Ottawa Observations: Monday, August 9, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Monday, August 9, 2021

 

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

Chinese court rejects Robert Schellenberg's appeal against death penalty, as Michael Spavor awaits verdict

Canadian legislators join global network seeking to reduce Taiwan's isolation  

Chinese court upholds death penalty for Canadian prisoner Robert Schellenberg

Meng Wanzhou lawyer says extraditing Huawei exec would run contrary to the rule of Canadian law

Meng's legal team argues for stay in proceedings as remedy to abuse' in case

China court rejects death sentence appeal for Canadian Robert Schellenberg 

Chinese court to rule as early as Wednesday on Michael Spavor, says source 

Chinese spies are trying to enter the UK through visa program for fleeing Hong Kongers: report 

Chinese court upholds death sentence for Robert Schellenberg in drug smuggling case

China set to hand out verdicts for Canadians Michael Spavor, Robert Schellenberg

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Brace yourself for more COVID-19 nastiness 

Get vaccinated - or find another line of work

Alberta's plan to stop testing for COVID-19 poses risks for children, pediatricians say

BC shortens the time between COVID-19 vaccine doses to 28 days

COVID-19 cases are 'overwhelmingly' among unvaccinated people: Saskatchewan Health 

BC reports 1,079 new COVID-19 cases, 5 additional deaths over 72 hours as hospitalizations rise 

BC to reduce interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses to four weeks 

Over 1,000 new cases and over 3,000 active cases; vaccine dose acceleration announced 

As COVID-19 cases rise, BC announces vaccine changes

Job One: Vaccinate the world

Globe and Mail

Independent official to help identify unmarked graves at sites of former residential schools

Parents, staff and students confused, anxious about lack of COVID-19 safety guidance for Alberta schools

Canadian pediatricians brace for possible resurgence of respiratory illnesses as hospitals abroad struggle with rising COVID-19 cases among children

Jason Kenney continues to back Alberta's COVID-19 plan despite growing concerns 

Canadian Pacific ready to raise bid for Kansas City Southern 

Two more key officials depart Green Party amid staffing upheaval as election looms

Trudeau's big break in his 2021 election campaign may have already come 

Erin O'Toole's anti-trade, anti-business stand is at odds with his own party's history

Three Liberal MPs opt out of running for re-election 

Manitoba signs on to federal government's $10-a-day child care plan

Canada targets financial sector with new sanctions on Belarus

Harjit Sajjan has defaulted on Canada's peacekeeping promises 

CBC

Ottawa says it must maximize revenue from the Trans Mountain pipeline to fight climate change

O'Toole says Trudeau shouldn't rush into an election with threat of a fourth wave looming 

What the new UN report warning of climate impacts means for Canadians 

Calgary MP asks health minister to study poppers, potentially opening door for safe supply

Fast moving wildfire melted tires as woman fled BC's Monte Lake

Indigenous man testifies he was repeatedly beaten by Edmonton police officers 

Critics question BC's growing fossil fuel subsidies in wake of dire new climate change report

The more input, the better,' says federal minister launching EI review

Toronto/Vancouver Star

 

Jagmeet Singh tells Justin Trudeau not to call a fall election and instead recall Parliament 

Two more key officials depart Green Party amid staffing upheaval as election looms

Liberal government urged not to reinstate top military commander McDonald 

UN report 'must sound death knell' for fossil fuels as Canada faces climate urgency 

Liberal MPs Adam Vaughan, Will Amos, Karen McCrimmon won't run for re-election 

Quebec bars will be safer than University classrooms this fall: McGill epidemiologist 

Bill Davis was the king of a better kind of politics 

Kenney's 'maverick' pandemic stance puts him at odds with most Albertans 

Adam Vaughn leaves politics with his fight for affordable housing far from won. Who will step up to fill the void?

Toronto Sun

Transport Canada extends India flight ban to September 21

More planes landing, but stranded Afghan interpreters not on board 

The sound and fury of very disgruntled readers 

Drop the political COVID responses 

Another Trudeau trio leaves the stage as the Liberals push for an election 

Nurses to Doug Ford: "Be the hero this province needs now'

Make foreign affairs, defence an election issue 

National Post

The enduring speculation about the bachelor prime ministers who shaped modern Canada 

SpaceX will launch a satellite to display advertisements in orbit with Canadian startup GEC

Backbiting over Doug Ford's back-to-school plan is typical ugly politics 

Canada's air passenger rights law blasted by court after $400 claim takes year and a half - and then fails 

Maclean's

Justin Trudeau puts his (small) mark on the world 

Global

Dozens of vehicles with US plates line up at BC border as COVID-19 restrictions lifted 

Watchdog calls for further probe after video shows Vancouver cop shoving man to the ground 

Arrests, protests in BC mark one year anniversary of Fairy Creek blockade 

With more than 270 wildfires burning in BC, cooler weather provided little relief 

Hundreds of White Rock Lake Wildfire evacuees allowed to return home 

'It is a perfect storm': Smoke, labour shortage, COVID restrictions hitting Kelowna's restaurants 

White Rock Lake wildfire prompts evacuation of some patients at Vernon Hospital

Two more Green Party members leave amid Financial woes 

Climate change may be spiralling out of control. What does that mean for Canada?

Adam Vaughn, Toronto MP and housing parliamentary secretary says he won't seek re-election

Over 2,500 sign petition asking GG to deny any Trudeau request for a snap election

Liberal MP William Amos, who exposed himself during virtual proceedings, won't seek re-election 

Miscellaneous            

 

BC to allow children 12 years and under to ride transit for free

City of Vancouver appoints its first auditor general and BC announces new deputy auditor general

Board affirms $82 million assessment of half-empty apartment property set for redevelopment 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climat Change details unprecedented human-caused changes to the planet 

The Grim climate warning we must not ignore 

Wildfire Nation 

The most important climate action you can take? We asked Paul Hawken

How have publishers survived the pandemic? 'It's kind of a Miralce'