleese echoed the sentiment, posting: “What have they done to have their lives and expectations changed like this?”
Britain’s shame: Rape and grooming gangs
Britain’s ongoing attempt to house and integrate newcomers has had a horrific impact on its native population, most notably a damning report from a privately funded probe that said thousands of white working class girls were systematically groomed and raped by gangs of predominantly Pakistani Muslim men over decades.
The report said politicians, police and social workers ignored the victims out of fear of appearing racist or damaging “social cohesion.” They knew about it and let it continue. Worse yet, the report claims some authorities even co-operated with the rape gangs.
The report, spearheaded by British MP Rupert Lowe, calls for mandatory life sentences for groomers and child rapists and the immediate deportation of foreign nationals who offend.
the-sun.com
torontosun.com
Sleepy village of Piddington, population 350, would see 1,250 migrants arrive in government relocation plan
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published Jul 28, 2026 • 2 minute read
The tiny village of Piddington, England.
The tiny village of Piddington, England. Photo by X
A tiny English village wants to leave the U.K. and join the United States because of migrants, and it believes U.S. President Donald Trump may be its only hope.
The sleepy village of Piddington in Oxfordshire, England, has a population of 350 people. But the U.K. government wants to considerably increase the area’s population, with plans to house 1,250 male migrants at a nearby military site.
The residents have now voted in favour of protesting the migrants’ arrival and joining the United States.
Tyranny in the U.K.
The villagers could only separate with the permission of the government, which they’re unlikely to get. But they say it’s their only hope as the government is press-ganging them into accepting the migrants, who would be allowed to leave the military site and wander into the village. Residents are concerned about their safety, particularly the women and girls who live there.
Local parish councillor Joe Marshall, 26, told the U.K. Sun: “Donald Trump loves old quaint English villages, but he’s not so keen on migrants. So we are sure he would not let this happen to us.”
Electrical engineer Mario Terzino told the Sun: ” We are particularly angry that there no consultation about this, no advance warning. Instead, we learned about it through the media. Our independence referendum is a cry to be heard, a warning to the government that we won’t just sit back and accept this.
“This is a tranquil little village of just 350 souls and two thirds of those are women or children. We’re not equipped to have more than 1,000 young men, most of whom won’t speak English, descending on us. But tiny though Piddington is, we still do have quite a bite. And our voice will be heard. Elon Musk has already taken up our cause, and hopefully Donald Trump will too.”
Public figures back villagers
Tesla trillionaire Elon Musk has come out in support of the move, posting on X: “What has happened to towns who did nothing to deserve it, like little Piddington village, will happen to all of Britain, unless there is fundamental political change. It’s not right. Not right at all.”
British comedian John Cleese echoed the sentiment, posting: “What have they done to have their lives and expectations changed like this?”
Britain’s shame: Rape and grooming gangs
Britain’s ongoing attempt to house and integrate newcomers has had a horrific impact on its native population, most notably a damning report from a privately funded probe that said thousands of white working class girls were systematically groomed and raped by gangs of predominantly Pakistani Muslim men over decades.
The report said politicians, police and social workers ignored the victims out of fear of appearing racist or damaging “social cohesion.” They knew about it and let it continue. Worse yet, the report claims some authorities even co-operated with the rape gangs.
The report, spearheaded by British MP Rupert Lowe, calls for mandatory life sentences for groomers and child rapists and the immediate deportation of foreign nationals who offend.
Our village is voting to leave Britain & join USA to stop influx of migrants
A VILLAGE is voting to leave Britain and join the USA in a desperate bid to stop asylum seekers from moving in. Some 350 residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, are vowing to hold an independence ref…
U.K. village wants to join U.S., saying Trump only hope
A tiny English village wants to leave the U.K. and join the United States because of migrants. Find out more.
That's why I didn't answer the questions on the long form census that asked how many bedrooms I had. I directed them to seek that information from the county.
And for that initial question of how many people lived in my residence May the 12th I believe it was, that there was me and one other person who was homeless.
And for that initial question of how many people lived in my residence May the 12th I believe it was, that there was me and one other person who was homeless.
How sham marriages fueled India’s foreign student influx to Canada
'Given the high cost of studying and living in Canada, many Indian applicants relied on marriages of convenience to secure financial support in exchange for spousal open work permits,' a Canadian diplomatic official in Delhi wrote in an email
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 29, 2026 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 3 minute read
Canadian flag in front on Parliament
A Canadian flag flies in front of the peace tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada on December 4, 2015, as part of the ceremonies to the start Canada's 42nd parliament. Photo by GEOFF ROBINS /AFP via Getty Images
OTTAWA — Closing a troublesome loophole allowing international students to bring spouses to Canada on open work permits gave government officials a glimpse into widespread “marriage of convenience” scams in India, internal government documents suggest.
Internal emails from Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi, obtained via an access-to-information request, show how the now-closed loophole allowed prospective foreign students to enter into transactional marriages that granted their “spouse” open work permits — a scheme openly advertised in Indian newspaper ads and online dating apps.
“Given the high cost of studying and living in Canada, many Indian applicants relied on marriages of convenience to secure financial support in exchange for spousal open work permits,” read an excerpt from an email from Han Duan, a Canadian diplomatic official in Delhi, to two IRCC officials.
“This practice was widely advertised in local newspapers and on dating apps.”
2024 policy change ended loophole
The emails were obtained by Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, who told the Toronto Sun it was “no surprise” to see organized criminal activity infiltrate that portion of the study permit program, once big money and permanent residency promises entered the equation.
