Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Canadians held in China / China tensions

MPs vote to ask VFS Global to testify on visa office in Beijing

Trudeau said Canada committed genocide. why won't he say the same of China?

Is Canada really back? Trudeau refuses to call out China for genocide

Trudeau said he admired China's dictatorship -- believe him!

Of course Trudeau refused to say 'genocide'. He has zero credibility in China

Toothless declarations achieve nothing: "It's time for a don't buy China policy'

Trudeau's 'wilful blindness' to the evils of Chinese communism

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Anand says Canada will reverse international vaccination rankings with impending shipments

New modelling suggests COVID-19 variant cases could surge in Montreal by March

Provinces should prioritize Indigenous people in their COVID-19 vaccination programs, Miller says

UK won't take vaccines from COVAX program, says high commissioner

Vaccination rate is 6 times higher in Indigenous communities than in general population

Incomplete national data makes it hard to assess exactly how far along Canada is on vaccination

Canada's COVID outlook keeps improving

BC reports 427 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths

40 precent of COVID-19 cases in BC are linked to social gatherings

Two 'young adults' died of COVID-19 over the weekend, says Cowichan Tribes chief

Partying students at UBC fined more than $5,000 for breaking COVID-19 rules

Data shows province has made progress over previous weeks

BC Supreme Court denies province's request for injunction against three churches defying COVID-19 health orders

'A matter of trust': The Grim Reality behind Indigenous vaccine fears

Globe and Mail

Toronto, Peel health officials urge provincial government to extend COVID-19 lockdown

Legault's folksy charm reassuring optimism helps him defy gravity amid what's arguably Canada's worst pandemic response

Quebec coroner postpones inquest into COVID-19 deaths at Montreal long-term care home

Risks of higher debt may outweigh stimulus benefits, experts warn

Alberta pastor accused of breaking COVID-19 health rules held in custody

CFIB boss says federal budget must keep up small business supports

The Senate must not stand in the way of legislation - even if, in the case of Bill-C7, it is flawed

How the pandemic has helped Canada mobilize expertise

CBC
  

Court expected to clear Flight PS752 victims' families to sue Iran, airline

Senate passes amended version of assisted dying bill after days of debate

Fort McMurray man arrested for threats agains Conservative MP David Yurdiga

Liberal MP asks Speaker to strike Ramesh Sangha's comments from official record

Canadian Nationalist Party leader charged with wilful promotion of hate

Justice system needs more resources after pandemic pushed operations online: report

New legislation promises to let cities ban handguns, yet it remains unclear if it will work

Changing how police departments respond to overdose calls could save lives

I'm tired of Quebec prioritizing the economy over our health and well being

Lessons for Alberta from the Texas power blackout

Toronto Star

   

Tory, de Villa urge Ford government not to ease restrictions on Toronto until at least March 9

Several Ontario private schools on board with march break delay

Anti-poverty group calls for a national anti-predatory lending strategy

Should Canadians be allowed to make advance requests for medically assisted deaths? The Senate says yes

Doug Ford is waiting  for a call from Michigan's governor as deadline looms for pipeline to close

Trusting Doug Ford to expand the Greenbelt 'is like trusting an arsonist with a pack of matches'

Security, privacy must guide justice modernization, legal profession task force says

Toronto Sun

Forget shopping, Mayor John Tory wants you to stay home

TO mulls handgun ban, illegal guns still flood city streets

Toronto pushes to delay COVID re-opening until March 9

Shoppers and diners happy restrictions eased in Durham Region

Daughter on mission to make retirement homes more accountable

No quit in the tenacious plaintiff Senator Mike Duffy

National Post

Report cards scold federal government over unchecked spending

Liberal government's 'empty shell' firearms bill unlikely to curb violence, gun control advocate warms

Only one reason for the Liberals' toothless gun law - they know lawful firearm owners are not a threat

Canada needs national standards in public health, report says

Google in 'active' talks with Canadian publishers following string of deals to pay for news in Australia

In reaction to proposed law, Facebook restricts publishers, users in Australia from sharing news content

CRA suspends online accounts of over 100,000 Canadians after login credentials found for sale on dark web

Derek Sloan and pro-life groups are sabotaging the social conservative cause in Canada

Maclean's

How will Ontario schools keep kids safe during the third wave?

The 'safe bets' and 'wild cards' needed to meet Canada's net zero emissions target

Bring them home

Global

Deadline to clear half of Strathcona Park won't be met Wednesday, says park board GM

Andrew Wilkinson formally resigns as BC Liberal leader months after electoral defeat

BC judge dismisses province's application for injunction to stop  in-person church services

BC has record year for heart and lung transplants

Horgan 'deeply' troubled by 717% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in Vancouver

Langford arena slated for use as mass COVID-19 vaccination site

Vernon councillor urges province to reconsider COVID-19 restriction on farmer's market

'Chilling': NFA president jokes about bringing guillotine back over gun control bill

Here's why some coronavirus vaccine suppliers say they aren't selling to provinces

Feds dig in on support for cities looking to ban handguns, despite provincial pushback

Miscellaneous

Petition to decriminalize sex work may finally thrust Justin Trudeau into repealing Canada's prostitution law

Police crackdown on violent shoplifting in Downtown Vancouver nets 130 arrests

Vancouver nonprofit proposes RRSP-RESP like registered savings plan for affordable housing

LNG Canada Janitors Win pay hike, improved health and safety

Trees to Pellets? For Nelson's future hangs in the balance

Political gesture or real change? BC's anti-racism effort faces tough questions

The Indigenous Scientist charting the future of fisheries, one salmon at a time