Ottawa Observations: Thursday, March 16, 2017

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments
from the Federal scene for Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Alberta's Big Budget Bet

Alberta plans to double debt with budget that bets on oil rebound
If Notley's big budget gamble goes wrong, things could get real ugly in Alberta
Alberta's debt soars to $45B, but  budget has not big cuts, no new taxes
Alberta NDP offers to give it the old college try in odd, defeatist-sounding budget
Alberta pins hope on oilpatch recovery as it tables budget awash in red ink
NDP sinks record $9.2 billion into capital projects as debt deepens to $45 billion
Alberta's universities and colleges get two per cent boost in basic funding
Edmonton's aging hospitals get $1-billion dose of budget treatment
Alberta's health spending still soaring despite efforts at restraint
NDP budget leans heavy on oil and gas recovery
Spending spree lacks payment plan
Provincial budget is a fiscal disaster
Opposition fears credit rating downgrade in wake of red-ink budget
NDP promises get watered down in rough economy
Alberta posts $10.3 billion shortfall in provincial budget
A budget that gambles with Alberta's future
NDP injects $14.5 million into court system to break logjam
Good, bad and way too much ugly in new Alberta budget



Freeland condemns Russian aggression in Crimea, prompting Kremlin counterattack
Rumours of tax hike on capital gains stoke investor anxiety
Canada's softwood lumber industry braces as U.S. eyes 'new agreement'
The troubling case of Don Meredith, and Senators who just won't quit
Fuel-economy targets pose Trump test for Trudeau
Ahead of federal budget, Morneau says world should follow Canada's tax-the-rich plan
Senator defends pro-residential school comments amid further criticism
Woman charged after trying to get into Centre Block, stealing car on Parliament Hill
Catherine McKenna seeks EPA head Scott Pruitt's help to restore Great Lakes
O'Leary alleges 'vote rigging' in Conservative leadership campaign
With budget looming, federal government sparks child care talks with provinces
Senator Lynn Beyak stands by residential school remarks, cites 'fake news'
Don Meredith says 'racism has played a role' in his sex scandal
National Defence makes limited progress in finding more procurement staff
New rules for flying recreational drones in Canada revealed
Michael Chong becomes poster boy for sanitary washrooms in Guatemala
Calls mount for Senator Beyak to step aside from Aboriginal committee after residential schools remark
PM says he still believes Trump promise only minor tweaks coming on NAFTA
U.S. government suing Canadian resident for $1.1M over bank form
Ottawa aims to charm 70 U.S. lawmakers over 3-day meeting
NDP calls on Trudeau to intervene in Senate's dealings with Don Meredith
Daughter diplomacy: Trudeau's unorthodox play for Donald Trump's approval
Justin Trudeau's musical diplomacy in 'Come From Away'
Increase funding for a national child care program
Fighting fake news about Canadian health care
Canadian values matter, but so do the details
It's time for Trudeau to get serious about Putin and Ukraine
U.S. presence 'welcome' at TPP talks despite Trump withdrawing from trade deal: Canadian minister
Kevin O'Leary alleges 'fraud' and 'widespread vote rigging' in Conservative leadership race
NDP leadership candidate Ashton defends deleting Beyoncé meme after accusations of cultural appropriation
Trudeau speaks at play about Canada on 9/11 to Broadway audience including Ivanka Trump, Chretien
Expert concerned about Canada's mission through increasingly tense South China Sea
Kevin O'Leary says the Tory leadership race is rigged
Alberta team granted federal funding to help stop Zika virus