“Unscrupulous overseas agents were promising the moon,” said Kurland, who also edits the immigration policy periodical Lexbase. “They said ‘permanent residence is in your hands if you get your study permit, and we’ll take care of that pathway for you.'”
Participants were promised they’d be able to easily flip their study permits into work permits, Kurland said — allowing them to get a job and apply for permanent residence.
“It was a multi-year plan, and the sad part was most often financed by the young person’s family,” he added.
“In some cases, they literally sold the farm to put their kid in Canada.”
Under the scheme, entering into “marriages of convenience” would allow the non-student “spouse” to help fund the student’s education and living costs.
This served as a financial pipeline for thousands of Indian foreign student applicants hoping to study at Canadian colleges and universities, while giving their non-student spouses full access to the Canadian labour market.
This pipeline collapsed, however, when the federal government closed the loophole in 2024, when then-Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced broad reforms to the international student program, including an end to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program for undergraduate students.
In further reforms announced at the beginning of this year, only students enrolled in master’s programs over 16 months in duration are entitled to spousal work permits.
Closing loophole curtailed student permit applications
Eliminating this loophole, Duan wrote in their email, caused a drop in the number of student permit applications from Indian nationals.
“Since the introduction of the student cap and various policy measures over the past year, New Delhi has observed a decline not only in the total number of Indian Study Permit (SP) applicants but also in the overall quality of applicants,” Duan wrote, who also attributed the drop to policy changes that prevents students from securing study permits to public post-secondary institutions but later transferring to lower-cost and less-reputable private colleges.
Duan noted that other nations who implemented similar policy changes also saw similar trends.
“Following the introduction of restrictions on spousal OWPs (open work permits,) many Indian SP (student permit) applicants have shifted to countries that still permit spousal visas, with significant increases reported in Germany, Sweden, and Finland,” they wrote.
“Similar trends have been observed in Ireland, France, and Italy, while Australia, New Zealand, and the UK have reported declines in Indian SP applications after implementing similar spousal restrictions.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
torontosun.com
'Given the high cost of studying and living in Canada, many Indian applicants relied on marriages of convenience to secure financial support in exchange for spousal open work permits,' a Canadian diplomatic official in Delhi wrote in an email
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 29, 2026 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 3 minute read
Canadian flag in front on Parliament
A Canadian flag flies in front of the peace tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada on December 4, 2015, as part of the ceremonies to the start Canada's 42nd parliament. Photo by GEOFF ROBINS /AFP via Getty Images
OTTAWA — Closing a troublesome loophole allowing international students to bring spouses to Canada on open work permits gave government officials a glimpse into widespread “marriage of convenience” scams in India, internal government documents suggest.
Internal emails from Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi, obtained via an access-to-information request, show how the now-closed loophole allowed prospective foreign students to enter into transactional marriages that granted their “spouse” open work permits — a scheme openly advertised in Indian newspaper ads and online dating apps.
“Given the high cost of studying and living in Canada, many Indian applicants relied on marriages of convenience to secure financial support in exchange for spousal open work permits,” read an excerpt from an email from Han Duan, a Canadian diplomatic official in Delhi, to two IRCC officials.
“This practice was widely advertised in local newspapers and on dating apps.”
2024 policy change ended loophole
The emails were obtained by Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, who told the Toronto Sun it was “no surprise” to see organized criminal activity infiltrate that portion of the study permit program, once big money and permanent residency promises entered the equation.
“Unscrupulous overseas agents were promising the moon,” said Kurland, who also edits the immigration policy periodical Lexbase. “They said ‘permanent residence is in your hands if you get your study permit, and we’ll take care of that pathway for you.'”
Participants were promised they’d be able to easily flip their study permits into work permits, Kurland said — allowing them to get a job and apply for permanent residence.
“It was a multi-year plan, and the sad part was most often financed by the young person’s family,” he added.
“In some cases, they literally sold the farm to put their kid in Canada.”
Under the scheme, entering into “marriages of convenience” would allow the non-student “spouse” to help fund the student’s education and living costs.
This served as a financial pipeline for thousands of Indian foreign student applicants hoping to study at Canadian colleges and universities, while giving their non-student spouses full access to the Canadian labour market.
This pipeline collapsed, however, when the federal government closed the loophole in 2024, when then-Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced broad reforms to the international student program, including an end to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program for undergraduate students.
In further reforms announced at the beginning of this year, only students enrolled in master’s programs over 16 months in duration are entitled to spousal work permits.
Closing loophole curtailed student permit applications
Eliminating this loophole, Duan wrote in their email, caused a drop in the number of student permit applications from Indian nationals.
“Since the introduction of the student cap and various policy measures over the past year, New Delhi has observed a decline not only in the total number of Indian Study Permit (SP) applicants but also in the overall quality of applicants,” Duan wrote, who also attributed the drop to policy changes that prevents students from securing study permits to public post-secondary institutions but later transferring to lower-cost and less-reputable private colleges.
Duan noted that other nations who implemented similar policy changes also saw similar trends.
“Following the introduction of restrictions on spousal OWPs (open work permits,) many Indian SP (student permit) applicants have shifted to countries that still permit spousal visas, with significant increases reported in Germany, Sweden, and Finland,” they wrote.
“Similar trends have been observed in Ireland, France, and Italy, while Australia, New Zealand, and the UK have reported declines in Indian SP applications after implementing similar spousal restrictions.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
How sham marriages fueled India’s foreign student influx to Canada
Ottawa's crackdown on spousal open work permits shut down a widespread visa scheme that drove thousands of student applications from India.