Ottawa Observations: Thursday, December 30, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday, December 30, 2021

Canada / China tensions                 

Ottawa criticizes police raid on Hong Kong news outlet that saw Canadian arrested

Chinese dictator Xi Jinping risks spoiling his Olympic party by prosecuting Hong Kong pop star Denise Ho

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Quebec imposes COVID-19 curfew; Ontario limits eligibility for PCR tests amid Omicron surge 

WestJet cancels dozens of flights as COVID-19 outbreak hits staff

Ontario will require a scannable QR code for proof of COVID-19 vaccination starting January 4 

Alberta extends winter break for K-12 students as COVID-19 cases continue to grow

We're in the 'you're on your own' stage of the pandemic 

Vaccination rules for COVID-19 benefits to stick for foreseeable future, minister says

Quebec imposes curfew, closes restaurant dining rooms and further delays return to school

Ontario pushes back school reopening to January 5, restricts PCR testing to high-risk individuals                                   

Alberta extending winter break for K-12 students as Omicron spreads

BC breaks daily case record once again with 4,383 new cases of COVID-19

Alberta sets another pandemic peak with an estimated 4,000 new cases of COVID-19

Manitoba tops 1K daily mark for first time with 1,123 new COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths

Dr. Bonnie Henry says 'new game' with Omicron variant could signal end of COVID-19 pandemic

WestJet to cancel 15% of flights due to staff shortages related to COVID-19

Ontario parents relieved to see schools reopening but wary of two-day delay

Ontario to push back start of school as record 13,807 cases reported

Ontario's COVID response evolving big time -- here's what you need to know 

Fourth tax offered to LTC residents, booster mandated for staff 

Ontario inspectors to enforce ban on New Year's midnight toasts at bars, restaurants 

Pandemic forces us to make hard choices

Quebec to resume province wide night curfew starting on December 31 in attempt to lower COVI cases

Treat us like adults and show us the Omicron plan

COVID outbreak at remote Antarctic station among fully vaccinated researchers like a horror movie plot

BC confirms 4,338 new cases as Omicron surge pushes COVID-19 to record highs

WestJet cancels 15% of flights amid Omicron COVID-19 staff shortage 

BC teachers say delayed back-to-school plan not enough to address Omicron concerns

Globe and Mail

Ontario issues warning over crypto trading platform Binance 

These are the last days of cash. We might miss it when it's gone

2022 is the year America falls off a cliff. How will Canada hang on?

CBC                                             

Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit now open for applications 

RCMP says it cleared its backlog of complaints - but not before some of the complainants died 

CPP premiums set to rise in January, a bigger ump than planned

Governor General of Canada delivers annual New Year's address

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Snow blankets BC's south coast while freezing conditions raise ice jam concerns 

BC marks two years since passing law to adopt declaration on Indigenous rights 

Canadian Navy needs to recruit 1,000 sailors to crew new warships: Vice-Admiral

Manitoba eyes security changes as threats to politicians appear on the rise

Toronto Sun

New Year's Day wage hike for liquor servers gets mixed reviews

National Post

Ontario math test ruling is where we end up when race becomes more important than competence

Alienation is fuelling a new, bigger Alberta agenda: 'We wasted the last 20 years' 

Ontario shortens quarantine, limits tests as COVID-19 cases surge, but there's a silver lining

A Trudeau puzzler from the CBC

Macleans                           

Building Canada's coolest hotel

How one Newfoundlaner revived Blockbuster in his basement

Global 

Lower Mainland blanketed in white as 15-20 cam of snow falls across the region 

Police seek driver in frightening Victoria hit-and-run caught on camera

SeaBus service resumes as Metro Vancouver transit faces weather changes

More traffic cameras added to DriveBC website 

BC Ferries cancels multiple Vancouver-Victoria sailings, cites 'staffing issue' 

Repurposed Leopard 1 tanks invade Vegreville

Miscellaneous            

'Mobile home' on huge freehold lot tops others in Lower Mainland and sells for nearly $1 million

TransLink says to expect snow delays and cancellations on bus routes, SkyTrain slowdown

Six stories at Vancouver City Hall in 2021 that set the table for a looming election 

Start the presses - the Georgia Straight print edition will be back for another year

Please advise! What Year was worse?

Six unlearned lessons of the pandemic 

The surreal Beauty of BC Government photographs