Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Wednesday, November 18, 2020


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Opposition defeats Liberals on motion to fight Chinese tactics

Canada's cyberspy agency says China, Russia among countries that post greatest 'strategic threat'

'Witness Safety concern raises questions about key witness decision not to testify in Meng Wanzhou case

State-sponsored actors 'very likely' looking to attack electricity supply, says intelligence agency

Parliament passes Conservative motion to demand government decision on Huawei and 5G

Cyber defence agency says hostile states are developing ways to disrupt Canada's power grid

Time to curb China's technology thievery

Bob Rae takes on China

China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are Canada's 'greatest strategic threat': CSE report

Five Eyes alliance demands China 'stop undermining the rights' of Hong Kong citizens

Meng's lawyer challenges border officer's line of questioning before her arrest

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Doug Ford warns of possible 'lockdown,' new restrictions as Ontario's COVID-19 cases rise 

BC Premier calls for national clampdown on non-essential travel

With vaccines on the horizon, lockdown suddenly becomes more palatable

Alberta needs to get real about its fiscal challenge

Fauci says Canada 'getting into trouble' as COVID-19 cases surge worldwide

Majority of travellers entering Canada during COVID-19 given OK not to quarantine

Saskatchewans latest COVID-19 restrictions are contrary and illogical, and put business ahead of lives

Pandemic models didn't see COVID-fatigue coming, says one of Canada's top doctors

'I'm running out of ammunition.' Peel's medical officer of health looks at more curbs as region faces Ontario's scariest COVID numbers

As Pfizer finishes COVID-19 vaccine testing, Elliot reveals how many doses Ottawa and Ontario are expecting

Premier targets Toronto, York and Peel with lockdown warning

Forget the lockdowns the answer is to protect the vulnerable

Mayor top doc tapdance around COVID lockdown questions

Keeping our kids front of mind

America's Dr. Fauci says Canada is getting into trouble as COVID-19 cases spike

'I get that you are scared': Community spread of COVID-19 threatens Atlantic bubble

From zero to 70 in days: Nunavut's remote communities experience their first COVID-19 outbreak

British Columbia set to impose province-wide travel restrictions on Thursday

10 deaths and 762 new cases as BC breaks COVID-19 records again

COVID-19 'gargle test' now available for adults on BC's South Coast

New COVID-19 outbreak declared at Surrey Memorial hospital

Metro Vancouver mayors facing COVID-19 surge call for more regional data

Interior Health preparing for COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Another new record of over 700 new cases, 24 schools with new exposures, and more

A suggestion to help Canadians Get Clear on COVID-19

Canada's Three Pandemic Blunders

Quarantine due to COVID contact leads to greater suicidal ideation

COVID-19 spread in BC remains at record levels as new health orders loom

Globe and Mail

Vancouver proposes decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs

Canada-US border restrictions extended another 30 days, source says

Why the Canadian voting system is a winner, and Donald Trump is a loser

Conservative deputy leader Bergen says it's okay for MPs to hire their in-laws

NDP raises more questions about Morneau, WE Charity in letter to ethics watchdog

The Feds can't make the provinces 'do the right thing' on the pandemic, but they can make it worth their while

CBC
    

Singh calls out Trudeau over pharmacare commitment as Commons begins debate on new bill

Ottawa to keep Boeing Max aircraft grounded for now despite US decision

Bloc to file bill on French langauge proficiency for new citizens

Cystic Fibrosis drug Trikafta could change lives - if Health Canada approves it

It's time to reconsider the NDP

Toronto Star

Supermarkets are making huge profits at a time when food prices are rising and Canadians are suffering, advocates say

RCMP needs structural changes to address racism: MMIWG Commissioner

Federal fisheries minister should resign over lobster dispute: Indigenous leader

Should medically assisted deaths be allowed for Canadians with mental illnesses? The Federal government says no. Not everyone agrees

Ottawa considering tying provincial money for child care to a new set of national standards

Nearly one in five Canadians agree with Trump's assertion the US election was unfair

Canada-US land border closure has been extended to December 21

The eight ways Erin O'Toole is copying Donald Trump's playbook

Canadians are more worried about COVID-19 than the soaring national debt, Environics survey finds

Toronto Sun

Awaiting Trudeau's Alice in Wonderland climate law

National Post

More than 800,000 ineligible people received CERB, at cost of nearly $1.7B, CRA documents reveal

Parliament passes Conservative motion to demand Liberal government decision on Huawei, 5G within 30 days 

Trudeau and Scheer still don't get that the perception of conflict is the reality

Canada must defend women's rights at G20 summit in Saudi Arabia

Maclean's

The attack on WE led to an immense loss

Bill Blair gets a smackdown from Canada's information watchdog

Global

'The exact same scenario': 2nd family comes forward with RCH anesthesiologist horror story

BC Premier calls on prime minister to ask other provinces to restrict non-essential travel

BCGEU concerned about members going back to offices

Plan unveiled to make Vancouver first jurisdiction in Canada to decriminalize simple drug possession

Sentencing wraps in assault case tied to alleged RCMP misconduct

Vancouver Council approves plan that could set fees to drive into the downtown core

New BC Cabinet set to be announced on November 26

Bridgewater says a not-so-fond farewell to the HMCS Cormorant

Tory MPs call for stricter rules after news Andrew Scheer hired sister-in-law

Miscellaneous                            

Canada's plastics ban should include beverage containers

Nova Scotia mass shooting stirs more RCMP contradictions

Vancouver City Council approves Climate Emergency Action Plan

Vancouver aims to become first Canadian City to Decriminalize drugs

Vancouver's Council wants a new way of policing. The VPD is Not on Board

Surrey proposes tax hikes and more debt

Officials investigating downed BC Legislature website

Surrey police transition costs skyrocket

Vancouver mayor wants federal government to decriminalize simple possession of drugs