Sudbury mine story was ‘about a man using the men's showers,' says gender studies professor
A professor of women and gender studies in Greater Sudbury is taking CTV News Northern Ontario to task for a recent story about gender identification and shower policies at Vale Ltd.
The story quoted a letter writer who works at Vale in Sudbury who said he was uncomfortable sharing the showers with someone with 'female body parts, both top and bottom,' adding that it was 'compromising our marriages.'
But in an interview, Laur O'Gorman said we incorrectly identified the person as 'a woman who identifies as a man,' when really, it was about a trans man.
Inflammatory language
'So if you're using the language the letter writer used, and you're saying a woman who identifies as a man is using men's changing rooms, well, that sounds like (it's) really a woman in the men's room,' they said in a Zoom interview.
'But if you use the accepted language and you say, 'trans man showers in men's changing room,' it's a man using a men's room, right? And it takes away a lot of the piece that seems inflammatory.'
Under the law, O'Gorman said employers as big as Vale are required to allow workers to use facilities that match their gender identity. In this case, the person's gender identity is male and so uses the men's shower.
'If you use the accepted language and you say, 'trans man showers in men's changing room,' it's a man using a men's room, right? And it takes away a lot of the piece that seems inflammatory.'
— Laur O'Gorman
'As a trans man, you are a man and not a woman who identifies as a man,' O'Gorman said.
'A trans man may choose to use the all-gender facilities or may feel safer using the men's room -- or more affirmed using the men's room.'
It comes down to safety, they said, and which room this person feels most comfortable using.
O'Gorman, who is non-binary, has co-authored a comprehensive guide on the use of inclusive pronouns and language. They also used to teach in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program at Thorneloe University.
The guide defines a trans man as 'men who were assigned female at birth (AFAB). They often have a masculine name and appearance.'
O'Gorman said it's challenging for trans men to live in a body that people may see as another gender.
'You see yourself as a man,' they said. 'Other people may or may not.'
O'Gorman said some trans men look very masculine and don't feel comfortable using non-gender facilities. And employers such as Vale are required to accommodate them.
'I've seen like a lot of trans men that have full beards and are like these big, buff, tall guys,' they said.
Following the law
'The employer is just doing what the law says. The union is supporting the employer and doing what the law says. The trans person is using … the showers where they feel most comfortable.'
Another part of the worker's letter said he not only felt uncomfortable, but that the trans man was threatening his marriage.
O'Gorman said it's difficult to understand how showering with a trans man could threaten someone's marriage.
'The solution is close your eyes – (then) there's no problem,' they said.
'The whole situation can be fixed by just not looking at them, just the way you don't really look at any of the other men's bodies. Don't look, right? Like, it's a very simple thing in my opinion.'
— Laur O'Gorman
'I would suggest talking to a therapist about it because, like, there's no physical threat. The person is not doing anything. They're minding their own business and taking a shower.
'The whole situation can be fixed by just not looking at them, just the way you don't really look at any of the other men's bodies. Don't look, right? Like, it's a very simple thing in my opinion.'
O'Gorman said the issue is part of a larger narrative that portrays trans people as somehow a threat, when in reality, they are extremely vulnerable.
Current political discourse is also demonizing immigrants, homeless people and even vaccine use, O'Gorman said, just as fear was spread during desegregation movements in the United States decades ago.
Politicians play on the fear of the unknown for their own political purposes, not reality, they said.
'The political rhetoric is really dangerous, especially all of the discussion around bathrooms and what bathroom people should use,' O'Gorman said.
While fear is being spread about bathroom use, O'Gorman said the reality is trans people are the ones at risk of being attacked in bathrooms, not the other way around.
'There is no case in North America … of violence in bathrooms involving trans people,' they said.
