Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Wednesday, August 11, 2021

 

Canadians held in China / China tensions                 

Canada condemns China's 'sham trial' of businessman Michael Spavor 

Judge in Meng Wanzhou's extradition case says U.S. allegation is unclear 

Canadians should refuse to recognize China's 'justice' system

Crown claims Meng Wanzhou's 'dishonesty' sits at the heart of fraud allegation in extradition request  

Garneau denounces China's 'sham trial' of Michael Spavor

Could the two Michael's be freed? This former 'hostage diplomacy' prisoner thinks there's a chance 

Canada condemns China after court sentence Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison

Trudeau needs to stay the course with bully China 

Spavor's verdict is unacceptable, unjust

Canada reaches out to friends for help after China hands Michael Spavor 11 year sentence 

The West is buckling under China's brutal hegemony  

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Researchers confirm direct link between AstraZeneca jab and rare blood clots, but say virtually no incidents since age restrictions 

COVID-19 cases skyrocket in Alberta with 501 new infections recorded in a single day 

'No doubt' Canada now in 4th wave of COVID-19 as cases spike across much of the country 

Transplant patients see boost in COVID-19 protection after 3rd dose, study suggests

Three-month high for COVID-19 case count in British Columbia 

BC reports 536 new COVID-19 infections as active cases top 3,500 

COVID-19 cases in Central Okanagan still trending upwards, Interior Health says

Over 500 new cases, update on Okanagan outbreak

Globe and Mail

Ottawa to roll out COVID-19 vaccine passports for foreign travel

Admiral Art McDonald plans to return to top military post, but minister says not so fast 

Ontario releases updated guidance on isolation rules for students and staff

Canada's big three grocers see shifting shopping habits as COVID-19 restrictions ease 

New data show high share of BC home sales are between family members 

Vaccine passports could win Trudeau a majority 

The key to Canadian economic prosperity that no one's talking about

Get ready for an unnecessary snooze of a Canadian election

NDP only major party that has yet to submit 2020 financial report

Canada flouting international law by continuing Saudi arms sales, report says

CBC

Ottawa promises vaccine passport for international travel this fall 

Admiral Art McDonald won't immediately return to his job leading the military, Sajjan says 

Singh says taxing the rich will be among the NDP policy goals for the federal election 

O'Toole says all Canadians should get a shot as Conservative MP calls mandatory vaccination 'tyrannical'

Election soon, or election later? For Trudeau, it's a gamble either way

How an Ontario man's forgotten email password resulted in a $6,255 Quarantine Act fine at the US border

Officer tells court he didn't intend to hurt Indigenous man he kneed in back

No classroom bubbles or masks in class when Quebec students return this fall 

Hot, dry conditions followed by wind and thunderstorms could hamper wildfire suppression efforts 

7 years later, 2 engineers face discipline for actions that led to Mt. Polley mine disaster 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

 

BC officials urge caution as third summer heat wave blankets parts of the province 

The reopening of the US-Canada border was big news, but the reality on the ground tells another story 

By being slow on vaccine passports Justin Trudeau missed a political opportunity 

Tories say seniors' income supplement hinges partly on what agency handled their CERB

Doug Ford rejects demand he meet with MPP's to discuss vaccine passports and mandatory shots 

We shouldn't have to beg Doug Ford to issue a vaccine passport - if only to protect the unvaccinated 

Business leaders push Ontario to follow Quebec - and ban unvaccinated people from restaurants, bars and gyms 

Alberta says US oil request 'smacks of hypocrisy' after it cancelled Keystone XL

Toronto Sun

If we truly believe vaccines work, we don't need a vax passport

More than 20 million COVID-19 vaccine doses now stockpiled in Canadian freezers 

Intelligence agency again looking for diverse spies 

Stop the pearl clutching over climate change -- and address it

Chris Alexander's voice in the wilderness 

National Post

Why Conservatives should rebrand inflation as a tax during election 

Let the carbon consultancy games begin!

The Trudeau government can no longer 'freeze out' pro development First Nations 

Historians oppose statement saying Canada is guilty of genocide 

Restaurants struggle to rehire as workers seek new careers, Ottawa extends COVID-19 benefits 

Conservatives unveil innovation policy ahead of potential election call, marking departure from Liberals 

On gun control and other issues, Liberals are big on promises, but rarely deliver 

Admiral says he's coming back to top military job even though Liberal government has yet to decide 

Churchill vs. Trudeau in leadership styles during a crisis

Maclean's

Typically 'vaccine hesitant' person is a 42 year old Ontario woman who votes Liberal: Abacus polling

The lonely life of a wildfire lookout in Northern Alberta

Global

Vaccine passport would be fully supported in BC, health officials say 

BC's Sunshine Coast bans outdoor use of tap water as region faces drought conditions 

How will BC prepare for this third unprecedented heat wave? Province provides an update 

White Rock Lake wildfire: Six properties damaged, say officials

Patchwork of mobile emergency alerts causing confusion as BC wildfires rage 

Aerial ignitions planned for Arrow Lake complex, says BC wildfire 

'It's about trust: To TransLink's new CEO, the devil is in the details 

Who could be the next Manitoba premier? Political experts weigh in 

Provinces divided on making use of COVID-19 vaccine passports. Here's why

Calgary Chamber of Commerce pushing for COVID-19 vaccine passports in Alberta 

Sajjan says he expects McDonald to stay on leave 'while we review this situation' 

Cost of used icebreakers Ottawa is purchasing from Quebec shipyards nears $1B mark

Liberals in process of verifying COVID-19 vaccines for election candidates: official

Miscellaneous            

 

The new Governor General should say no to illegal and dangerous snap election call by Trudeau 

Hydrogen hype - climate solution or dead-end highway 

BC home sales fall 35 percent from spring market peak, but prices climb 17 percent over last year

Reported sexual assaults by strangers rise sharply in Vancouver in July compared to a year ago

Central 1 Credit Union's chief economist forecasts low interest rates to continue 

Old-Growth Defenders have a formidable ally in Suzanne Simard 

How do failed politicians rejoin the workforce?

Coastal GasLink receives a warning for violating Wet'suwet'en rights

The Special reason some prefer working from home