Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Wednesday,  January 20, 2021

American Inauguration Day 2021

Joe Biden delivers messages of inclusion, urges Americans to set aside differences
Biden takes sweeping Day One action on energy, immigration
Joe Biden's inauguration was a remarkable moment in contrast to Trump's America
Group of House Republicans strike conciliatory note in letter to Biden
A powerful moment for women as Kamala Harris becomes first female US Vice President

Biden revokes Keystone XL pipeline permit on first day in White House

Biden's 1st call to foreign leader will be to Trudeau Friday, says press secretary

Biden presidency will improve battered Canada-US relationship but won't be without obstacles, experts warn

Trudeau, party leaders extend congratulations to new US President Joe Biden

Joe Biden sworn in as 46th US president, calls on Americans to 'end this uncivil war'
World leaders welcomed new US President Joe Biden, with hopes of repairing frayed alliances
Biden's first call to foreign leader will be to Trudeau Friday, says press secretary
Canada says a heartfelt farewell to 'the idiot next door'
Students at VP Kamala Harris's Montreal alam mater say her rise serves as inspiration
Donald Trump can't resist a final threat during his skulking departure
Donald Trump's parting lesson: To get better leaders, we need better voters
What Canada needs from Biden
'Democracy has prevailed': Joe Biden takes power on the steps where Trump loyalists ran riot
'We've been had': Biden inauguration has QAnaon followers confused, disillusioned
Anthem from a new US President: Biden inaugural address draws from the ancient to the modern
Capitol Police officer who faced down pro-Trump mob escorts Harris at inauguration
The last minutes of Trump's presidency: Supporters greet him as he begins a new life in Florida
In first action as US President, Biden signs series of executive orders overturning Trump policies
Vladiimir Putin and Russia's criminal elite are in Joe Biden's crosshairs
Joe Biden takes the oath: "I get it'
Why Biden's Inaugural address could be counted among the great ones

Embracing the Joe Biden era

Biden inauguration: A house divided still stands
Five takeaways from a day of 'hope and renewal'
History's little reassuring moments

Amanda Gorman's poem: 'The Hill We Climb'

Why inauguration in lockdown suits Joe Biden perfectly

Kamala Harris's unprecedented inauguration day

Climate groups cheer US return to Paris Agreement, but push Biden for more

Inauguration of Vice-President Kamala Harris stirs pride in Montreal

Donald Trump leaves the White House for last time as President

Canadians held in China / China tensions

Pop star younger sister of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou is jealous of her popularity

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Vaccine deliveries are not out of your hands Mr. Trudeau. Ensuring them is your job

The race for a COVID-19 vaccine wasn't about humanity. It's about imperialism

Federal health officials raise concern over 'alarming rate' of COVID-19 cases in Indigenous communities

Canada Post begins testing entire shift at Mississauga site after outbreak infects 121

Should nursing homes use rapid tests for COVID-19? It depends on who you ask

Barrie nursing home fighting more contagious form of COVID-19

BC adds 500 COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths; fewest in hospital since November

COVID-19  positivity rate in small BC city 'as bad as anywhere in the world right now': doctor

BC First Nation credits family who self-disclosed COVID-19 diagnosis with helping outbreak control 

New COVID-19 cluster in BC Interior linked to 'social events' in Williams Lake

Interior Health long-term care residents to be offered COVID-19 vaccines by the end of next week

Community spread of new COVID-19 variants may be happening in Canada: Tam

Case numbers remain stable but deaths still high, seven flights with exposures and more

Late to the game - BC's delayed integration of COVID alert

Globe and Mail

Keystone XL may be the end of Alberta's risky investments

Keystone is dead and the remnants of NAFTA are Alberta's best slim hope of getting its money back

Why Canada's Conservatives need to break up with their Republican cousins 

Conservative MPs oust Derek Sloan from caucus after white supremacist donation

Unidentified COVID-19 variant found in severe Ontario long-term outbreak

CRA backtracks on message to artists, says grant money counts as income to qualify for emergency benefits

A surging dollar explains Bank of Canada's reluctance to alter course on its monetary policy

CBC
  

Conservatives have voted to expel Derek Sloan from caucus

Budget watchdog says reformed fiscal stabilization program will cost Ottawa $4.5 billion

James Cross, British diplomat who survived FLQ kidnapping, dead at 99

Bank of Canada holds rate steady at 0.25% even as it expects economy to shrink until March

Alberta premier calls Biden's XL cancellation a 'gut punch' for US-Canada trade relationship

Toronto Star

        

'A lot of anger:' The inside story of the three-hour Conservative caucus meeting to expel Derek Sloan

Ontario's for-profit nursing homes have 78% more COVID-19 deaths than non-profits, report finds

Doug Ford was Canada's most pro-Trump politician - until everything changed

Have you heard the false conspiracy theory about Justin Trudeau and the Bank of Canada?

Toronto Sun

Ford does what Trudeau won't - calls Pfizer for vaccines

Conservative MP Derek Sloan ejected from party caucus

Fromm not worst neo-Nazi in Canada but he'll do

Not staying home: TO partygoers undeterred day state of emergency

The Conservatives biggest wounds are self inflicted

Why hasn't Trudeau gotten up Pfizer CEO"s ying yang yet?

History is made: What Biden, Harris need to learn from Jean Chrétien

National Post

TC Energy halts Keystone pipeline project, and any attempt to sue US government has little chance of success

Keystone XL failure a major blow to Jason Kenney, but it's early days

Derek Sloan booted from Conservative caucus after MPs vote in emergency meeting

Once Sloan is sorted, can O'Toole please turn to the issues of the day?

Booting Sloan was just a start. O'Toole must get serious about distancing party from unsavoury elements

Maclean's

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Global

Surrey senior issued $112 bill after calling RCMP to report break-in attempt

Petition pushes BC government for tighter COVID-19 travel and quarantine restrictions

Province says Rio Theatre's sports bar conversion plan 'likely meets COVID-19 rules

Victoria MP expecting baby in April, will run again if there is a spring election

Victoria man who damaged 14 businesses believed to have stolen a ferry a day earlier

Derek Sloan ejected from Conservative caucus over 'pattern of destructive behaviour'

Miscellaneous

Conservative party leader makes MP Derek Sloan a convenient scapegoat

Taxing foreign buyers didn't make homes more affordable in BC. How would a national levy be any different?

'Unprofessional and Disrespectful': Walker among items taken from homeless people

How much of Vancouver is even left to plan?

Hey Minister. It's time to end our disgraceful food band dependency