'There has never been a case of a trans person hurting somebody else in a washroom, in a shower, in these spaces. It has never happened.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan want to study feasibility of west-east pipeline
The government of Ontario, working with Alberta and Saskatchewan, wants to explore the feasibility of a new west-east pipeline to bring western oil and gas to southern Ontario refineries and ports. Ontario issued a request for proposals to conduct a study "exploring options for establishing a new economic and energy corridor" between the provinces, according to a government news release Thursday. "By advancing a Canadian energy corridor from Alberta to Ontario, we are securing long-term energy access for families and businesses, creating thousands of jobs, and opening new doors for trade and investment, while strengthening our position as a global energy leader," said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in the news release. "This corridor will help get Alberta's responsibly produced energy to markets across Canada and around the world." U.S. tariffs prompt pipeline talks U.S. tariff threats this year have revived discussions around expanding Canada's pipeline capacity in order to make the country's oil and gas industry — which is closely tied to the U.S. market — more self-reliant. In February, then-Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told reporters that Canada's energy infrastructure was vulnerable to potential U.S. tariffs, and the country should weigh building a new west-east pipeline. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in Thursday's release that the pipeline is needed to respond to economic threats from the south. "Canada can no longer rely on energy infrastructure that lies outside of our borders and can be shut down at a moment's notice by another country," he said. "It's time for us to build cross-Canada infrastructure within our borders so we can protect our energy security, find new markets for Canadian energy and resources and create new jobs." Ford and Smith signed a memorandum of understanding in July to collaborate on building pipelines and trade infrastructure across provincial borders, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signing on later that month. WATCH | Alberta, Ontario sign MOU on pipelines, trade infrastructure: Alberta, Ontario premiers agree to study energy corridors, trade barriers 1 month ago Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have agreed to a feasibility study of new pipelines and rail lines between provinces while increasing interprovincial trade of alcohol and vehicles. Public opinion around pipelines remains divided in Canada, despite some increased support in light of U.S. tariff threats, according to an online Angus Reid survey of Canadians in January. Support for Energy East, the west-to-east pipeline proposal that was cancelled in 2017, increased from 58 to 65 per cent since 2019, the poll suggested.
CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Is 'greenhushing' such a bad thing?
What on Earth Also: In parts of Canada, you can now grow plants that you couldn't before Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox every Thursday. Is 'greenhushing' such a bad thing? Image | Trump Caption: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on April 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The order instructed the U.S. attorney general to seek out any climate change-related laws that 'burdened' domestic energy creation. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press) Yeah, the times are a-changin' from the climate action rah-rahs of just a few years ago. That sudden silence has a name in some circles: greenhushing, where companies or governments erase environmental commitments, fearing potential political, investor or customer backlash. But some experts believe the work is continuing quietly. What's more, they say, those that still do it vocally can serve as a more genuine example of how to champion climate action. "When you're talking about sustainability and climate-related disclosures, a lot of it is politically driven," explains Kimberly Logue Ortega, who advises companies on energy and environment compliance through her work at the consulting firm J.S. Held. She sees greenhushing as a response to regulations in Europe and Canada cracking down on climate promises that cannot be proven or supported — a practice known as greenwashing. Beyond the political pressure from above, Ortega sees another pressure from below. "I think what we're likely to see moving forward is more investor-driven litigation," she told CBC News, speaking from Little Rock, Ark. "Attempting to drive companies to either expand or restrict their environmental disclosures." A series of recent reports by the climate consultancy South Pole found greenhushing to be a trend among the hundreds of companies it surveyed. Its 2024 report echoes Ortega's view that regulatory compliance and fear of scrutiny mean companies are "no longer communicating their climate strategies and goals with confidence." But not everyone agrees greenhushing is widespread. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report analyzed more than 4,000 companies that made climate commitments, finding while 16 per cent were "decelerating" targets, 37 per cent were actually increasing ambitions. According to the report, this suggests "an era of quiet progress, where companies avoid publicizing climate pledges that can open them up to unwanted scrutiny and instead focus on making progress far from the spotlight." Some experts also don't see this withdrawal as a bad thing. "Greenhushing is often portrayed as something negative," said Frederic Hans, of the non-profit NewClimate Institute. But he disagrees with the idea that strict regulations are too tough on companies, forcing them to hide their climate ambition. "Because we see many companies, particularly the real front-running companies, still disclose, still do things, still come forward with new targets," Hans told CBC News from Berlin. He and his team highlight some of those companies in a report, the 2025 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, profiling industries from fashion to agri-food to tech. Though no company rose to the highest standards on climate pledges, Hans argues progress has been made — and that demanding companies back up their sustainable claims provides clarity and leadership. "It actually allows you to really differentiate between a front-running company that really walks the walk … really puts measures in place and substantiates its targets, [from] other companies that do not." — Anand Ram Check out our podcast and radio show. In our latest episode: From cuts to U.S. weather agencies, to the rise of AI predictions, there are big changes in the world of extreme weather forecasting. We talk with the former head of the Canadian Hurricane Centre about what it all means for our ability to warn Canadians before hurricanes hit. Then we hear how well the current AI forecasting models can predict these weather events — and how the technology needs to improve. Media Audio | What On Earth : Is it going to get harder to forecast hurricanes in Canada? Caption: From cuts to U.S. weather agencies, to the rise of AI predictions, there are big changes in the world of extreme weather forecasting. We talk with the former head of the Canadian Hurricane Centre, about what it all means for our ability to warn Canadians before hurricanes hit. Then we hear how well the current AI forecasting models can predict these weather events — and how the technology needs to improve. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. What On Earth drops new podcast episodes every Wednesday and Saturday. You can find them on your favourite podcast app or on demand at CBC Listen. The radio show airs Sundays at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. in Newfoundland and Labrador. Check the for live updates on wildfire smoke and active fires across the country. Set your location for information on air quality and to find out how today's temperatures compare to historical trends. Reader Feedback Last week, we asked the question: Should the government assist low-income people with air conditioning? We heard from many readers both for and against government assistance. Sandra McGuire said: "This is perhaps a far more complicated question than just paying for air conditioning. We are already experiencing the beginning effects of climate change, and it is bound to get far worse. Of course I think people should be helped to get as comfortable as possible, but air conditioners, while perhaps becoming an essential item, feel also like a Band-Aid. … [The] government owes us a heck of a lot more than air conditioners. They owe us the right to a liveable future." Last month, we published an article about how fishing gear waste is being turned into plant pots and swimwear. Chloé Dubois, the founder and executive director of B.C.-based non-profit Ocean Legacy Foundation wrote in to provide some updated numbers on the amount of waste they've been able to divert. She said: "We have just had an update in our diversion numbers from our facility for 2025. Currently, our program has diverted 5,286,670.40 lbs." Write us at whatonearth@ (And feel free to send photos, too!) The Big Picture: The plants you can grow in Canada are changing Global warming is changing Canada's growing zones. According to the federal government's latest Plant Hardiness Zones map — which is based on climate averages from 1991-2020 — growing zones have changed across much of the country. The hardiness zones indicate what kinds of plants, crops or trees can grow in an area. Generally, the higher the zone number, the more moderate the weather is, and the less cold-resistant a plant has to be to survive. Here, we see Zone 9A, the most moderate zone found in Canada. No municipalities were in this zone during the 1961-1990 period, but now some 30 municipalities in the Victoria and Vancouver areas are. In this (relatively) balmy zone, you can grow cold-hardy palms and even citrus. Even though the shifting zones are a sign of a larger problem — climate change throwing weather patterns into disarray — the data brings new opportunities for farmers to expand their fields or try new crops. — Inayat Singh Hot and bothered: Provocative ideas from around the web Can charred wood help farmers — and the climate? Caption: Biochar is made from subjecting organic matter to high heat, producing a material that's rich in carbon. (Mark Crosby/CBC) In a rolling field in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, the soil in one row of grapevines is littered with charred fragments of wood. The charcoal-like substance is something that scientists and farmers hope will turn waste into a tool to improve the health of the soil and store carbon long term. "Instead of losing everything in the atmosphere, we can stick … that carbon in the soil," said Vicky Lévesque, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Kentville, N.S. Scientists and companies in Nova Scotia are exploring how a material called biochar can be used and produced in the province. Lévesque says it's an opportunity to support growers while fighting climate change. She is testing biochar on grapevines at 11 sites in the valley to see how it affects carbon sequestration, soil biodiversity, plant growth and nutrient leaching. The experiment will run for four years. "Talking with the grape industry, [they] see some issues in their vineyards, such as soil compaction, nitrogen loss and also water retention. And so we … brought that idea to test biochar in their vineyards." What is biochar? Biochar is made by heating organic materials — usually wood, but also crop waste, manure and even sewage — to temperatures as high as 1,000 C. That process, known as pyrolysis, happens without oxygen, meaning materials don't burn, but transform to a gas and a material that's almost entirely solid carbon. That material is thought to benefit soil in a number of ways. Biochar is packed with tiny pores. Those pores provide habitat for beneficial microorganisms; a tablespoon of biochar can have as much surface area as a football field. Biochar also retains water — as much as 27 grams per gram of biochar, allowing it to hold and release water over time — and aerates soils, helping roots penetrate. Atlantic Canada's freeze-thaw cycle causes soils to lose nitrogen from fertilizers to the atmosphere, costing farmers money and producing greenhouse gas emissions. Experiments suggest that biochar is able to retain that nitrogen, reducing emissions and fertilizer use. Biochar is almost 90 per cent carbon, as roasting without oxygen prevents the carbon in the wood from being released into the atmosphere. Soils in Atlantic Canada now lose a half-tonne of carbon a year, mainly through tillage. Biochar could help reverse that. Dalhousie assistant professor Sonil Nanda, who is researching the production and use of biochar in applications ranging from agriculture to medicine, said biochar can help Canada make progress on climate change goals, especially when using material that would otherwise go to waste. "Canada can be a leader in tapping into these underutilized residues that come from the agricultural sector, forestry sector, municipal solid waste, forest fire wood," he said. "Biochar is one of those integral components … that will help us move toward net zero." Barriers to adoption Lévesque said one current barrier to adoption is the cost; the experiment is using 10 tonnes of biochar per hectare, which adds up to about $10,000. Another is the availability of biochar, as there are currently no large-scale producers in Atlantic Canada. A Halifax-based company is working to address that. Sawmills in the province currently have no destination for their residual wood — the remaining material left after usable lumber is cut — due to the closure of Northern Pulp, a mill that was shuttered in 2020. If that material is left to rot or is burned in an open fire, "that is at risk of going back into the form of CO2 after the tree worked for 50 or 100 years to make it into carbon," said Don LeBlanc, president of RDA Atlantic Inc. Instead, RDA is proposing to turn that material into biochar. RDA has been working with a reactor design developed and patented in Poland; that reactor, which can weigh up to 40 tonnes, produces biochar in large amounts. RDA is trying to bring the technology to North America, and LeBlanc said they're currently in discussions with a sawmill in Nova Scotia to install it. In the meantime, RDA is selling biochar that's produced in Poland locally, as a way of generating awareness among the public. "As the market builds for the product, then we'll be in a better position to justify the construction of the first production facility in Atlantic Canada," said LeBlanc. — Moira Donovan What on Earth? comes straight to your inbox every Thursday.
CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Poilievre says Carney's moving in the 'wrong direction,' pledges to 'legalize' pipelines
Social Sharing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Mark Carney's development agenda is stalled — and he's promising to "legalize" pipelines through new legislation to speed things up. Poilievre said his party's Canadian Sovereignty Act, if passed, would ensure two pipelines, a new LNG project and a road to Ontario's Ring of Fire will have begun construction by March 14 — the one-year anniversary of Carney becoming prime minister. "Not a single major pipeline or natural gas facility, a new one, has been identified for approval by the Carney government and we're going in the exact wrong direction," Poilievre said in Calgary Thursday. "We need to get building now and that's why the Conservative proposal for a Sovereignty Act will take action immediately," he added. Carney is meeting with Indigenous leaders over the summer and has said his government's major projects office will be open by Labour Day. In order for Poilievre to be in the House of Commons in the fall to introduce the bill, he will first have to win his byelection in Alberta's riding of Battle River-Crowfoot on Aug. 18. WATCH | Poilievre on his Aug. 18 byelection: Poilievre: 'I love the people of Battle River-Crowfoot' 2 hours ago The proposed legislation repackages many Conservative campaign promises. They include: repealing Bill C-69, what former Alberta premier Jason Kenney dubbed the "no more pipelines act"; scrapping the West Coast oil tanker ban; killing the industrial carbon tax; eliminating the electric vehicle mandate and reversing the single-use plastics ban. Poilievre said the Sovereignty Act would also include his campaign promise to exempt people from capital gains tax when they reinvest the proceeds of an investment in a Canadian company. The Conservative leader said that after his party introduces the legislation it will be willing to work with all parties in the House to amend and get it passed. "I am calling on Prime Minister Carney to do what he promised, build at a scale we haven't seen in generations and work with Conservatives to restore Canada's sovereignty in the face of American threats," Poilievre said in a statement. The chicken and the egg In recent weeks, B.C. Premier David Eby has said that he is not opposed to a new pipeline in his province but that the issue was moot for the moment because there are no private companies that have proposed building one. Poilievre was asked how the Sovereignty Act, if passed, will be able to approve projects when they are not even at the proposal stage yet. "The opponents of pipelines are using this very cleverly," he said. "They're saying: 'well we can't change the rules to allow a pipeline, because there's no pipeline proposed.' That's because the rules don't allow for pipelines to get built… "So let's get rid of this chicken and egg distraction that the Liberals have imposed." A national energy corridor Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, along with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, announced their own energy infrastructure initiative Thursday. They issued a call for proposals to study how to "best establish a new economic and energy corridor" in Canada. A statement explained that the proposed corridor would bring western Canadian oil and gas to refineries in southern Ontario, as well as to a new deep-sea port on the coast of James Bay. "Canada can no longer rely on energy infrastructure that lies outside of our borders and can be shut down at a moment's notice by another country," said Ford in a statement. Most of Canada's oil and gas pipelines pass through the U.S. At the first ministers' meeting in Huntsville, Ont., last month Ford, Smith and Moe said Canada needs to replace Line 5 — the more than 1,000-kilometre-long pipeline carrying 540,000 barrels of oil and natural gas liquids daily across Wisconsin and Michigan to refineries in Sarnia, Ont. "It's time for us to build cross-Canada infrastructure within our borders so we can protect our energy security, find new markets for Canadian energy and resources and create new jobs and opportunities for Canadian workers," Ford said.
