Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for    Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Canada / China tensions                 

NHL players not heading to Olympics amid COVID-19 concerns, source says

Everyone loses as NHL Pulls the plug on Olympic Games

Trudeau tells the world Canada is back while failing to act on forced labour

Nothing owed to allies for help standing up to China, getting Michaels freed: Trudeau

NHL and NHLPA to pull out of Beijing Olympics due to COVID surge

Former Olympian calling for Canadian athletes to boycott Beijing Winter Games

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Provinces restrict travel, gatherings as Omicron variant cases surge

The best gift you can give this Christmas

Omicron symptoms mirror the flue and common cold/ What should I do if I feel sick?

Putin warns of unspecified military response if US and NATO continue 'aggressive line'

Tory MP touts false information about COVID-19 vaccines as she casts herself as advocate for the unvaccinated

Reduce contacts now or hospitals will be overwhelmed by Omicron, says Tam

Omicron variant prompts additional COVID-19 measures in BC

Why your negative rapid test doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to go to that holiday dinner 

You might have been exposed to COVID-19. Was't there an app for that?

Good News from the state of Denmark regarding Omicron

People have to get on with their lives as best they can

'Jury is still out' on Omicron severity, Tam says. Warns Canadian to minimize contacts over holidays

Scrambling Canadians should be furious booster shots were dismissed for months

'Ill-considered' vaccine deal quashed by China cost Canadian taxpayers $250,000 for aborted study

BC to ban indoor organized events, shut nightclubs, and keep home gatherings small

BC records 1,308 COVID cases in 24 hours breaking single day record

BC to accelerate vaccine booster plan in January as Omicron variant spreads

BC seeing Omicron cases doubling 'every two days': experts

BC to ramp up testing, expand at-home kits in January 

Quebec breaks record for highly daily provincial COVID-19 case count in Canada

Ontario reports 3,453 new COVID cases as test positivity reaches almost 10%

Boosters not enough to blunt Omicron wave, experts say: There isn't time'

Biden pledges 500M free rapid COVID 19 tests as Omicron surges

No open bars, nightclubs, gyms, or dance studios - or organized indoor social events - for four weeks

NDP call on Trudeau to 'immediately' use Armed Forces to distribute COVID-19 booster shots 

Omicron Threat Brings New Lockdown rules

Globe and Mail

Bodfield corruption probe widens to include Sunnybrook hospital construction contracts

Will Trudeau complete his father's work on the notwithstanding clause?

The notwithstanding clause has destabilized Canada's constitutional order. Here's how it can be restored

Ottawa eyes changes to business supports as Omicron wreaks havoc

Ottawa tamps down on investment homes

How Ottawa's downtown core is dealing with the effects of prolonged work from home

New round of softwood lumber dispute sees Canada challenge US duties

Liberals, Conservatives agree on extending leave for grieving parents

Ottawa slashes criminal pardon application fee to $50 as of new year

Tories boycott security committee over refusal to release docs on fired scientists

CBC                                             

Canada challenging US Softwood tariffs under the new NAFTA agreement

Military faces fresh calls to end 'duty to report' sexual misconduct

Feds moving to ban plastic straws, bags by end of 2022: Guilbeault

Tories boycott security committee over refusal to release documents on fired scientists

Failure to mention opioid crisi in ministerial mandate letters sends wrong signal, advocates say

Toronto/Vancouver Star

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

BC winter storm warning: Residents told to prepare for extreme cold, freezing rain 

He came here 21 years ago seeking asylum. Now Canada is deporting this 74 year old, despite his pleas to stay

Report makes 45 recommendations for supporting survivors of sexual misconduct in Canada's military

Key tools to prevent opioid overdoses are missing from Ottawa's orders to tackle the crisis, advocates say

Military shipbuilding faces fresh delays as a result of COVID-19: procurement chief

Targeted COVID-19 benefits? Justin Trudeau's plans are so last week as Omicron suddenly targets all of us

Toronto Sun

Proposal makes mess of seat distribution in House of Commons

When Premier Ford can't go home, things ring different

No more interventionism needed in the lives of workers

National Post

Canada divorce courts come down hard on anti-vaccine parents who deny COVID-19 pandemic 

Ontario PC's hold lead while NDP and Liberals battle it ou ahead of 2022 election: Poll

Guilbeault moves forward on Styrofoam, plastics ban expected to be in place by end of 2022

Alberta NDP MLA Thomas Dang steps down after RCMP search warrant executed on his home

Putin warns the West over US troop build up, says Moscow will retaliate militarily to 'unfriendly steps'

'Most problems with CRA call centres highlighted in devastating 2017 audit still exist: taxpayers' watchdog

Macleans                           

How recycling food could help save planet

Global 

'Disappointed but no surprised': BC businesses hit by latest COVID rules call for more support

Ice, snow and extreme cold: BCs ;latest weather concerns

Stoplights being installed along Highway 5A in Princeton to help ease traffic concerns

Highway 3 now open to non-essential travel between Hope and Princeton

Heavy snow and freezing rain forecast for the Coquihalla, Highway 3

Miscellaneous            

Supreme Court of Canada ruling on carbon tax opens door for Justin Trudeau to curtail production of oil and gas

Coming Extreme 'Cold Wave' potentially deadly for Vulnerable

Cocktails, Colonialism and the Symbols of Empire