Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Tuesday,  December 7, 2021

Canada / China tensions                 

Beijing Olympics get 'gold for repression' in labour report

Spy agency warned Trudeau China's tactics becoming more 'sophisticated ... insidiuous'

China's ambassador warns the banning Huawei from 5G would send 'a very wrong signal'

Chinese-controlled firm loses court bid to pause Ottawa's divestment order

Majority want Canadian diplomats to pass on Beijing games: Poll

A diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics

A diplomatic boycott of Beijing is a no-brainer, except in Ottawa

Chinese telecom firm loses court battle agains order to divest Canadian subsidiary 

Why is Canada playing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, amidst China's human rights abuses?

US Ambassador to Canada expects countries to be 'aligned' over Beijing Olympics boycott

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Health Minister calls conditions in federal quarantine hotels 'totally unacceptable'

Alberta's chief medical officer says mis of 11 Omicron COVID-19 cases were vaccinated 

'Really good' Medicago COVID-19 vaccine data bolster hopes for a Canadian shot

Five Omicron cases identified in BC so far but more expected 

'Good Politics, not too great epidemiology': Ottawa's new COVID-19 travel rules are a mess, experts say

Hold Off on new restrictions to control Omicron

Ontario's COVID-19 cases will rise without more public health measures: Science table

Study suggests Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine only partially protects against Omicron 

BC now has 5 cases of COVID Omicron variant in both vaccinated and unvaccinated

BC records another 326 COVID cases and one more death in 24 hours

BC to start providing COVID-19 booster shots for people aged 65+ this week

Globe and Mail

Senior military commander charged with sexual assault, indecent acts

November's big job boom and what it means for Canada's economy 

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie July shows precious little understanding of her department

Legislating 10 days of paid sick leave will raise millions for Ottawa in new tax revenue, PBO says

Enbridge raises quarterly dividend, approves $1.1 billion in new capital projects

Alberta's coffers are flush with cash from the oil sands. So why doesn't it feel like a boom?

Government handling of Kabul evacuation under spotlight after Conservative motion 

Delegation postpones visit to Vatican due to concerns over Omicron variant

Senate gives speedy passage to bill banning conversion therapy

Liberals table bill that would repeal mandatory minimums for some drug, gun crimes

CBC

'Travel restrictions could change at any time,' says Transport Minister Omar Alghabra

Military's former head of HR charged with sexual assault, indecent acts 

Ongoing immigration-processing delays leave many in limbo in Canada and overseas

Sexual assault complainants say military shut down cases because the accused wouldn't talk

Liberals introduce legislation to end some mandatory minimum sentences

Canada cuts more cheques for UN peacekeeping says nothing about troop commitment

Senate agrees to fast-track bill banning conversion therapy

O'Toole won't discuss vaccination status of 4 absent Conservative MPs

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC Safety Agency issues worker hazard warnings for flooding cleanup

Up to 25 cm of snow predicted for central and northern BC through to Wednesday  

Show proof of COVID-19 vaccination exemption, Speaker tells Conservative MP 

Senate gives speedy passage to bill banning conversion therapy

Liberals raise doubts of high number of vaccine exemptions among Conservative ranks

Canadian Forces' former HR head charged with sexual assault

Donald Trump is on the comeback trail. Can Justin Trudeau help Joe Biden stop him?

Climate change will cost us billions - and then it will get even worse

Toronto Sun

Mayor balks at years-long road closures in Ontario Line plan

OPSEU Prez Smokey Thomas to retire

City owes financial survival to 'unprecedented' government funding; Tory

Toronto Medical Officer undergoing cancer surgery

Canada needs more powerful committees to hold the government to account

Trudeau is softer on crime than ever before

Red tape continues to hamper Canadian energy industry

PM doubles down on climate failure 

National Post

Liberals say proposal for Afghanistan committee doesn't consider national security implications

'This doesn't add up': Liberals question high number of Conservative COVID vaccine exemptions 

PBO report reveals mission creep that drives Liberals' need for more spending 

Health minister says reports of wretched conditions in quarantine hotels 'uncceptable'

Vice-Admiral Edmundson charged with sexual assault, indecent acts

We are Wet'suwet'en and the Coastal GasLink Pipeline protesters do not represent us

The irrational woke left stifles health care and is ruining higher education 

Macleans

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Global 

Questions about air travel price-gouging over holidays with BC highways closed

Woman who'd been stalked in Vancouver is brutally attacked in Mexico

No timeline on when Highway 3 may open to recreational vehicles

New report urges BC to become region's leader in recycling electric vehicle batteries 

Does a La Niña climate pattern mean lots of snow?

Indigenous delegation delays Vatican trip due to Omicron COVID-19 variety says AFN Chief

Support for private health-care options has grown since start of pandemic: survey 

Liberals move to axe mandatory minimums for some drug, gun offences 

Miscellaneous            

Man arrested after missing 17 year old Tsawwassen girl found dead

Experts say Fossil Fuel Royalty Review should include water

I got kicked out of my rental. Now what?

Should Canada ditch the Monarchy?