Ottawa Observations: Saturday/Sunday, August 21-22, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Saturday August 201 & 22, 2021

 

Election Campaign 2021

Maverick Party hopes to make election headway in Alberta

Erin O'Toole promises more rehab spaces to combat opioid crisis

Lack of on-campus polling raises concern over turnout among young voters 

Twitter issues manipulation warning over tweet from Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland

Treat drug addiction as health, not criminal issue, O'Toole says in plan to tackle opioid crisis

The Bloc Quebecois unveils its electoral platform, stressing Quebec identity, environment 

Singh pitches changing Toronto riding name to honour 'happy warrior' Jack Layton

Here's what the main federal parties are promising seniors

Liberals won't get their expected cakewalk, Conservatives say after week one

People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier will not be in federal election debates  

Make Afghanistan a Canadian election issue, new group urges political parties 

Conservatives, NDP go on the offensive as Trudeau sits out 7th day of public campaigning

Liberal campaign covers big miles, but questions linger over reason for snap election  call

Conservatives call for ethics probe of Liberal MPs 2017 Italy trip 

Federal candidates pitch new wildfire and climate plans to wary British Columbians

Canada's political parties cannot 'greenwash' their way through another election

O'Toole would allow safe injection sites, but stops short of decriminalization 

Trudeau heads east to Atlantic Canada to start second week of federal campaign

Twitter marks Justin Trudeau's retweet of video attacking Erin O'Toole as "Manipulated media'

Battle for Quebec could be a Liberal Bloc showdown, but surprises always possible 

It's hard enough for Green candidates to campaign. Annamie Paul's leadership fight isn't helping

Afghanistan has been injected into another Canadian election - and will likely play a significant role in the outcome 

In an inspirational election, Jagmeet Singh has a chance to break away

After a bitter week of federal campaigning, here's a reason for hope 

Women have abortions for many reasons. None of them are any of Erin O'Toole's business

Bloc Leader Yves François Blanchet says he wants to bring vaccine plant to Quebec 

Maxime Bernier, Western Separatist party denied participation in official federal debates 

Liberals plan to say on the 'offensive' after bumpy campaign launch, sagging poll numbers

Trudeau says campaign tour is following public health measures despite crowds 

Liberals and Conservatives both need to stay on the good side of this popular premier

Young people need more than fun TikToks videos from politicians courting their votes - they need real solutions 

Liberals start second week still stuck in First Gear

It's a big problem that the CBC is Facebook's election 'fact checker' 

SNC-Lavalin scandal put Trudeau's reputation as a 'feminist' to the test

Don't let Trudeau 'reset' Canada 

Allegations of flagrant overspending, mishandling Afghanistan dominate campaign trail

This election isn't going the way the Liberals had hoped

Polling show tightening, unpredictable election race after first week

Trudeau's message unclear one week into election campaign 

NDP's immigration plan is a fairy tale, just like the rest of its platform 

Trudeau goes on attack as polls show Liberals losing ground 

Masked O'Toole drives home message on Liberal recklessness

Trudeau's failed foreign policy is a tale of tragedy

NDP leader visits Cowessess First Nation, pledges to appoint special prosecutor on residential schools 

Trudeau shouldn't be so confident, even without any credible challengers 

The Liberals stumble out of the gate in week one

The Maverick Party wants in - sort of 

Twitter flags Liberal campaign video featuring O'Toole as 'manipulated media'

Erin O'Toole's gamble on 'tele-town halls'

Elections first week had a heavy focus on BC and a strong start for O'Toole

Liberals make hay about O'Toole's videotaped comments on private health care

Vancouver Kingsway campaign turns 'nasty' as NDP incumbent, Filipino Canadian underdog trade barbs

Green Party of Canada nominates second climate scientist to run in Vancouver in upcoming federal election

Jagmeet Singh promises cash for tenants as part of NDP housing policy

Liberals go after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in announcement on protecting old-growth forests 

