Ottawa Observations: Monday, March 15, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Monday, March 15, 2021

Canadians held in China / China tensions

Huseyin Celil is the forgotten Canadian destined in China

Why did we ever trust China on vaccines?

Lawyer for Meng Wanzhou argues new evidence would challenge HSBC loan loss risk

Meng Wanzhou case resumes with arguments over evidence, abuse of process

Lawyer for Meng Wanzhou claims HSBC had no risk of loss

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Trudeau offers reassurances  on safety of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine as more European countries suspend use

Third Wave of COVID-19 pandemic triggers another lockdown in Italy

Toronto private school Upper Canada College temporarily closes due to COVID-19 cases among students

Ontario entering  third COVID-19 wave, hospital association warns

COVID-19 will cast a long shadow over future generations

Canada will recommend AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine for those over 65, documents show

Trudeau says AstraZeneca vaccine is safe after some European countries suspend its use

Ontario books 90,000 vaccinations for COVID-19 on first day of online registration

Majority of Ontarians give Canada 'poor' marks for vaccine rollout, poll finds

Trudeau offers reassurance on AstraZeneca  safety as European countries suspend use

BC reports 1,506 new COVID-19 cases over three days, as total deaths top 1,400

BC's top doctor looks to loosen COVID-19 restrictions on in-person religious gatherings

BC recently allowed for outdoor gatherings up to 10 people. Do bar and restaurant patios apply?

BC's first batch of AstraZeneca headed for workers at food processing plants, industrial camps

Adults in Prince Rupert and Port Edward start mass vaccination program Monday

Does AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine cause blood clots? Here's what we know so far

AstraZeneca vaccine rollout, over 450 new cases per day, 10 new deaths

Vaccination appointment schedule accelerates due to progress in bookings 

Globe and Mail

Rogers seeks to buy Shaw for $20.4 billion in deal that would transform Canadian telecom market

Sale of Telecom empire has 'generational impact' on Shaw family

Rogers, Shaw likely to face regulatory hurdles as deal upends Ottawa's focus on new wireless entrants 

Shaw family to receive Rogers stock in take-over of Shaw Communications, unlike other shareholders

American telecoms are our best hope for sustainable competition

Politics led to WE Charity's fall, Kielburgers say

Walmart Canada led to WE Charity's fall, Kielburgers say

Doug Ford says Rick Hillier, head of Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine task force, leaving role at end of March

It's time for a new defence minister    

Jason Kenney to face leadership review in 2022

Ottawa repatriates child from Syria but leaves mother behind

More than 70 parliamentarians call for criminal investigation into Pornhub parent company MindGeek

Trudeau says people need to 'wait patiently' for COVID-19 situation to ease before Canada-US border can reopen

Federal and Quebec governments announce $100 million for Lion Electric battery plant

Ottawa plans to help US drug giant expand vaccine-production plant

CBC
  

Kielburgers accuse MPs of holding political trial during testy committee hearing

Canadian girl, 4, freed from Syrian Detention camp

Blocked by the Bloc: How Quebec voters could decide the timing of the next election

Military conducted secret investigation of reservist Patrick Matthews as a possible terrorist threat

The post-COVID recovery: a rising tide for some, a tsunami for others

Toronto Star

   

"The pandemic is far from over': Toronto to decide on restrictions this week as COVID-19 numbers rise

Politicians destroyed WE Charity for their own benefit, Kielburgers claim

Kielburger brothers, MPs battle over WE operations, deal to run federal program

Arrest warrant issued for Canadian CEO after authorities allege company's messaging app used by international crime groups

Canada's largest public sector pension sells off stakes in two US private prison giants

Rogers buying Shaw is a big deal. Will it be good for consumers?

The vaccines are finally advancing. General Rick Hillier is retreating  

Protesters gather in Montreal for annual march against police brutality

MPP Sam Oosterhoff under fire for ties to group that compares abortion to the Holocaust 

More than 70 lawmakers call for criminal investigation of MindGeek

Vaccine passports could be an effective weapon against COVID-19

Ottawa wants nothing to do with 'vaccination badges'  - but your local pub might

Doug Ford likes to make big promises on COVID vaccines he needs to deliver

Canada's approach to regulating big tech is fundamentally defeatist 

Toronto Sun

Too early say if Toronto is heading for third COVID wave: city's top doc

Canadians are letting lockdowns happen

Kielburger brothers say no investigation but need to talk to RCMP

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan scores a failing grade

Hillier finishing job of overseeing COVID Vaccine rollout

Memo to Trudeau: Why do you hate Canada? Where's the budget?

Does Trudeau have something against the airline sector?

Crown ain't broke, so don't fix it

National Post

If 'vaccine passports' are unfair, they're still better than the alternative

Anxiety in Alberta over $26B Shaw acquisition as Rogers promises jobs and investment

Rogers-Shaw merger will 'only help big telecoms profit more on the backs of Canadians' NDP says

Kielburgers torpedo relationship with Liberals - 'We never prorogued Parliament'

Kielburgers accus MPs of subjecting them to political 'trial' and destroying We Charity

Could Meghan Markle choose our next prime minister?

Facebook, News Corp. reach 'landmark' three year content deal in Australia

Rogers and Shaw and the Rent Seekers' Ball

Maclean's

Five key takeaways from the Kielburger brothers' testimony

Global

Some BC police officers told to cancel COVID-19 vaccine appointment following confusion

A look at one of BC's drive-thru vaccination clinics as program gets underway Monday

BC minister defends Interior Health decision to defund Penticton addictions resource centre

Vernon, Penticton among BCHL's 'pod' cities for 2020-21 hockey season

Three early-season wildfires in BC Interior under control

Survey finds broad support for BC rent freeze

Adults in Prince Rupert and Port Edward start mass vaccination program Monday

Okanagan seniors roll up sleeves in historic vaccination campaign

Collaboration between House of Commons, Senate on assisted dying bill praised by senator

BC minister defends Interior Health decision to defund Penticton addictions resource centre

Survey finds broad support for BC rent freeze

More than 70 lawmakers demand for criminal investigation into Montreal based MindGeek

WE Charity founders accuse MPs of trying them in 'court of public opinion'

Miscellaneous

City of Vancouver parts ways with top planner Gil Kelley

MLA Canada executives foresee revival of Downtown Vancouver, upswing in property prices

Canadian Real Estate Association forecasts average price rising 16.5 percent in2021, amid lack of homes for sale

Chelsea Poorman went missing seven months ago. Her family is still searching

When anti maskers melt down and lash out

NDP criticized for delayed rollout of promised COVID benefit

Join Dogwood BC for 'Gaslit: How Fracking companies convinced us to burn gas indoors'

Jason Kenney's Government denounces the Bigfoot Family

Tsihlqot'in Launch challenge to Gibraltar Mine's effluent dumping in Fraser River