Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday, December 17, 2019 


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Canada's China envoy Dominic Barton sets up blind trust to avoid potential conflicts


Globe and Mail

Bill Morneau requests quick review of provinces' calls for expanded stabilization program
The big surprise in the Trudeau government's fiscal update? Read the fine print
Trudeau losing another long time staffer with departure of Kate Purchase
To the next Conservative leader: May the best woman win
LifeLabs pays ransom after massive data breach affecting up to 15 million Canadians
What Boris Johnson's win means for Canadian-British trade
Canada looking at military engineers, on-the-ground training for peacekeeping
Former chair of Conservative leadership race says quick vote on leader possible
Green economy think tank gives thumbs up to federal government's tree planting promise
If Conservatives want to be a big-tent party, they must expand their membership
Should governments have a say in what drugs are prescribed to patients?


CBC

Morneau says he's open to fiscal stabilization reform - but provinces are pushing for health cash
Trudeau's communications chief Kate Purchase leaving PM's office
Alleged RCMP spy's lawyer 'disappointed' with pace of case so far
Immigration minister says Canada is playing a 'truly transformational' role in private sponsorship of refugees
'Greatest existential threat of our time': Ottawa makes carbon tax case in court
NDP used voters list to get private addresses for Christmas cards
'Brink of destruction': AFN national chief demands action on fading Indigenous languages at UN
Government decreases carbon-tax rebate amounts for 3 provinces
LifeLabs pays ransom after cyberattack exposes information of 15 customers in BC and Ontario
Morneau 'open' to Alberta Premier Kenney's request for a boost to fiscal stabilization program
'I'm not really thinking about it': Christy Clark says she's not interested in federal Conservative leadership


Toronto Star

Ho-ho-oh-no. Jagmeet Singh's Christmas cards misused voters' information, party says
LifeLabs says it paid ransom to secure millions of customers' stolen medical data
Provinces push for help and Ottawa promises to look at payouts to ease tough economic times
Nothing wrong with using voters list to mail Jagmeet Singh's Christmas cards, says Canada's election watchdog
Is Trudeau's National Pharmacare program already doomed?
Green economy think tank gives thumbs up to Canada's tree planting promise


Toronto Sun

Private health care data of 15M Canadians compromised in LifeLabs cyberattack
Once again, Trudeau manages to insult the west
It's time for Trudeau to stand up to Bill 21
Ford calls for real solutions on violence not Trudeau's dreams


National Post

Rona Ambrose is the most electable potential Conservative leadership candidate, early poll says
Trudeau loses another top adviser as chief spokeswoman leaves to work for Microsoft
Private schools and public money are a bad mix
Expect a short leadership race even if massive change is looming for the Conservatives


Maclean's

What's $6.8 billion among friends?
Lithium could help us ditch fossil fuels. But mining is messy


Global

Wilkinson 'wrestling' with how Frontier oilsands mine would fit into climate commitments
Rona Ambrose most favoured by Canadians to be next Tory leader, survey suggests
Lawyer argues Ottawa's consultation with Indigenous groups on Trans Mountain pipeline project was meaningful
Ford government dodges accountability on patient safety in pharmacies


Miscellaneous

The Conservatives' Radical Right problem goes way beyond Scheer
LifeLabs hack means BC residents' sensitive health records might be on the dark web for sale somewhere
Nothing wrong with using voters list to mail Jagmeet Singh's Christmas cards
LifeLabs hit in cyberattack exposing health date of 15 million Canadians; ransom paid