Ottawa Observations: Thursday, August 19, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Thursday, August 19, 2021

 

Election Campaign 2021

Liberals pledge $9 billion for long-term care as affordability, social issues take centre stage in federal election campaign

Erin O'Toole campaigns on not being Andrew Scheer, but a Tory platform plank gave the Liberals an easy target 

Liberals offer big child-care benefits for fortunate few while Tories pitch more modest relief for all 

Health care funding takes centre stage in campaign as party leaders fan across country

Canadian parties promise one million jobs, but we can get there no matter who gets elected

From Churchill 1945 to Nova Scotia 2021, elections are about what comes next

What the Nova Scotia election means for the federal campaign - and what it doesn't 

Will Francois Legault play federal kingmaker in Quebec?

O'Toole takes a position on mandatory vaccines - and clarifies the debate

Liberals pledge $9 billion for long term care

'I'm pro choice' O'Toole says as abortion issue emerges on the campaign trail

Main federal parties all say they'll make housing more affordable. Here's what we know about their plans

Delta variant threat to the global economy means fiscal prudence may take an election back seat

Facebook draws fire over plan to reduce political content

Elections chief says voting will be safe despite lack of mandatory vaccine rule for poll workers

Scripted, sterile or sunny? So far, this election campaign has a leader for every mood

Struggling to get voters attention, leaders clash over pandemic response and reproductive rights 

Trudeau pledges to hire more seniors' personal support workers and raise their pay

The Liberals are attacking Erin O'Toole as a social conservative. But where does he really stand?

Justin Trudeau has good reasons to be nervous. That might be just what his party needs

The problem with wild conspiracy theories is that they conceal the real conspiracies 

Singh goes after Kenney's health care record at Alberta campaign stop 

Tory leader pledges support for LGBT community health on question of 'poppers'

COVID-19 may push more Canadians to pay attention to election campaign in next weeks

$500 payment during election 'shocking' senior says

Trudeau's bad week - PM heckled; Liberals lose Nova Scotia

Trudeau misses the mark on pledge to cut emissions

As cost of living skyrockets under Trudeau, what are his solutions?

Trudeau vs O'Toole on abortion 

Liberals smear O'Toole on abortion 

Trudeau trips over failed vaccine-mandate wedge, Afghanistan crisis

Trudeau doesn't 'thank about monetary policy' - but he should, or we'll all pay the price 

Trudeau's search for majority will likely come down to handful of ridings in BC, Ontario and Quebec

'Fear mongering' tactic worked for the Liberals in the past, so they're trying it again 

O'Toole swings for the fences in Quebec

Liberals panic and resort to abortion conspiracy theories about O'Toole 

Rediscovering normalcy on the campaign trail

Liberals Build Back Better slogan meaningless without economic growth

Trudeau's irresponsible spending proves he doesn't deserve to govern

Nova Scotia election result shows the perils of calling a snap election for no good reason

The Liberals cannot afford voter apathy

Erin O'Tooles Grade 8 vision: become PM

Trudeau downplays inflation and O'Toole's Quebec pitch

What the federal election could do to Saskatchewan's recent child care agreement

Singh vows to force military to hand sexual assault cases to civilians 

Nova Scotia election a sign for federal Liberals: Pandemic performance not the only thin that matters 

Some provinces won't allow polling stations in schools this federal election 

Trudeau promising to hire more PSWs with increased pay if re-elected 

Anjali Appadurai nominated as NDP candidate in Vancouver Granville

Jagmeet Sigh shows he's tougher than Justin Trudeau on foreign homebuyers with NDP's 20 percent purchase tax 

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole scores some cheap political points buy calling for a ban on foreign homebuyers 

Afghanistan

Canadian rescue flights from Kabul resume for first time since Taliban takeover 

Afghan refugees in Canada plead for airlifts of family

Taliban's potential president:  ex-prisoner and long-time insurgent who spoke to Trump

After this Saigon moment, what if the US never comes back?

