Ottawa Observations: Thursday, December 10, 2020

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday, December 20, 2020


Canadians held in China / China tensions

China denies the use of forced labour in this industrial park, but won't let reporters visit. The Globe went anyway

Dear China: Thanks so much for letting us get to know the real you

As Canadians sour on China, an ambassador changes his tone

Two Michaels still locked up in China after two years as Trudeau fiddles

Communist Chinese troops observed military exercises on Canadian soil

Kowtowing to China is dangerous

2 years later, will we get back our Canadians from China?

Ottawa's secret plan to host Chinese military, while ignoring the Two Michaels, makes for chilling reading

China, Canada or US could each bring about Two Michael's freedom, says Kovrig's wife

Liberals dismayed that military exercises with China were cancelled, secret documents reveal

Canada must respond to China's harrowing genocide

See China for what it is

Canadian soldiers no longer training Chinese troops, defence minister says

Canadian officials say two Michaels not tried by China, citing translation error

Highest number of deaths, Northern Health case surge, 39 schools with new exposures

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Families of COVID-19's younger victims sound the alarm about disease's seriousness

Errors found in Alberta's COVID-19 testing data

Virus surge in Northern BC prompts deployment of specialty paramedic team

When will Canadians get COVID-19 vaccines? The federal and provincial rollout plans so far

Windsor to shut all schools until new year due to coronavirus fears

Sorry Premier Kenney: Criticism of your COVID-19 response isn't Alberta bashing

Canada needs to prepare for rare but serious health problems resulting from vaccination

The great vaccine panic of 2020 is over - for now

Approving a vaccine is only the beginning of a long battle

Windsor schools to shut down a week early and move to online learning

COVID-19 modelling shows Ontario in 'precarious position'

Kenney likens pandemic to wartime leadership says Alberta's belated lockdown is 'right thing'

Ottawa's uncertain vaccine timeline sure firmed up in a hurry

Ottawa hopes to immunize every willing Canadian by the end of 2021

Rapid Response team sent to Fort St. James as community grapples with 39 cases

BC sets sombre record with 28 COVID-19 deaths, 723 new cases

Coronavirus vaccine will arrive in Canada on Monday, government says

A Year later, we still don't really know where COVID-19 originated

BC unveils its COVID-19 vaccination plan

BC sets record with 28 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hour period

Globe and Mail

Release of 2030 plan will test the seriousness of Liberals' climate policy

With historic financing, AbCellera becomes champion of Canada's surging biotechnology sector

Michael Houghton's Nobel Prize win shows Canada's strength in biotechnology

MP to request that Pornhub executives testify before Commons ethics committee

Premiers call dibs on federal money before it's all spent

Ottawa urged to set up independent scrutiny of arms exports

Commons passes assisted-dying bill after Conservatives end filibuster

Parliamentary budget officer flays Ottawa over lack of details in its $100 billion stimulus plan

New bill proposes revised rules for running federal election during pandemic

Premiers disappointed by Trudeau's unclear promise to put more federal cash to health care

CBC
  

Trudeau promises more long-term health care funding for provinces - but not right away

Legislation to expand access to medically assisted death clears House, moves to Senate

UK government, Canadian businesses warn of disruptions if Commons fails to pass new trade bill

Revised rules for running federal election during pandemic proposed in new bill

Budget officer blasts lack of detail in Liberals' $100B stimulus plan

WestJet tells MPs and Senators it wasn't prompted  by gov't to refund passengers

Syrian refugees mark 5 years in Canada by becoming citizens

Toronto Star

Doug Ford is stopping his daily pandemic briefings. They weren't helping much anyway

Canadian border agent under investigation after passport for immigration detainee deemed fraudulent

Want to tackle COVID-19 in low-income neighbourhoods? Let's start with paid sick leave

Five years ago, they were known as 'Syrian refugees.' Today, they became 'Syrian Canadians'

'They will spit in his food,' Diodati says about journalist who fact-checked his COVID-19 claims

Defund the police - and then what? What Toronto can learn from the places out in front of a global movement

Justin Trudeau says Ottawa will pay more for health care. Premiers demand to know when

Illegal videos on PornHub are more than just a scandal  - it's time to call the cops

The migrant farm workers did their job. It's time ottawa gets them home

Toronto Sun

HBC latest in growing list of companies to challenge Ford's lockdown measures

Atlantic provinces send joint letter to feds critiquing Clean Fuel Standard

UN critical of Canada, global elites on greenhouse gases

Spirited bill proposes Canada-wide alcohol delivery

The moral hazard of over-using the Armed Forces as First Responders

Canada's medical wait times longest ever because of COVID-19

National Post

Trudeau declines to make big boost in healthcare spending, says government needs to focus on pandemic

Assisted death bill passes in the Commons, heads to the Senate after Conservatives drop filibuster

CRTC says it will allow questions on CBC's branded content during upcoming regulatory hearings

Trudeau to unveil new green measures aimed at meeting goal of net-zero emissions by 2050

Even its own people think the swollen public broadcaster has gone too far this time

Maclean's

Is Ottawa both Jason Kenney's benefactor and his political straw man?

Global

BC money laundering commissioner rebukes Ottawa for ailing to provide important records

Sabotage concerns a factor in secrecy around BC COVID-19 vaccine sites

British Columbians drinking more alcohol during /COVID-19 pandemic, study finds

BC's top doctor goes viral for 'happy dance' ahead of vaccine rollout

Slot Machines in BC's shuttered casinos have been left running for 20 months

BC dry ice company scores cool contract for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

Disappointment, shock from BC Interior politicians as Air Canada cuts service to Penticton

BC tourism task force calls for $95 million COVID-19 emergency fund

Government amends motion calling for inquiry in systemic racism in New Brunswick

Sipekne'katik First Nation ceases discussions with DFO on moderate livelihood fishery

Canadians could vote over 3 days if next election held amid coronavirus pandemic

Miscellaneous

Republic of Kanata convenor says its sheriffs will stop distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Vancouver

Something to celebrate - a Richmond high school's innovative medical science program

Women in Canadian police services continue to increase, now represent 22 percent of sworn officers

Strong solar storm could disrupt communications and cause power failures but also schowcase the northern lights

Joe Arvay changed your life

What if Jason Kenney did take responsibility?

After Tyee Report, Health Canada removes barrier to Psilocybin Therapy

BC's New Addictions Minister promises action on safe supply, Overdose prevention

Nurses deal with COVID 'terror' as stress, burnout, suicidal thinking rise

Port coping well through 2020's challenges, Silvester says

Money laundering inquiry frustrated by federal agencies: Commissioner

VPD tales of increasing crime contrary to department statistics

Surrey police board member's father is former Hell's Angel

Popularity of working from home will be vaccine-resistant, poll suggests