Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday, November 17, 2020


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Foreign Minister François-Phillipe Champagne says Ottawa poised to act against China's interference in Canada

Tories push Liberals to decide whether to ban Huawei from 5G amid diplomatic dispute with China

As Conservatives call for crackdown, O'Toole calls Chinese influence a grave 'threat' to Canada

Meng Wanahou's border exam was necessary due to national security concern, officer says

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Absence of standard protocols on COVID-19 testing leaves nursing homes vulnerable

Ontario's Peel region sees surge in workplace COVID-19 infections

Alberta Health Minister defends province's COVID-tracing app despite few contacts

A COVID-19 vaccine only be the beginning of the end of the pandemic

Ontario mulls COVID lockdown criteria, as public-health adviser pushes to 'speak freely'

Alberta's COVID-19 outbreak forces closure of over 500 continuing care beds

Canada is on track for a pandemic Christmas. There's still time to change course

We can avoid a lockdown by creating a national mass testing program

Most Canadians could be vaccinated by end of 2021, says federal public health officer

Alberta reveals its COVID-19 app has been used to trace only 20 cases over 6 months

'What about us?' Internal presentation shows Scarborough Health Network has most COVID patients in Toronto

Key advisers to Ford government on pandemic response support more transparency

Sadly, getting to COVID Zero is now too far to reach because we have already screwed up so badly

Ottawa will roll out COVID-19 vaccine to provinces on basis of population, Alberta says

'Vast majority of Canadians' could have access to a COVID-19 vaccine by late 2021, says public health deputy chief

If health officials want to win the COVID-19 fight, they need to tell us what they know

We can't let Trudeau shove premiers aside in COVID-19 battle

Ontario COVID-19 cases drop under 1,300

Trudeau should not take over COVID from Premiers

Among those we need to thank for the good news on vaccines: Dolly Parton

Without expanded contact tracing, Alberta is flying blind through the pandemic

More record breaking numbers as BC Reports 717 new COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths

Head of Island Health suggests 14 day isolation for non-essential workers travelling to Vancouver Island

COVID-19 outbreak at Abbotsford care home spreads to 101 people

Officials say to avoid Christmas travel in BC this year due to COVID-19 pandemic

'A big sigh of relief': Trudeau says coronavirus vaccines in spring will begin end of pandemic

Interior Health defends handling of COVID-19 school exposures

Interior Health pleads with young people to take coronavirus seriously

'We are starting to see community spread': Officials issue stern warning to Nova Scotians

Over 700 new cases, record number of deaths, 13 schools with new exposures

Abbotsford private school becomes fourth Lower Mainland school to close due to COVIE-19 cases

Jason Kenney's COVID Disaster

BC sees record 11 COVID-19 deaths in a day, as hospitalizations reach record high

Globe and Mail

Trump points to Elections Canada's disavowal of voting machines

A Toronto's SickKids hospital, two thirds on wait list have missed their surgery 'window'

Assisted dying legislation puts equality for people with disabilities at risk

Andrew Scheer employed sister while he was speaker and deputy speaker of the House

Conservative leader O'Toole says Scheer's hiring practices don't meet his ethical bar

An ethics refresher for confused MPs and the siblings on their payroll

Info watchdog slams RCMP, Liberals for rampant access-information failures

Jane Goodall backs Senator Murray Sinclair's proposed law to protect captive animals, ban elephant ivory

Navy could buy two converted Davie supply ships at fraction of price of building new one: PBO

CBC
    

Former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer hired his sister while serving as Speaker: sources

Navy missed a chance to get its new resupply ships for a lot less money, PBO suggests

Companies could face hefty fines under new Canadian privacy law

Information commissioner rips RCMP for slow response to information access requests

Jane Goodall backs Senator Murray Sinclair's bill to ban ape, elephant captivity in Canada

Ethics commissioner received complaint about Liberal MP hiring sister  years ago

CFIB backs Quebec business owner's fight for compensation over tax dodge allegations

Hacking attacks on government growing more sophisticated, intelligence agency warns

Why federal government should reject human challenge trials for COVID-19 vaccine

When it comes to our health care, Albertans will not be silenced

Toronto Star

Canada Border Services Agency refusing to disclose evidence from 'vigilante' officer in deportation case

Ontario eyes longer school break at Christmas to combat COVID-19 surge

Ex-Mountie faces grilling from former minister's lawyer, repeats earlier testimony

Canadians could tell tech companies to delete their data under new privacy law

Andrew Scheer drops sister-in-law from his payroll after Erin O'Toole said her employment did not meet his ethical standards

Joe Biden has embraced "America first' Doug Ford can play that game too

Toronto Sun

Trudeau's handgun ban won't work

Essential jobs put Brampton residents at higher risk: Mayor

School out? Waiting for answers from Ford government

The important COVID data from Alberta that all Canadians need to know

Canadians paying implicit tax for 'Canadian content' entertainment

Caught on a hot mic: Liberal cabinet minister doesn't know how much she makes

National Post

Monsef's live mic adventures highlights lack of competent cabinet ministers

Canada lost at least $247M in unpaid taxes on foreign digital services and products last year: AG

Brian Mulroney: The state of the Canada-US relationship is strong

Erin  O'Toole and Keir Starmer two peas in a pod

Keep Ottawa out of the provincial COVID response

Maclean's

This year has taught us that democracy is not unshakeable

2020 was the year that changed everything

The pandemic has finally busted the myth that rich countries can overcome anything

Global

BC veterinarians blame COVID-19 pandemic for rise in kennel cough cases in dogs

Actor Richard Schiff from 'The Good Doctor' hospitalized with COVID-19

Category 1 hurricane strength winds batter BC south coast, leaving many without power

BC homeowner hit with $2,300 fine for hosting poker party

Anti-pipeline protestors block rail line near the Burnaby-Coquitlam  border

Trump shares Elections Canada tweet after falsely claiming machines led to voter fraud

Scheer ends sister in law's employment in his office as quesitons swirl

'Mic Mac' street names called colonial, outdated as HRM council asks for report

New Liberal privacy bill wants to dine firms 5% of revenue if they abuse consumer data

Information commissioner slams RCMP for access-to-information failures, calls for 'urgent' action

Miscellaneous                            

Burnaby Hospital reopens emergency department after fire, amid COVID-19 outbreaks

How understanding heritage as embodiment of meaning enriches urban development in places like Vancouver

Vancouver Projects give weed to curb overdoses. Police just raided one

BC's Green's, unleashed

Even a decade ago BC's Dirty Money Scandal was there to see

Here comes the Sweet Grass patrol

Give more chronic drinkers safe doses of alcohol, say researchers

Artificial intelligence threatens individual privacy: commissioner

Google and Facebook profit from reliable journalism. They should help pay for it