Getting every eligible Afghan to safety is now 'almost impossible'

Trudeau will have blood on his hands if Taliban executes my family: Afghan interpreter

'Almost impossible' to believe PM said that about 'term' rescue operation

'Almost impossible' for Canada to get everyone out of Afghanistan: Trudeau

In Afghanistan we won the war, but lost the battle for human rights 

In Afghanistan, Biden didn't know what he didn't know - and everyone paid the price 

Where do Canada's political parties stand on wars like Afghanistan 

Evacuating as many Afghans as Canada wants 'nearly impossible': Trudeau

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

A more resilient UN system with Taiwan in it 

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Alberta doctors save woman's life after removing COVID-19 blood clot with new device

Unions are out of step with public on vaccine mandates

Family feared worst: Alberta woman beats death after device removed COVID-19 blood clot

COVID cluster continues to grow at Trans Mountain site near Valemount

74 percent of British Columbians over 12 have had their 2nd dose, as BC records 689 new cases of COVID-19

BC reports 2 new deaths, 689 new COVID-19 cases as Interior Health fuels rise 

Japan's COVID-19 count surges 10-fold in a matter of weeks

BC reports 689 new cases and 2 deaths, hospitalizations climb again

Delta variant weakens protection from Pfizer, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines: study

Majority of Canadians support mandatory vaccines, say COVID-19 a top election issue: poll

Globe and Mail

RBC to require COVID-19 vaccination for all in-person Canada and US staff

Ontario legislator booted from PC caucus over refusal to take COVID-19 shot

Jason Kenney's principal secretary to leave Premier's office

GM workers in Mexico defeat union in first test of USMCA

Why is Joe Biden, who hung up on Keystone XL, desperately calling OPEC's oil hotline?

CBC

US expected to extend border restrictions with Canada another 30 days

'It is our time to tell our truths': National organization for Indian day school survivors launched

81 Toys 'R" Us stores to be sold to new Canadian owner

BC firefighters feeling the strain from 'long summer' on the front lines, officials say

Site C workers will need vaccination or negative COVID-19 test, BC Hydro says

Kelowna holds its breath as double whammy of wildfires, COVID-19 crushes tourist season

With September looming, parents across Canada call for pandemic era safety measures and supports

Toronto/Vancouver Star

 

Two Indigenous place names restored on BC's Sunshine Coast

More companies are demanding employees get vaccinated before returning to the office - and experts say they have the right to do so 

Greens elect new members to party council that tried to depose Annamie Paul

Experts praise Montreal's single use plastics plan but say Canada has far to go

Nova Scotia legislature increases Black, female presence, still has nit Indigenous member 

Toronto Sun

Liberals' WE drama an unforgettable mess 

PC MPP Rick Nicholls booted from caucus over unversed status 

Trudeau is reducing sentences for serious gun crimes, not making our streets safer

National Post

Doug Ford to vaccine-refusing MPP: You're out of our party

'Worst year I've ever witnesses': Drought withers Western Canada's spring wheat 

'Reckless, wanton, entirely without care': Lawsuit alleges CN, CP railways at fault for sparking wildfire that wiped out BC town

Maclean's

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Global

Wildfire burning 4.5 km from Ladysmith grows to 20 hectares 

'Fatigue is something we are concerned about': BC wildfire crews continue to give their all 

As BC wildfire crews head back to camp, these residents line the streets to cheer them on

White Rock Lake wildfire: 5 more properties damaged, say officials 

Little Kingdom remembered after community hub lost to White Rock Lake fire 

First 'murder hornet' nest of 2021 found near BC - US border

Canada needs US-style racketeering laws, current organized crime laws failing, BC AG tells Feds

CSI Stanley Park? Officials borrow crime-fighting tactics in bid to solve coyote attacks

Two Indigenous place names restored in BC 

PNE goes back to 'FUNdamentals' as stripped down COVID-era fair opens Saturday

Miscellaneous            

 

Resilient PNE back with SuperDogs, little doughnuts, lumberjacks and more

BC home sales and prices forecast to post double-digit annual increases in 2021 despite ongoing slowdown

When dire climate news came, Canada's front pages crumpled 

How di Postmedia and CBC fall for this bit of Bitcoin Hype?

Letter from Haida Gwaii, as History is made