Judge says cull of 400 ostriches at B.C. farm can proceed
A Federal Court judge has denied a bid to prevent the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from culling 400 ostriches on a British Columbia farm.
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Researchers warn of persistent misconceptions around sexual violence and consent in Quebec
A new study suggests myths about sexual assault remain alarmingly common, particularly when it comes to who is believed, who is blamed, and what consent is. A new province-wide study suggests myths about sexual assault remain alarmingly common, particularly when it comes to who is believed, who is blamed, and what counts as consent. The study done in collaborations with researchers at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) was released Wednesday. The authors said it's the first of its kind to measure attitudes in Quebec about sexual violence, rape culture, and stereotypes that reinforce them. The findings show many in the province still hold beliefs that undermine victims and minimize abuse. Psychologist Dominique Trottier, a professor at UQO and one of the study's collaborators, said that despite years of social awareness campaigns, including the Me Too movement, progress has not been straightforward. 'These myths trivialize incidents of sexual abuse,' she said. 'They put into question the credibility of victims, minimize the responsibility of the abuser, and reframe the blame on the victim.' The survey, which polled around 1,200 people across the province using a sample designed to reflect Quebec's population, found that a significant portion of respondents endorsed false or harmful ideas about consent and sexual assault. Among the most striking results: 77 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women did not fully reject the idea that some people fabricate sexual assault accusations out of revenge. A quarter of all respondents—including 27 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women—expressed ambivalence about the need to always ask for consent before engaging in a sexual relationship. 'That is troubling,' said Sandrine Ricci, a sociology professor at UQAM and researcher of the study. 'There's no situation where it's okay not to ask, and that consent can take many forms—it's not like a notary has to be present for it to count.' Ricci stressed that beyond clear verbal agreement, people must consider enthusiasm, context, and social power dynamics when it comes to consent. 'We need to look at the conditions under which consent is given or not given. If there's a power relation—for instance, between a teacher and a student, a doctor and a patient, a man and a woman or a non-binary person, a white person and a racialized person—that affects how free someone is to say no,' Ricci said. Another question in the survey asked if a woman who initiates physical contact, like touching or kissing, should expect that a man might assume she wants sex. While responses varied, a majority of men did not entirely reject that suggestion. Researchers found that gender played a major role in how people responded across nearly every category. Trottier said men were more likely to endorse rape myths that question a victim's credibility, excuse the perpetrator, or shift blame onto the victim. 'That's one of the most concerning results we're getting,' she said. 'There are particular social groups more prone to accept these kinds of prejudice, and men tend to endorse them in all the categories we measured.' The study also pointed to age-based differences. People aged 15 to 25 and those 66 and older were more likely to express beliefs that undermine victims., especially those that cast doubt on the credibility of someone reporting an assault. Trottier said that partly reflects how social change often comes with resistance. 'When we push forward on an issue, there's more than often a backlash,' she said. 'In our current political and social climate, we're seeing a resurgence in discourse about traditional values, and with that, more intolerance toward marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.' Ricci emphasized that they remain widespread across demographics and that institutions like education systems, media, legal systems, and government agencies all need to respond. 'We live in a profoundly gendered society,' she said. 'And the results show strong differences between men and women on these issues in proportions that are really disturbing.' Until now, Ricci said, there was no large-scale public study in Quebec that focused specifically on attitudes around sexual violence, consent, and related myths. 'Now, we have facts,' she said. 'We don't have to base our education programs or prevention strategies on studies from the U.S. or from other provinces. We have local, contextualized data.' Ricci and Trottier both said they hope the research will lead to change, not just in public understanding, but in policy. 'Any actor or institution responsible for prevention and education can use this data,' Ricci said. 'And we need to intensify efforts that focus specifically on men, because if they hold these beliefs, we have to assume some practices reflect them, too.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Calls for improved security after totem pole stolen from former Tamaracouta Scout Reserve
A totem pole, carved by a Chief Mungo Martin of the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation in B.C. more than 70 years ago, was recently stolen.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
All-Terrain Safety Week sees teens hit trails with police guidance
Sudbury police taught high school students ATV safety through hands-on training during All-Terrain Safety Week. The program emphasized helmets, sober riding and trail laws to combat rising complaints. Alana Everson reports.
