Ottawa Observations: Monday, July 5, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Monday,  July  5, 2021

 

Western Canada Heatwave/BC Wildfires

First Nations in British Columbia threaten to block rail traffic over fire recovery fears

BC officials suspect human cause for devastating Lytton wildfire

BC's heat wave and fires were driven by climate change, and they won't be the last. What must we do next?

She sparked the Lytton wildfire? The answer relies on detective work, science and getting on your hands and knees

'We were very close': The battle to save Kamloops from wildfire

Cause of Lytton wildfire suspected to be human, but investigation not yet complete

A third of BC's 200 wildfires are burning out of control Monday

BC firefighters help comfort, feed animals left behind after devastating Lytton wildfire

Firefighters scramble to save home, Highway 3 closed as wildfire ignites near Osoyoos

Ontario, NB firefighters arrive in BC as nearly 200 wildfires blaze

The future of Fire in Canada

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

Facing up to our own sins doesn't mean we must bring before dictatorships

Canada didn't invoke dispute clause when Chinese vaccine deal fell apart, documents reveal

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

BC reports five COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes, three deaths

COVID-19 cases are down, but variants are still a concern. Is it time to drop the mask?

The long emotional recovery from the pandemic

Canada to receive 3.7 million more COVID-19 doses this week

Vaccines extremely effective against COVID variants of concern: Canadian study

BC reports 87 new cases, 3 deaths over 72 hours

COVID Alert app cost feds $20M bur results 'did not meet expectations': new data

Most new cases in Interior Health; Vancouver Coastal Health has most active cases

Globe and Mail

CMHC eases mortgage insurance rules, admits tightening was a mistake

Investors account for a fifth of home purchases in Canada. Are they driving up housing prices in a booming market?

Canada's travel restrictions for vaccinated an unvaccinated people, explained

'It's very freeing': Quarantine rules ease for fully vaccinated Canadian travellers

Liberal caucus office paid US firm $1 million with taxpayer money

Ottawa needs to start collecting all the taxes it's owed

Trudeau hits road for green announcement in campaign style appearance

Finance Department experiencing wave of senior departures

Senators discussing summer sittings to deal with Bill C-6 on conversion therapy

CBC

Residential school survivors call for an end to arson attacks on churches

'Old wounds': Descendants of families who lost Indian status launch Charter challenge

Liberals announce plans for new 'high frequency' rail lines from Toronto to Quebec City

Prime Minister, Saskatchewan premier to sign child welfare agreement at Cowessess First Nation

Border restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians loosen, but plan for wider reopening remains unclear

Marc Garneau reaffirms support for 'two-state solution' on Middle East trip

Federal plan to upgrade search-and-rescue choppers grounded by 'unaffordable' cost estimate

Climate change threatens remote and rural communities nationwide: report

Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie to get $420M in federal funding to transition to cleaner technology

Toronto Star

 

Canada's laws allow Uber, Lyft to avoid paying as much as $135M a year in taxes, says advocacy group

Toronto Hydro Board must explain rich bonuses for CEO

Eight years after the Lac Mégantic disaster the window for a recurrence is still open

Toronto Sun

Trudeau explains away arson attacks on churches

Canadian travellers happy with relaxed COVID rules at airport

Michael Chong lays bare a shattered pathetic government

Trudeau gun grab will be very ineffective and expensive

Even if Ford rolls back COVID restrictions, others will remain

Churches are a target of arson - and Trudeau is passive aggressive 

National Post

High-frequency VIA Rail project to move ahead, transport minister to announce Tuesday

Charge churches property-tax? It's a lot better than burning them

Three notes of caution on an early election

Calm down, Liberals. Mark Carney may not be your political saviour

'Nice to go home': Quarantine rules ease for fully vaccinated Canadian travellers

Maclean's

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Global

BC First Nation demands Pope Francis visit Canada to see the aftermath of residential schools

2 Vancouver Police officers stabbed while responding to call in Strathcona

'We do not destroy people's places of worship': Residential School survivors condemn attacks on churches

Trudeau pledges $420M to phase out coal at Algoma Steel in campaign style visit

Israel must stop all settlement activities to prevent more Palestine conflict: Garneau

Miscellaneous            

 

Two Vancouver Police officers stabbed during response to child confinement call in Strathcona area

BC Civil Liberties Association executive director Harsha Walia at centre of social media firestorm

Transportation Safety Board report into CN derailment in 2006 linked heavier loads to higher braking temperatures 

Nanaimo and Vancouver rainbow crosswalks defaced with paint

The Fight for Medical use of Magic Mushrooms is moving to the courts