Ottawa Observations: Monday, December 20, 2021

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

Canada / China tensions                 

Our collective China hypocrisy: Talk is cheap, real change will require unified sacrifice 

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Provinces ramp up COVID-19 boosters as they try to head off Omicron surge

Quebec will shut down bars, gyms and schools, limit restaurant hours as coronavirus case numbers soar

Provinces working to meet demand for COVID-19 testing as cases surge

Quebec brings back tough health measures as COVID-19 case numbers soar

Omicron has hit hockey particularly hard, making it difficult to tell what's on the table and what's not

A new COVID benefit is now in effect, but no one can access it

Quebec shuts down schools, bars, gyms and more as COVID-19 case counts soar

Ontario reports 3,784 new COVID cases as booster eligibility expands to 18+

809 cases of COVID-19, 6 death reported in Manitoba over 3 days

Plans for expanding use of COVID-19 rapid tests in BC coming Tuesday, health ministry says

BC's new COVID-19 restrictions in place as active cases rise

Why Omicron has us feeling like it's Christmas 2020 all over again

With defences crumbling and visibility low, Ontario flies into the Omicron storm

Balancing boosters with global vaccine equity: time for Canada to step up

Booster shots and free rapid tests: A sneaker head's guide to waiting in lines

Is it time for governments t make COVID vaccines the law?

Travel, sure, but do it at your own risk

Pfizer-funded talks falsely suggested rival vaccines might cause cancer, experts say

Physicians are bound to do no harm - and that includes not making false and misleading statement about vaccines 

Older and Overweight rich countries really did need COVID-19 vaccines first

How much longer can Taiwan's 'zero-covid' Strategy keep out Omicron variant

Ford created stampede for boosters but failed to have staff to deliver them 

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly isolating after getting positive result in COVID-19 rapid test

BC to outline 'additional' COVID-19 measures' at Tuesday briefing

BC COVID-19 cases soar over the weekend with 2,550 new infections 

Finding rapid COVID-19 tests across Canada, from relative east to utter frustration

Waiting hours at COVID-19 test clinics, British Columbians hope rapid tests come soon

Minister Melanie Joly says she has tested positive for COVID-19

2,550 new cases and three deaths over three days; Omicron update coming on Tuesday

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly takes rapid test and discovers she has COVID-19

BC should be doing more Rapid Testing, Experts say

Globe and Mail

Cities look to join fight against Quebec's controversial Bill 21

As Americans become more polarized politically, Canadians are converging toward the centre, poll finds

The West cannot concede an inch to Vladimir Putin

The proof of systemic racism is in Quebec's Premier Francois Legault's own Bill 21

Laneway houses can affect some home values in Vancouver, but one y in the west end, UBC study finds

Canada reports atypical case of mad cow disease, OIE says

Charges stayed against Niagara police constable in 'blue on blue' case

Ottawa spent $560 million on damages over the Phoenix pay system, records show

This will be Erin O'Toole's winter of MP discontent

Conservative party will not seek to bring back Commons China committee

Foreign Affairs Minister Joly tests positive for COVID-19 and is isolating 

Dominic Barton met Rio Tinto executives months before firm named him Chair

Central banks have blinked on inflation, in race to avert the second round

Canada knees a lot more rental housing.  Vancouver is leading the way - very slowly

CBC                                             

Foreign Affairs Minister Joly testes positive for COVID-19

Federal Government deposited nearly $26 million in the wrong bank accounts last year

Military member waits almost a decade for defence department to process grievance 

Ottawa announces $28M to assist in PEI potato wart crisis

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC Mounties say they are monitoring protest agains gas pipeline 

Key BC highway reopens to truck traffic after flood damage; rebuilds supply chains

BC cap on restaurant food delivery fees to stay at 15% through next year

Arctic outflow, snow and possible freezing rain forecast for parts of BC

Two months of captivity - then a daring escape. How a Canadian, other missionaries and children fled kidnappers in Haiti

Pent-up Tory frustration leads to 'bloodbath' on the caucus floor

Standing with Ukraine against Kremlin's blackmail

Toronto Sun

Toronto Police Chief working from home after positive COVID test

Trudeau Liberals drag feet on supplier accused of using force labour

Missionaries kidnapped in Haiti escaped after ransom money raised, says ministry group

National Post

The federal government fought to keep this case secret - and now we know why 

People's Party in line for more than 500K refund on election campaign expenses 

A digital loonie is coming, even if the Bank of Canada won't say it directly

Rio Tinto taps Dominic Barton amid challenging transition, uneasy relations with China

Omicron swiftly put an end to World Economic Forum's Davos meeting in January

Macleans                           

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Global 

BC extends food-delivery fee caps as new COVID-19 restrictions take effect

RCMP investigating after BC MLA 'aggressively harassed' over vaccines at highway rest stop

Cold Arctic air hits BC with a chance of snow around Christmas Day 

RCMP has spent $6.8M so far enforcing Fairy Creek injunction, docs show

2 men shot, Kelowna hospital's emergency department put under lockdown

Mounties investigate as Gidimt'en clan renews effort to stop BC pipeline construction

UBCO student concerned about University's handling of sexual assault report 

Weeks after devastating floods, Coquihalla Highway finally reopens to commercial traffic

Miscellaneous            

Jim Pattison residential project to honour Mount Pleasant history through heritage alley

BC  government extends cap on food-delivery fees for another year

RBC measure shows Canadian housing affordability has deteriorated to 'worst level in 31 years'

Here's the problem with offering a journalism award for reporting on climate solutions

One month after arrests, Wet'suwet'en return to Block pipeline

The year BC's schools started to take Racism seriously