Ottawa Observations: Thursday, March 28, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Wednesday, March 28, 2019


The SNC-Lavalin Files

SNC-Lavalin warned prosecutors of corporate move to U.S.
SNC-Lavalin warned of U.S. move, slashing workforce if no plea deal, documents show
Trudeau condemns leaks to media on judicial appointments, denies PMO was source
SNC-Lavalin's legal woes are putting a $500M federal defence contract at risk
Legal team told Wilson-Raybould that intervening in SNC-Lavalin case would be unprecedented
SNC warned of U.S. move, slashing workforce if no plea deal, documents show
Justin Trudeau condemns leak of confidential information around Supreme Court appointment
Desperate Liberals trying to turn page on Lavscam
Lametti lounges on the Leaky Ship Liberal, as Puglaas issues an SOS



Canada grounds the Boeing Max 8 and 9




Canadians held in China / China tensions

Canada needs 'reality check' on a free-trade agreement with China, says study
Canada's canola conundrum has Trudeau pinned between China and U.S.
Canola farmers caught in the crossfire from China
Chinese diplomat accused of trying to shut down Montreal event in third incident of alleged campus interference



Globe and Mail 

Norman lawyer seeks access to 60 page Wernick memo to Trudeau about Vice-Admiral's case
Four years in, will Trudeau need to prove again he's up to his job?
Trudeau apologizes, says his response to Grassy Narrows protest 'lacked respect'
Quebec tables legislation on religious-symbols ban, in provisions for notwithstanding clause
Liberals may have to play the race card to cut into Tories' lead



CBC

Neo-Nazism and Islamophobia among the 'gravest threats' facing the world, Freeland tells UN
CRA executes search warrants on Vancouver properties in tax evasion case
Defence lawyers receive heavily censored memo to Trudeau about Mark Norman's case
Trudeau apologizes to Grassy Narrows protestor thanked for 'donation,' kicked out of Liberal Party fundraiser
What's in Quebec's secularism bill: Religious symbols, uncovered faces and a charter workaround
Conservatives plan to mass-text voters in 4 provinces to campaign against carbon tax
Supreme Court stresses jail should be 'the exception' for people awaiting trial
Quebec government's proposed secularism law would ban public workers from wearing religious symbols
First Nations chiefs vying for stake in Trans Mountain pipeline gat face-to-face with Bill Morneau
Agrifood sector welcomes budget's immigration pilot for foreign workers
Wrongfully convicted Halifax man's case sat on Wilson-Raybould's desk for months




Toronto Star

Justin Trudeau made a smug remark to a protestor. It's hard to recover from that
Canadian officials worry that foreign actors are trying to meddle in 2019 election
Where is the help promised Grassy Narrows?
Scheer's Conservatives lead in polls as support for Trudeau's Liberals erodes
Transport Canada to study the potential of hyperloop technology
Quebec's religious neutrality bill to override provincial and Canadian rights charters


Toronto Sun

Gaffe prone Trudeau loses his shine


National Post

PM scores a direct hit on the core of brand Trudeau
Norman's lawyers seek access to entire memo Wernick wrote to Trudeau
Opposition lashes out at 'arrogant' Trudeau after he thanks First Nations protestors for donations
Mark Norma's lawyers seeking access to 60 page, fully redacted memo Michael Wernick, wrote to Justin Trudeau


Maclean's

The RCMP have questions for Jason Kenney's team on voter fraud allegations


Global

Fiat Chrysler plant in Windsor cutting 1,500 positions
Lawyer for Mark Norman fighting for access to 60 page memo
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante slams Quebec government's secularism bill
Group wants feds to remove Sikh extremism reference from terror report
Quebec religious symbols bill would affect students planning to be teachers, police officers
Trudeau now has a lower approval rating than Trump, with Tories way ahead: Ipsos


Miscellaneous

Liberals would have trouble dumping Trudeau as leader even if they wanted to do this