Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, January 15-17, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday,  January 15-17, 2022

Canada / China tensions                 

Canada's former ambassador to China Dominic Barton cleared of possible ethics breach

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole under pressure to revive Canada-China committee

China's claim that Omicron case came from Canadian dismissed as 'ludicrous'

Doctors say claim that China's 1st Omicron case came from Canada isn't based on science

Ethics commissioner will not investigate former envoy to China for taking mining job

First Nations children and the cruel shadow of COVID

Seniors need more than basic services. Emotional care is vital, too

China claims Canada the source for first Beijing Omicron case, sent via mail

Could Mail from Canada to China spread Omicron?

Canada's former China ambassador won't face ethics probe over Rio Tinto job

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

There's nothing 'incidental' about hospital patients with COVID-19

Health Canada approves Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill Paxlovid

COVID-19 restrictions on closures, gatherings to remain in place in BC

Trudeau's vaccine promise that wasn't made to be kept 

Liberal MP backs anti-vax tax proposal as COVID cases surge

Crush of provincial aid requests makes Omicron wave unique for federal response: LeBlanc

How Omicron changed our pandemic - and ended the 'new normal' of 2020

She has Stage 4 cancer. But as Omicron delays her surgery, all she can do is wait and worry

Let's lift Ontario's lockdown -- the human toll is indisputable

The real state of the pandemic in Ontario and Canada 

It's time to scale back travel testing

Health Canada approves Pfizer anti-viral pill for treatment of COVID-19

Why Canada's hospital capacity was so easily overwhelmed by the COVID pandemic

Gyms, bars closed indefinitely ahead of BC health officials' Tuesday COVID update

More than 800 people in BC Hospital with COVID, with another 22 deaths

All School Staff in BC must disclose COVID-19 vaccine status

Paxlovid, Pfizer's oral COVID-19 pill, approved in Canada

Three staff at Armstrong Elementary School test positive for COVID

COVID-19 hospitalizations hit staggering 10,000 patients as provinces set new records

'Incredibly frustrating; : BC Gym owners wait to see whether COVID rules will left or stay

Staff shortage temporarily closes Ashcroft emergency department

What will the vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers mean for BC's supply chain?

Alberta Health minister tests positive for COVID-19 as hospitalizations surpass 1,000

Air Canada, WestJet, Pearson ask government to drop COVID arrival testing requirement 

Provincial Chief Medical Officers navigate rocky road as COVID-19 drags on

Provincial health Orders on gatherings, events, and food and liquor serving premises have been extended

Record number of hospitalizations and an additional 22 deaths over three days

A reply to Jordan Peterson's Pandemic demands

Ontario/Quebec Snowstorm

'Snowmageddon: City declares 'Major Snowstorm Condition'

Driver crashes car through ice on Rideau River, takes selfie to commemorate

Ford a one man army in battle agains the snow

Eight year old boy helps save man collapsed in Ottawa snowbank

TDSB move to online schooling instead of snow day 'disappointing'

No Snow Day? Sometimes it's okay to choose the slippery slope

Premier Doug Ford helps drivers dig out, gives people rides as massive storm hits southern Ontario

Globe and Mail

Alberta's Justin Minister Kaycee Madu phoned police chief over distracted driving ticket 

Indigenous people need allies as we keep fighting for a seat at the table

No, the pandemic does not prove that our health care system should be more like America's

Liberals spend billions more on outsourced contracts since taking power 

CSIS survey finds majority of Canadians leery of giving more powers to police, intelligemce agency

Trailblazing former NDP leader Alexa McDonough dies at 77

Parliamentarians can be trusted with sensitive security information 

Feminism is mainstream, and there are numbers to prove it

CBC                                             

With hospitals overwhelmed, can Canada overhaul health care for the long term?

Alexa McDonough, former NDP leader and trailblazer for women in politics, has died

Alexa McDonough remembered for her dedication to social justice

Care providers say Ottawa takes far too long to pay for health services for First Nations kids

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to visit Ukraine as it faces threat of Russian invasion

Nursing the system back to health

Federal government announces $35M in new funding for refugee settlement services

Hundreds of air passengers flouted in-flight mask rules in 2021

Toronto/Vancouver Star

COVID-19 restrictions extended, teachers must disclose vaccination status

 BC Premier 'feeling better every day' after treatment for throat cancer

Scientists studying trajectory of meteorite that landed in BC in October

Teck, Steelworkers at BC's Highland Valley Copper mull mediator's contract proposal

Search for missing Indigenous logging protester grows tense in BC

Ottawa accused of failing crime victims by leaving watchdog job empty 

COVID has blown another hole in Toronto's budget. Ottawa and Queen's Park must step up

How online degrees could help solve Canada's nursing shortage 

No Snow Day? Sometimes it's okay to choose the slippery slope

There's no vaccination against human cruelty

Stop police violence against female officers

Doug Ford has lost his minister of competence. Now what?

For Alexa McDonough, being second was a first in Canadian Politics

Toronto Sun

Trudeau Liberals will surely tax your home's capital gains

All levels of gov't must work together to overcome Ontario's housing crisis

All Canadian sneed to unite against the vax tax

The good, bad and ugly of Ontario's plan for electric vehicles

Trucker vaccination policy will harm food chain

Why is the Conservative party content with its 'no fuss' leader

We've allowed Facebook to get too  powerful for its own good

Time for leaders to take action on Toronto's real estate market crisis

A new pandemic of cancer, heart disease

National Post

New Zealand cheers Canada's loss in dairy dispute and calls for 'significant reform'

RCMP's new harassment policy hampered by lack of Independent Investigators: union head

Alberta justice minister's phone call to police over driving ticket is a firing offence

Canada sends small special forces detachment to Ukraine amid tensions with Russia: report

Unlike Britain, Canada would never oust a prime minister for simple ineptitude 

Fixing 24 Sussex is a fine for our incompetence

'We must deter Russian aggression against Ukraine, says Canada's foreign minister Mélanie Joly

Macleans                           

The world left these Afghan women behind. Now they're fending for themselves

Global 

'We've exhausted ourselves': Victoria walk in clinic shutters family doctors move on

'Another layer of stress': Expecting mom on Peace Arch Hospital maternity ward closure

Scientists study trajectory of meteorite that landed in Golden last fall

Highest increase in Canada: Rent for one-bedroom apartment soars to $2,146 in Vancouver

BC Premier John Horgan wraps up 35 cancer treatments

RCMP not at fault in Revelstoke snowmobile crash: watchdog

After seven terms, former Splatsin First Nation chief talks legacy, future

Beloved Vancouver dance studio shutters for good citing COVID-19 restrictions

BC Ferries passengers warned to prepare for possible sailing cancellations

Kenney strips Alberta justice minister of duties, orders probe into call to police chief over traffic ticket

Canada deploying special forces to Ukraine as tensions with Russia escalate 

Support for Quebec's secularism law is dropping, poll suggests

'True leadership': Nova Scotia politicians remember icon Alexa McDonough

Miscellaneous            

Police announce results of year long investigation into alleged drug trafficking on Vancouver Island

BMO Economics says 2021 was year Canadian housing market became unhinged

Protect our Province BC: An open letter to Health Minister Adrian Dix and Premier John Horgan

Park Board wants people to avoid parts of the seawall after spending millions to make it more climate-resilient

Last of the Asahi

'Most Livable City'? A 30 year gap in life expectancy exists Within Vancouver

Why the Crab Park Campers Can Stay put

This is 'Kennyism'