Double-vaxxed? And other questions for candidates

Afghanistan

Special Forces may be used to rescue Canadians, Afghan interpreters, support staff from Kabul, Sajjan says

Crush at Kabul airport kills seven; Afghan fighters seize areas from Taliban

Afghans now join the litany of people failed by the West 

Anti-Taliban leader Massoud wants to negotiate but is ready to fight

Canada will maintain Afghan evacuations for as long as deteriorating security permits: ministers 

What we're not talking about when we talk about Afghanistan

Canada evacuates another 106 Afghans as military navigates a 'tenuous, chaotic' situation in Kabul

'It was my generation's evil to fight' Retired Captain Trevor Greene watches the Taliban return with resolve

NDP Leader Singh says election timing may have impeded Afghanistan response

Boris Johnson announces plans to convene G7 meeting over Afghanistan 

Minister defend evacuation efforts in Afghanistan amid dire security challenges

'It's back to zero' for an Afghan women's advocate quarantining in a Toronto hotel

Afghan residents already in Canada on temporary visas to be offered visa extensions

There will be no movie about rescue mission heroes didn't show up for

Afghan, American troops turn away Canadians at Kabul airport 

Trudeau posed for selfies as threat to Afghan allies grew

'People are scared': Ministers defend evacuation efforts in Afghanistan amid 'dire' security challenges

A Canadian bottleneck in Kabul is endangering innocent lives

UK Prime Minister Johnson says he will convene G7 for talks on Afghanistan

BC woman pleads with Ottawa to fast track visas for family still in Afghanistan 

12 planes carrying over 1.1 K Afghans fleeing Taliban evacuated so far, feds say 

NDP's Singh slams Trudeau government for not doing more to help 

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

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The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Ontario reports 722 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths

A message to the vaccine hesitant: Time's up

To beat the fourth wave, we need to vaccinate 90 precent of Canadians. That won't happen without vaccine mandates and passports

Why Barry's Bay could be 'the perfect incubation box' - an example of a small town's vulnerability to the Delta variant

Quebec records 463 new COVID-19 infections no virus-related deaths

Employers urged to ensure employees vaccinated by fall

Military called in to help Northwest Territories as COVID-19 cases surge

Israel finds COVID-19 booster shot significantly lowers risk of infection, serious illness

Globe and Mail

How Indigenous-led agriculture in BC's Peace River region is a beacon of hope amid an uncertain future

Economic rebound in the lurch as COVID-19's Delta variant creates uncertainty with big banks

Irked by no-shows, Vancouver restaurants eye prepaid reservations to stay afloat amid pandemic

My 'vaccine passport' from the 1970's tells the story of disease in our time

I found my ancestors in the 1901 census. It was a tangible reminder of colonialism's impact

Business owners hampered by COVID-19 should prepare for a workplace without an office

If politicians want to help in the inflation fight, get out of BoC's way

CBC

MPs may think they're high fliers, but city councillors can get the job done. (They just won't)

US authorizes freeze assets, charge British Columbians in  'long running fraudulent scheme'

Toronto/Vancouver Star

 

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Toronto Sun

Denied proper funeral gatherings during COVID, many grieving families plan a second event

Are Canada's historic sites, museums next in line for attack

Housing affordability is a problem - one that politicians keep making worse

National Post

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Maclean's

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Global

Police deploy pepper spray, 2 injured, as tensions escalate at Fair Creek blockade 

Cooler temperatures help BC wildfire fight but 250 fires still burning 

Wildfire burnin near Ladysmith now being held

Site visit planned for Central Okanagan homeowners with properties burnt by White Rock Lake fire

Wind forecast for White Rock Lake fire Sunday, but destructive 'wind event' not expected 

Some evacuation orders downgraded as Mount Law wildfire threat eases 

BC rancher believes experienced land owners should help fight BC wildfires near their homes 

Kelowna's Prospera Place offers no direct comment on BC Vaccine passport 

Four arrested at Vancouver climate march

Miscellaneous            

 

RCMP pepper sprays Fairy Creek protesters