Latest news with #fairness
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke announces 2026 retirement after 10 years on the job
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke releases his report into the terminations of Ministry of Health employees in 2012 during a news conference in Victoria, B.C., on April 6, 2017. (Chad Hipolito / The Canadian Press) VICTORIA — British Columbia's longest-serving ombudsperson has announced he will retire from his role in early 2026. Jay Chalke has been in the role for a decade and oversaw the implementation of new responsibilities under B.C.'s Public Interest Disclosure Act, which provides secure channels for public employees to report serious workplace wrongdoing. He says in a news release that he didn't make the decision lightly, and serving as B.C.'s Ombudsperson has been 'the honour' of his career. He says he is 'deeply proud' of the work he has accomplished, but he believes it's time for 'new perspectives and fresh leadership to continue (the) important work in ensuring fairness in public administration.' In the release, Chalke's office called him a steadfast advocate for fairness and accountability. It says the process to appoint a new ombudsperson will be led by the legislature and will begin soon to ensure a smooth transition. 'I am grateful to the dedicated team at the Office of the Ombudsperson and to the people of British Columbia for the trust they have placed in me,' Chalke says in the release. 'I look forward to supporting the transition and watching this office continue to make a difference.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Trump threatens to cut off California funding over trans athlete
Donald Trump has threatened to strip California of 'large-scale' federal funding after a transgender long jumper took first place in a state competition. The US president accused Gavin Newsom, the California governor, of breaking the law and defying an executive order he issued early in his term barring biological men from participating in women's sports. He said he would personally intervene to stop the athlete, who won both the long jump and triple jumps at California's Southern Section contest for under-19s on May 17, from competing in the state finals this weekend. Mr Trump said the trans athlete was 'practically unbeatable' in the girl's category, calling their participation 'not fair, and totally demeaning to women and girls'. 'California, under the leadership of radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to illegally allow 'men to play in women's sports,'' the president wrote on his Truth Social platform. 'Please be hereby advised that large scale federal funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the executive order on this subject matter is not adhered to.' Noting that Mr Newsom had previously voiced scepticism of biological men competing in women's sports, Mr Trump continued: 'I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? 'In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the state finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation.' Mr Newsom broke from many of his fellow Democrats in February when he said it was 'deeply unfair' to allow trans competitors into women's sports. 'I think it's an issue of fairness... it's deeply unfair. We've got to own that. We've got to acknowledge it,' he said. Katie McGuinness, who took second place with a 19ft long jump in the Southern Section contest, said she felt there was 'nothing else' that she could have done. 'I was honestly very discouraged, and I'm a high school senior and winning CIF [California Interscholastic Federation] has always been a goal of mine, and I wasn't able to compete with someone who was genetically different than me,' she told Fox News. 'There are just certain genetic advantages that biological males have that biological girls don't,' she continued. 'Frankly, I just can't stand for that.' Mr Newsom's office has been approached for comment. Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding from states and institutions which he sees as seeking to defy his agenda. On Tuesday, his administration reportedly ordered federal agencies to cancel any remaining contracts with Harvard University, worth around £100 million, after it refused to bend to a series of demands its leadership claimed would erode academic independence.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Trump wants to block funding for California over trans athlete participation
President Trump is pressuring California officials to prevent a transgender student from competing in the girls' state track and field finals there, threatening to withhold funding if they don't comply. Without naming the student, Mr. Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday, advising that federal funding "will be held back, maybe permanently," if state and local authorities don't do as he says. The president signed an executive order in February banning transgender girls and women from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity, and stating that it's the policy of the U.S. to "rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities." Mr. Trump said he'll be speaking with California Gov. Gavin Newsom about the situation soon, although it's unclear if they have a call scheduled. "California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow 'MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,'" the president wrote on social media, adding that California is allowing a trans student to compete. "THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS," Mr. Trump continued. "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is 'UNFAIR.' I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!" The White House did not immediately respond with further details about the student or the president's intention to speak with Newsom. AB Hernandez, a high school junior track and field athlete at Jurupa Valley High School, has received significant national attention after winning the long jump and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section Division III finals earlier this month, according to the posted results. Hernandez's participation has been met with backlash from conservative groups who say the high school junior shouldn't be competing on the girls' team. "As previously stated, JUSD is required to follow both California law and CIF policy regarding school athletics," Jurupa Unified School District said in a statement provided to CBS News. "Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records. We remain committed to following the law as written and ensuring that all students are granted the rights afforded to them in a safe and welcoming environment." Keeping "men out of women's sports" was a frequent refrain for Mr. Trump on the campaign trail, something he's trying to follow through on in office. Last month, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit against Maine's Department of Education for "discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women's sports" in what Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged is a violation of Title IX. Bondi said when the lawsuit was filed that more suits against other states could come.
