Ottawa Observations: Friday, August 20, 2021

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

 

Election Campaign 2021

Trudeau seeks toehold on the Prairies, O'Toole looks to shore up base as first week of campaign wraps up 

Residential school victims must not be forgotten, Jagmeet Singh says

O'Toole reverses leadership pledge, says doctors must refer for services they object

In a campaign about nothing, Liberals struggle to find a wedge issue 

Immigration isn't an election issue and that's something to celebrate 

Conservative opposition to mandatory vaccinations is 'irresponsible' and 'dangerous' says Trudeau

Liberal candidate apologizes for calling early vaccine takers 'entitled' guinea pigs 

How Justin Trudeau bought himself some peace from Quebec's culture wars, and what he paid for it

Are you a new Canadian? Here's how the federal parties are fighting for your vote

Maxime Bernier rejects climate science and vaccinations. Will he get to do it a the leaders' debates?

There's an epidemic of sexual misconduct in the Canadian military. Here's what each party would do about it

Liberals are quick to attack Conservatives over abortion - but what have they done?

'I'm not Justin Trudeau. I've lived a different life': Jagmeet Singh slams the Liberal record on Indigenous reconciliation

Climate action, residential school justice top Indigenous election priorities

John Tory tells federal leaders seeking Toronto votes what the city needs from them

Liberals promised they wouldn't raise the carbon tax in 2019, just before they did

2019's 'blackface' scandal still haunting Trudeau

At the end of week one, the question remains on why Trudeau called this election 

Trudeau the Gaffetastic: PM's verbal fails on campaign trail 

Decision coming Saturday on Maxime Bernier's participation in leaders' debate

Conservative push to explore realizing 'poppers' is unexpected and practical 

Week 1 of the election: Tories start to look like a credible alternative 

O'Toole's fresh face, Singh's suits and Trudeau's missteps dominate week one

A refreshing change on the campaign trail. - crystal clear answers from a politician 

The lost Liberals and their lofty ideals

Ignore the scaremongers, cutting spending is Canada's best way out of deficit

For true affordability slash taxes, deregulate housing and tackle inflation 

Erin O'Toole's platform proves he is ready to govern unlike Trudeau the child

Annamie Paul finally has something to smile about

As Liberals pile on Conservatives' abortion stance, what have they done?

NDP leader Singh bring campaign to residential school grave site in Saskatchewan 

Indigenous leaders want 'meaningful action' from next government. Here are the promises so far

The most important number in this election campaign

Liberal candidate apologizes for anti-tax, profane tweets 

Saanich-Gulf Islands Conservative candidate Dave Busch apologizes for 'insensitive remarks'

NDP belittles Erin O'Toole's promised ban on foreign homebuyers as not good enough

Did no one at Liberal HQ have a bad feeling about this? 

Afghanistan

Nearly 190 evacuees airlifted on  first Canadian flight from Kabul since Taliban takeover

The U.S.'s disastrous Afghanistan exit should send a dire signal to the rest of the West

Biden's lack of apology latest in presidential tradition

Stubborn Biden may come to regret Afghan withdrawal 

First Canadian military flight out of Kabul since Taliban takeover shuttles 188 passengers to safety 

Canada ramping up evacuation from Kabul with faster processing, immigration minister says

'I feel hopeless': Ottawa man waits to hear from Canadian government on flight out of Kabul 

Terps being whipped by Taliban, but good news is coming 

Taliban victory makes the world a more dangerous place

Biden shamefully betrayed his allies

Inside Afghanistan - the first seven days of life under the Taliban

Trudeau blames Afghans for not getting to the airport fast enough 

American departure from Afghanistan is a retreat of democracy and human rights 

Boots on the ground in Afghanistan

Afghan man in BC pleads with feds for help evacuating his wife and daughters 

BC mom whose son died in Afghanistan says Canada needs to help its citizens 

Canadian military aircraft being 'reconfigured' to get as many as possible out of Kabul

Reports of targeted killings in Taliban-controlled areas fan Afghan's fears 

Kabul shows the unflattering truth: Canada is slow, risk-averse and selfish

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 breakthrough cases signal next phase of Canada's battle

BC's full reopening in doubt as COVID-19 case counts continue to rise

India gives world's first COVID-19 DNA vaccine approval for emergency use

Mixed dose  woes: Some Canadians lost out on jobs abroad due to their mixed vaccines 

BC may not move to Step 4 next month as COVID-19 case counts increase: top doctor

UHN will require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by late October or face termination

COVID-19 restrictions extended to entire BC Interior Health region as cases surge

BC reports 663 new cases, could delay Step 4 reopening 

Kelowna averaging 100 to 150 new COVID-19 cases a day, says BC's top health official

Globe and Mail

"The right thing to do': Major Canadian banks make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for in-person staff

Who is most desperate to return to the office? Age plays a major factor

A Canadian advantage in peril: Why the next federal government will need a plan to double our supply of clean electricity  

Election campaign and inflation set up 'perfect storm' for usually sleepy review of BoC monetary policy

CBC

Seniors cut off from mail delivery after Toronto building overrun by cockroaches 

Canada's Big 5 banks will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for staff 

Tension with police escalating at old-growth logging blockades on Vancouver Island, protesters say

Toronto/Vancouver Star

 

Fully vaccinated Toronto council supports forcing city staff to get protected from COVID-19

Ontario municipalities call for 'practical' province-wide vaccine passport

Toronto Sun

Ontario NDP want former Tory who refuses vaccination replaced as Deputy Speaker

Burial costs covered for Canadians killed by approved vaccine 

Unmask Children to keep schools open

CRB plus cash under the table, biz owners say they can't compete on hiring right now 

National Post

Severe shortage of blood donations around the world thanks to COVID 'hangover'

Trudeau could learn from Ford's vaccination plan

Toronto's hospital network to fire employees unvaccinated at end of October 

Maclean's

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Global

BC mayor alleges conflict of interest in school probe of daughter's assault

BC teachers call for tougher COVID-19 measures as return to classroom looms 

Wildfire burning near Ladysmith grows to 70 hectares overnight 

BC First Nation to work with BC wildfire service as part of 'initial attack fire crew'

Air quality levels in Kelowna trend toward worst year ever

BC Place revises safety plans after concerns over post-game crowding 

Vancouver police release dash cam video of violent unprovoked assault on busy street

US extending land border restrictions with Canada, Mexico for another 30 days

Playland's iconic wooden roller-coaster to close so it can undergo 'major refurbishment'

Do deficits matter? Here's what they are and what they mean for your bottom line

Miscellaneous            

 

Driver injured after panhandler throws bottle inside a car on West Georgia Street 

BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner launches year long public inquiry into hate during the pandemic 

Social cohesion, bodily autonomy and the political debate over mandatory vaccinations 

Aussie Billionaire sues to reverse rejection of Open-Pit mining 

Canada needs the 'Every Child Matters Act' 

As School Nears, Fears Mount about COVID risk