Ottawa Observations: Friday, December 21, 2018

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Friday,  December 21, 2018

Canadians held in China 

Freeland demands 'immediate release' of detained Canadians Kovrig and Spavor
Why China's  exit ban is worrying for travellers
U.S. joins Freeland in condemning 'arbitrary detention' of Canadians and calls for 'immediate release'
Scheer says detention of Canadians in China is retaliation for Huawei arrest
Canadian held in China denied access to his lawyers: employer
Ottawa calls detention of Canadians 'arbitrary' and demands their immediate release
Chinese official slams Huawei exec's arrest in response to question about Canadian detentions


Globe and Mail 

Bell, Telus warn of 5G delays, higher costs if Ottawa joins peers in banning Huawei
Stephen Poloz's long and winding road home
Saint John protestors aim to block Saudi LAV shipment
Federal deficits won't be erased until 2040, Finance Department projects
Canada to impose stricter rules for drone operation next year


CBC

U.S. border patrol saw bump in pot-seizures in Canada's first month of legalization
Federal budget won't be balanced until 2040, Finance Department projects
Year-end polls point to trouble for Trudeau - but no clear signs of collapse yet
Canadians bought $43M worth of marijuana in the first two weeks after legalization
StatsCan planning to ask gender questions in 'pilot' census - and answering is mandatory
Senate rejects calls for outside oversight of expenses
'Alarmed' and 'disgusted': Vance erupts over report that DND evaded information requests on Mark Norman
Canada's economy expands by 0.3% in October, beating expectations
Omar Khdar's request for erased bail conditions denied by judge


Toronto Star

Why 2019 in Canada will be a year of campaigning shamelessly
Canadian troops in Mali provide life-saving medical support
China and the return of the stereotypes
Canada to impose stricter rules for drone operation next year
Ezra Levant sends cease-and-desist to Hudson's Bay Company over 'Make Canada Great Again' Hats


Toronto Sun

U.S, tough on terror, Canada not so much
Omar Khadr's bail conditions stand  - and that's good news


National Post

Since no one appears to be in charge of Parliament reno, I have a few design suggestions
Andrew Scheer ends 2018 with an opportunity. It will be up to him to seize it


Maclean's

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Global

Resignation of U.S. defence secretary not likely to damage Canada-U.S. security ties: experts
Federal budget won't be balanced until 2040, Finance Department says
Western Canadian grassroots group plans 'Convoy to Ottawa' to push pipelines
Ottawa ran surplus of $92 million during first 7 months of 2018, Department of Finance says
Canadian federation is fractured, New Brunswick's rookie premier says
'Domestic realities' not #WelcomeToCanada tweet, to blame for migrants 'fleeing' U.S.: Trudeau


Miscellaneous