Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Wednesday, December 9, 2020


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Global Affairs objected to Canadian Military decision to cancel training with China's People's Liberation Army

Two years later, Trudeau is still hoping the US will do the hard work for him on releasing Spavor, Kovrig

Support of Canadians gives Michael Kovrig hope, says his wife, on 2nd anniversary of arrest

Don't turn away from China's ongoing genocide of Uighurs

Trudeau says freeing Kovrig and Spavor top priority, at two-year anniversary of Chinese detention

Send a message to China about the imprisonment of Canada's 'Two Michael's'

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

CBSA manager told not to take notes after arrest of Meng Wanzhou, court hears

CBSA Vancouver airport chief says director told her not to make notes about Meng Wanzhou

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

How an entire industry sped up the vaccine timeline

Health Canada approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

Here's what you need to know about Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

BC to start coronavirus vaccine rollout next week as health officials plead for patience

Health Canada approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

What Canadians can expect now that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been approved

Hackers steal Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine data in Europe, companies say

For most of us, COVID vaccine still a long wait

Severe reactions to vaccines happens - and those people will need our support

Canada the biggest hoarder of COVID-19 vaccine pre-orders in First World, NGOs say

Health Canada officially approves COVID vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech

Canada now has more people in hospital than at spring peak

Front-line health workers will be first to get COVID-19 vaccine in BC

Married 68 years, BC couple dies of COVID-19 in separate hospitals hours apart

BC reports 619 new cases of COVID-19, another 16 deaths

Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is not approved for Canadians under 16.Here's why

Health Canada officials allay concerns about side effects following COVID-19 vaccine approval

BC confirms mink at Fraser Valley farm have tested positive for COVID0-19

COVID-19 deaths remain high in BC as vaccine rollout nears

Globe and Mail

No health transfer deal expected at First Ministers Meeting

Trudeau open to more health funding for provinces as premiers criticize fiscal update

Everything you need to know about the Ford government's changes to conservation and planning

A Civil War is erupting over the soul of the CBC

Hydro-Quebec's battery push is built on making the province a lithium player. Will it work?

Health care improvements boost Canada to fourth in world for immigration integration

Canada and UK sign post-Brexit trade agreement, legislation to follow

David Lametti plans public consultation on promised criminal conviction review commission

Federal tourism efforts to focus on going local to help hard-hit sector, Melanie Joly says

Ottawa provinces must work together to tackle the fiscal crisis

The Canadian government's Bill C-10 has opened the door to serious state regulation of the internet

Canada's COVID-19 vaccines have to travel through the United States. Will Donald Trump take them?

CBC
  

The Smartest Guy in the Room: Cameron Ortis and the RCMP Secrets Scandal

Nav Canada to lay off another 180 workers including at historic Gander Area Control Centre

Canadians told to pay back CERB say eligibility requirements were unclear

Canada-UK trade deal signed - but implementing bill unlikely to meet deadline

US challenging Canada's dairy quotas in test of new trade deal

Federal cabinet, provinces engage in tug-of-war over polar icebreaker contract

Canadian military was warned of reservist's hard-right online ties by allied intelligence agency

Liberal MP and doctor says he'll vote against assisted death bill

Ottawa's COVID-19 wage subsidy for salaries - not dividends, says Freeland

Program to give residency to 'guardian angel' asylum seekers to open next week

Bank of Canada keeps rate steady at 0.25%, maintains pledge of it staying low until 2023

New federal climate bill unlikely to solve Canada's greenhouse gas reduction problem - here's why

After going eyeball to eyeball with COVID-19 Kenney finally blinks

The hypocrisy of Jason Kenney's charter rhetoric

Toronto Star

Self employed CERB recipients 'shocked' by CRA letters saying they may have to pay it all back: "I don't know how people are going to survive'

Doug Ford and Bonnie Lysyk team up to go after some of Ontario's most vulnerable

Even a pandemic won't get Ottawa and the premiers to agree on health-care funding

Shelley Deeks, the Public Health Ontario whistleblower on colour-coded COVID restrictions, is leaving for a job in Nova Scotia

Conservatives have ignored the climate crisis at their peril - and party insiders say Erin O'Toole knows it

Battle lines drawn for first ministers' meeting on health care

Toronto should move ahead with a tax on vacant homes

Toronto Sun

Ford government mades booze delivery permanent for restaurants

Will Canadians need a vaccine passport?

COVID-19 outbreak at Whitby LTC home leads to hospital intervention

Program to give Canadian residency to 'guardian angle' asylum-seekers to open next week

All Canadians deserve access to world class health care

'Trudeau's hypocrisy on India protests speaks volumes

Ford government talks of immunity passport for COVID vaccine

It's time for the public sector top rung to take a cut

National Post

Toronto Church forced to reduce 1,100 person capacity down to 10 during COVID lockdown files constitutional challenge

Trudeau's half-brother is an anti-vaxxer, bitcoin entrepreneur and (affectionate) critic of the PM

Canada's broadcasting regulator considering requests to 'investigate' CBC's use of branded content

CBC plan for branded content has staff feeling betrayed and warning of 'fake news'

Airports need more than rent relief to recover after COVID-19, industry group says

Seeing red over that disgusting 'yellow privilege' document at UBC

Maclean's

A Biden-Trudeau partnership will require real work

Global

BC supermarket's COVID-19 killing UV Cart cleaner a Canadian first

Grandparents who provide essential childcare can spend holidays with grandkids, BC minister says

Vancouver police chief 'disappointed' city budget includes freeze on police funding

More popular than Ryan Reynolds: Dr. Tam, politicians beat celebs in new Twitter followers

Canadian Forces troops in Prairies to help in national COVID 19 response

Miscellaneous

Province unveils immunization program, with an eye on the end of the pandemic

What if New Density had to be all affordable? This City did it

Andrew  Nikiforuk Named 'Commentator of the Year' for Tyee work

What will Mable Elmore mean for BC Seniors Care?

Changes to Pandemic supports frustrate some receiving Social Assistance

Vancouver won't increase Police budget, but balks at defunding

The RCMP's X-Men Fixation is more sinister than comic

First COVID-19 vaccinations being given next week in BC

COVID-19 health privacy exemptions continue to be scrutinized