New York Times
2 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Trump Threatens California Over Transgender Athletes' Participation in Sports
President Trump threatened on Tuesday to strip 'large scale' federal funding from California 'maybe permanently' if the state continued to allow transgender athletes to participate in girls' and women's sports. Mr. Trump said on social media on Tuesday morning that he planned to speak to Gov. Gavin Newsom on the issue later in the day. The president also appeared to accuse the state of violating an executive order he signed earlier this year barring the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. Mr. Trump wrote that California 'continues to ILLEGALLY allow 'MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.'' It was not immediately clear what federal funding Mr. Trump intended to withhold. Mr. Trump's post appeared to be referring to a transgender high school student from Southern California who won regional girls' triple and long jump competitions this month. 'THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,' Mr. Trump wrote. Mr. Trump said local officials should not permit the athlete to compete in the state finals, which are scheduled for this weekend. He framed that statement as an order; although the president has no role in setting state policy, he has repeatedly used the threat of lost federal funding as leverage. The state's high school sports body, the California Interscholastic Federation, said later Tuesday that had decided over the weekend to change the criteria for athletes to land a spot in this weekend's track and field championship to expand opportunities to 'any biological female student-athlete' who would have qualified in a competition where a transgender athlete took a top spot. The federation said in a statement that it 'believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.' Mr. Newsom has previously said he thinks it is 'deeply unfair' for transgender athletes to play in girls' sports. On Tuesday, a spokesman for the governor called the federation's new policy 'a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness.' 'The governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach,' said the spokesman, Izzy Gardon. Tuesday's post was the latest instance of Mr. Trump threatening a state or institution over transgender athletes. Minnesota sued the Justice Department in April over threats to cut federal education funding over the inclusion of transgender athletes. The Trump administration froze federal funding for school children in Maine over the issue before both sides reached an agreement to restore it earlier this month. And Mr. Trump slashed $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender athlete policies. The administration has also repeatedly targeted California over policies intended to aid or protect marginalized individuals that Mr. Trump has derided. In March, the Education Department announced it would challenge a state law protecting transgender students. The administration also revoked federal waivers that let California colleges include undocumented students in certain programs receiving federal aid. Despite his misgivings over having transgender athletes compete in girls' sports, Mr. Newsom has not put his weight behind Republican efforts to change the law in California. Although he has supported numerous other policies to expand rights for L.G.B.T.Q. Californians, Mr. Newsom said the issue of athletic competition is different because it 'impedes other people's rights.' But crafting a policy that balances his desires to both include transgender students in school sports and foster competition for female athletes has eluded Mr. Newsom. Last month he said that he had explored potential changes to California law but couldn't find a solution. 'We were trying to figure this out, and couldn't figure it out,' Mr. Newsom said. 'I just couldn't figure out how to, quote, unquote, make this fair.'
CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from California over transgender athlete
President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to withhold federal funding from the state of California over a transgender athlete's participation in an upcoming sporting event — the latest example of the president trying to use funding as leverage to enact his agenda. 'Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,' the president wrote in a post on Truth Social, alluding to his February executive order banning transgender women from competing in women's sports, which delivered on one of his key campaign issues. The president added that he will speak to California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom later Tuesday. CNN has reached out to the White House and the governor's office. Newsom — who's recently taken aim at a number of causes popular among progressives — has previously said that transgender athletes playing in women's sports is 'an issue of fairness' in a break from most Democrats' position on the topic. 'Well, I think it's an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness. It's deeply unfair,' Newsom said in a podcast episode with conservative activist Charlie Kirk in March. Trump referred to those comments in his Truth Social post Tuesday, writing, 'The Governor, himself, said it is 'UNFAIR.' I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go???' Trump added: 'In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!' He did not name the athlete. Trump's executive order, titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' leans on compliance with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive funding from the federal government, as well as federal engagement with the private sector. The Justice Department in April sued Maine over its refusal to comply with Trump's order, alleging that the state is violating Title IX and ramping up the administration's feud with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Trump had earlier threatened to strip Maine of its federal funding should the state not comply with his directive.
