Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for    Wednesday, May 26, 2021

 

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

Biden asks US intel community to investigate origin of COVID-19

China slams Taiwan over foreign minister's comments in CBC interview

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Doctors battling India's COVID-19 crisis push back against yoga guru's viral attack on modern medicine

Job No. 1 for the Trudeau government: Get unused American COVID-19 vaccines. Now.

Older Canadians should be getting their second vaccine doses, right now

Toronto launches campaign to reach those not yet vaccinated - and to start second doses

'Dangerous' mystery campaign seeks influencers to discredit Pfizer vaccine

British Columbia reports 250 new cases, fewest since late October

Vaccine passports might be unjust, says BC's ombudsman

Third day with fewer than 300 new cases; coughing as an assault

Why is Surrey BC's hottest COVID spot?

Globe and Mail

Alberta restart plan aims to lift most COVID-19 restrictions by end of June

PHAC left longstanding issues with national stockpile unaddressed since at least 2010: Auditor-General report

Ombudsmen from across Canada warn provinces of domestic vaccine passport pitfalls

Vancouver social-housing plans highlight divide between neighbours' fears and community needs

Bloc Quebecois fails to pass motion on Quebec nationhood, constitutional change

Saskatchewan Mountie charged with first-degree murder resigns

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister's embarrassing plea for vaccines from Joe Biden misses its mark

Canadian National to divest US rail line in bid to address regulator's concerns around takeover of KCS

Raising taxes could avoid dumping the debt burden on younger generations - but don't hold your breath

CBC

Federal agency wasn't ready pandemic equipment demand, auditor finds

Indigenous Services needs to better manage its PPE stockpile and nursing shortage, says auditor general

Bloc fails to muster unanimous support for Commons motion backing Quebec constitutional changes

Toronto Star

 

Is it time to reopen schools? Behind the scenes, Doug Ford is uneasy amid conflicting advice

Trudeau expected to name Ontario judge to Supreme Court of Canada before Canada Day

Toronto's top doctor has 'a lot of hope' students may return to class before end of school year

The WE Charity scandal wiped out Ottawa's jobs program for students last summer. Where did the money go - and will it be available this year?

Jason Kenney lays out plan for 'the best Alberta summer ever' - with COVID reopening that outpaces Ontario

Justin Trudeau's apology to Italians may look like pre-election posturing. Here's the real story

Conservatives plan 'groundbreaking' direct to voter messaging in next federal election campaign

Ford taps hospital CEO to lead Ontario public service

Ford government plan for new jobs in nursing homes isn't enough to keep promises, watchdog says

Bloc Quebecois fails to pass motion on Quebec nationhood, constitutional change

Canada announces plans to land a rover on the moon in the next five years

Feds couldn't keep up with Indigenous communities' demands for nurses, paramedics: AG

Doug Ford failed to get Charles McVety his university - and in trying, he failed us all

Ottawa wants more jobs and better pay for Canadians. The plan has one big risk

Toronto Sun

Don't expect to see a quick opening of our schools

Modular housing neighbourhoods have reason to be worried

Canadians approve of 'vaccine passport' for travel purposes

Trudeau claims racism when grilled about Chinese military scientists

Environment minister's promises are divorced from reality

The over the top response to O'Toole's beer tweet

National Post

Wilson-Raybould quashes hopes to unanimously pass Bloc motion on Quebec nationhood, constitutional change

Suncor vows to cut emissions by a third and become net-zero company in face of investor pressure

Alberta's UCP hopes early COVID opening will reboot government popularity

Auditor finds national PPE stockpile unprepared for pandemic, despite warnings

Trudeau gets leeway from voters on slower US border reopening

Trudeau Foundation tried to silence sexual harassment allegation, woman claims un $1.25M lawsuit

To emerge or not to emerge. That is the question. What is the lockdown exit plan?

Lockdown-obsessed Ontario sits at the back of the reopening pack

'Stay the blazes home': Why this mild swear from a NS premier is the perfect pandemic motto

Ontario stay at home order needs to be amended to allow outdoor protests

Maclean's

A sneak attack on language rights

Winter is coming to Canada's North. Vladimir Putin will make sure of it

Who should get a monument? Meet the Canadian man trying to answer the question

Global

BC Casinos start laying out details for COVID-19 reopening plan

Will BC businesses face conflict when mandatory ask order ends?

Arrests surpass 100 at BC old-growth logging protests: RCMP

Vaccine passports might be unjust, says BC's ombudsman

'Horrific, terrifying': Penticton family speaks out about Okanagan rental crisis

Union of BC Indian Chiefs appalled, horrified by dumpsite of severed bear paws

Fared salmon virus source, amplifies disease transmission in wild salmon: BC study

BC deploys crews to Manitoba to assist with several aggressive wildfires

Reopening plans but no 'hard dates': Experts say provinces can't rely solely on vaccines

Canada knew of PPE supply issues 'over a decade' before COVID-19 but was still unprepared: AG

Miscellaneous            

 

Energy road map charts challenging course to oil-free future

BC's minister responsible for housing, David Eby, promises thousands of affordable rental units

BC residents who live on water lack basic Tennant protections

BC government seeks public input during review of personal information protection law

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, co-op neighbours ask City of Vancouver not to evict RV encampment

If Council truly values arts and culture, it will support a motion that prioritizes social and co-op housing

A giant Old Growth Cedar Rolling Down a BC Highway went viral. What's its story?

Virus plaguing BC's salmon not native to Pacific Ocean, study finds

US experts to Trudeau: Your nuclear dream may turn to nightmare

Change BC Fracking or expect damaging earthquakes: Report