Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, May 28, 2019

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



Trade Tariffs lifted between Canada, U.S. and Mexico

Canada to align itself with American timeline for ratifying USMCA, Trudeau says
NAFTA bill lets Trudeau cabinet wait and see what U.S. congress does
Despite Liberal push, the fate of new NAFTA is still in the hands of U.S. Democrats


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Freeland says detained Canadians face 'very difficult' conditions as she pleads with Chinese counterpart to hold talks
Ottawa doesn't want a fight with China, but it can't cave in to threats
Chrystia Freeland was urged to tell China to stop 'inaccurate' talk about Canada's justice system


Globe and Mail 

Senate committee votes to investigate failed prosecution of Mark Norman
Conservative senators move to kill bill requiring laws to be consistent with UN declaration on Indigenous rights
MPs issue summons to Facebook's Zuckerberg, Sandberg over 'abhorrent' snub of international meeting on data privacy
Malaysia to send plastic waste back to foreign countries including Canada
Thunder Bay police board in turmoil following removal of lawyer, calls for Mayor's resignation from body
Senate guards oppose hiring of private security force as 'ushers'
Son of Canadian-Iranian widow stuck in Iran urges Canada to speak out on consular case
Andrew Scheer's diversity speech is personal, but short on immigration policy details
Federal government unveiling risk assessment tool for artificial intelligence
Scheer says bigots, extremists and racists aren't welcome in Conservative Party


CBC

Senate votes to hear testimony from Vice-Admiral Mark Norman
Wilson-Raybould won't say she wants to see Liberals returned to power
Coastal First Nations slam senators, say upper house doesn't have 'legitimacy' to kill tanker ban
Scheer vows crackdown on those trying to 'game' Canada's refugee system
Report into federal government's role in Hassan Diab's extradition lands on justice minister's desk
'Call their bluff': Shut down social media platforms, ex-Facebook adviser urges
Liberals propose changes to citizenship oat to respect Indigenous rights
No tax on sugary drinks in federal Liberal platform, says health minister
If they win, Wilson-Raybould and Philpott can thank the party system they now loathe
Family of Quebec man accused of fraud in Dubai makes last-ditch plea for Trudeau's help
Scheer says he'd scrutinize CBC's work for Canadian emphasis if he becomes PM
Contract deal reached with 30K federal public servants
'We are going to send this back': Malaysia returning unwanted Canadian plastic


Toronto Star

Facebook refuses to remove false content during Canadian election
Health Canada bans breast implants linked to rare cancer
Liberal insiders looking at Mark Carney as Trudeau's successor
First Nations, climate advocates warn of democratic crisis as environmental legislation hits road blocks in the Senate
Finance Minister Bill Morneau criticizes Ontario's 'cut first and think later' budget decisions
Lobby groups plan ad blitzes before new election rules kick in
Coastal First Nations demand Senate approve tanker ban as bill faces uncertain fate
With a nod to Ford, Scheer eyes the path of less disrpution


Toronto Sun

Scheer strikes right note on immigration
Canada should embrace the new India
Unifor's bias will only worsen Liberal media bailout


Maclean's

Independent's Day
The Philippines has a bigger trash problem than Canada


National Post

Andrew Scheer slowly revealing policies that appear neither scary or weak
Senate committee to call on Mark Norman, Sajjan and General Vance to testify about Norman affair
Well-known former imam wins Liberal nomination in Montreal riding, becoming first non-Italian nominee
Andrew Scheer has chosen a weird moment to go soft
Asylum-claim backlog will likely reach 100,000 by end of 2021, IRB head tells MPs
Canadian Olympic officials urge Ottawa to fast-track citizenship for star U.S. softball player


Global

Coast guard fleet renewal plan unlikely to yield promised deals before the election
Tories demand answers on delayed call to police over prison sexual assault allegations
MPs demand more federal assistance as mental-health issues rise on Canadian farms
Facebook's Zuckerberg, Sandberg get unprecedented order to appear at committee if ever in Canada
How the wave of U.S. restrictions will affect Canadian women sent there for abortions


Miscellaneous

What Vancouver Housing needs is some public process sorcery
Dear Journalists of Canada: Start reporting Climate Change as an Emergency
Proposed changes to Canadian citizenship oath would recognize Indigenous rights
Jody Wilson-Raybould says she will work with the Greens after announcing she'll run as an Independent
Here's why the Greens may be better off without Jane Philpott and Jody Wilson-Raybould over the long term