Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday,  December 14, 2021

Canada / China tensions                 

Our Olympic boycott literally keeps a single diplomat home

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Ottawa planning to tighten border rules again, as province respond to rising threat of COVID-19 variant Omicron

Health experts urge tightening capacity limits at stadiums, mass gatherings to curb Omicron spread

Schools brace for holidays amid rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in kids aged five to 11

COVID-19 variant Omicron delays return-to-work plans for Canadian companies 

Pfizer doses provide good protection against severe illness from Omicron, data show

COVID-19 modelling in BC shows increase on Vancouver Island, spread of Omicron

25 million Canadians need a COVID-19 booster  - and they need it now

Should COVID-19 vaccination be mandatory for students to attend school?

Ottawa to toughen international travel restrictions as omicron concerns escalate 

If we continue waiting for more evidence about omicron, it will already be too late 

Rugby tournament in Kingston 'spread Omicron to university communities across Canada' says BC Health Officer

Limit our contacts because of Omicron? Tell that to the maskless crowds at the arenas, concerts and restaurants

'Wartime Footing' Doug Ford to announce expanded booster plan, as Ontario looks at province wide measures to stop Omicron

Canada poised to tighten borders, warn against non-essential travel as COVID cases surge

Ford government gets strict at nursing homes to keep COVID out

Trudeau considers quarantine for fully vexed returning Canadians

No need to cancel Christmas, says Ontario top doc

Why the roadblocks for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in Ontario?

Provincewide restrictions needed in Ontario to combat Omicron, top doctor says

Omicron versus booster shots: The high stakes race in Canada is on

Worst-case scenario: 2,000 COVID cases a day as Omicron spreads in community, BC officials say 

BC records another 519 COVID cases amid rise in Omicron variant

Omicron COVID variant is 'scary' Trudeau says, but summer will be 'better' 

44 cases of Omicron variant identified,; no new deaths across province over past 24 hours

Our Long Night of the Virus

Globe and Mail

Freeland's fiscal update reveals billions in new revenue, boosts spending on COVID-19 measures

Ottawa 'fiscal guardrails' on debt levels have suddenly gone AWOL

Ontario to accept 100 entrepreneurial immigrants after each invests $200,000 in local companies

BC Storm forces Trans Mountain to tweak pipeline expansion route

Deals in the oil sands are coming, as Canada's biggest energy companies put cash and science to work

Years late, politicians acknowledge the great shame that is Quebecs Bill 21

The Liberal's urgent agenda can wait til next spring's master plan

Jason Kenney vs Brian Jean: Alberta braces for an epic political showdown 

CBC

Ottawa to toughen international travel restrictions as omicron concerns escalate 

Freeland pledges billions in new COVID-19 supports as omicron cases rise

Liberals to keep most MPs away from Parliament over omicron concerns

Liberals offer up to $742 million to low income seniors whose GIS was clawed back this year

BC, Alberta, Quebec watchdogs order Clearview AI to stop using facial recognition tool

Former Space agency engineer charged by Mounties claimed to have overseen major Canadian projects

Economic showdown this week will set the tone for 2022

Liberals open to amending paid sick leave bill they want passed by week's end

Saskatchewan's decade-old promise on 90 day surgery times has failed and will fail again

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC welcomes federal government's 'initial' $5 billion in flood disaster relief

BC City council will partially reimburse homeowner for tax sale, equity loss

Four things you should know about Chrystia Freeland's fiscal update

Bulk of $40 billion pledged by feds to Indigenous communities should go to counselling and education programs, NWT premier says

Major General Dany Fortin can't get his vaccine rollout job back because it no longer exists, court told

Chrystia Freeland was forced to deliver her fiscal update virtually - and that said it all

Picking a fight with Canada is a bad idea, says Justin Trudeau, but Joe Biden is still 'one of the good guys'

Military preparing to act quickly on Arbour's plan to fight sex misconduct: minister 

Toronto Sun

Stocking stuffers Ford can gift Ontario taxpayers

Winners who made our collective existence in 2021 a bit better

Liberal electric vehicle plans just aren't practical

Minimum wage hike will hurt - not help - vulnerable workers

Did Michigan finally come to their senses on Line 5?

Omicron overtakes Freeland's fiscal update

National Post

COVID-19 was 'expensive' but Freeland says economy is improving in fiscal update

Inflation worries may explain absence of many election commitments from fiscal update

Get ready for tax hikes to pay for Liberal spending

From business subsidies to housing tax exemptions; four takeaways from the fiscal update 

Andrew Scheer asks Ottawa to reopen the constitution, repeal part of the 1881 Saskatchewan Act

Macleans                           

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Global 

BC welcomes federal government's 'initial' $5 billion in flood disaster relief

Metro Vancouver snow causes crashes, power outages  

More than $13M of drugs seized after online drug trafficking investigation with ties to Alberta and BC

Suspect pleads guilty in hoax call to Lynn Valley Care home amid COVID-19 outbreak  

Sicamous residents warned o post wildfire debris flow risk

Penticton city council votes to pay $140K in compensation to woman who lost home in tax sale

Provinces order Clearview AI to stop using facial recognition without consent

Omicron fears force Canadian businesses to prepare for the worst - another lockdown

Omicron uncertainty clouding Canada's inflation forecasts: fiscal update

Canada's deficit lower than expected but Omicron, BC floods eat into windfall

Significant uncertainty' making speed of Canada's economic recovery tough to predict: government

Miscellaneous            

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'Everything is burning and your house is gone'

Busting Myths about Sex Workers, Taxes and CERB