Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, January 20-21, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday-Friday,  January 20-21, 2022

Canada / China tensions                 

Canadian spycraft at risk if documents released on scientists' firing, ex-national security adviser warns

China's efforts to force return of citizens who immigrated a 'growing problem' RCMP Commissioner says

No national security issue in Chinese takeover of Canadian lithium company: Liberals

Ukraine/Russia tensions

US to give Russia written reply to security demands next week

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sendking anti-armour and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine

On Ukraine, NATO and more, Russia's Vladimir Putin lives in an alternative reality. How did he get there?

Canada to lend Ukraine up to $120 million to counter 'economic destabilization' by Russia

Canada's cyber spy agency warns of Russian cyberattacks on critical infrastructure 

Russia faces severe sanctions if it moves further into Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister says

Canada offers $120M loan, considers sending small arms to Ukraine to counter threat of Russian invasion

Canada's role in Russia-Ukraine tensions

Satellite images show Russian forces in locations near Ukraine border

Canada, usually the voice of moderation, is playing the cowboy on Ukraine crisis

Ukraine wants weapons and more soldiers from Canada

Ukraine embassy calls on Canada to send weapons, expand training and sanction Russia

Biden blunders on Ukraine

Canada poised to unveil 'further support' for Ukraine amid Russian aggression: Anand

Russia is facing 'severe' sanctions for Ukraine threats. Here's what that could mean

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What Newfoundland can teach the rest of Canada about vaccinating kids

Newfoundland and Labrador's culture has helped it achieve Canada's highest vaccination rate

Canada to re-examine definition of fully vaccinated once more people have boosters

UK designates Omicron sub-limeage a variant under investigation

Why would the unvaccinated reject a COVID-19 vaccine, but accept a new antiviral pill?

Indigenous Services to provide $125 million for First Nations to respond to Omicron variant

Canada 'may' have passed peak of Omicron  wave, says top doctor

Public Health Agency of Canada involved in 'error' on trucker vaccine rules: CP sources

3 US studies suggest COVID-19 boosters improve Omicron protection

'We cannot eliminate all risk: BC Health Officials shift emphasis to preventing transmission of COVID-19

Manitoba has Canada's highest COVIDd hospitalization rate. Here are 5 possible explantion 

Spain locked down hard to fight COVID-19 now it's preparing to live with the virus

Change to shorter isolation period part of managing COVID-19 in BC: top doctor

Rapid tests to be distributed to schools in British Columbia

Toronto high school teachers remain in parking lot, refusing to work amid 'unsafe conditions' brought on by COVID

Quebec restaurant and bar owners mull reopening in defiance of health orders

Omicron may be peaking but COVID-19 isn't done with us just yet: Tam

Ten Ontario kids fighting COVID in intensive care units 

Omicron has filled up my hospital, but the panic from the Delta wave is gone

'Very nice spring, very nice summer': Omicron will bring us closer to normal, experts say

BC reports nine more deaths as hospitalizations top 900 for first time

New pandemic guidance reflects 'highly-vaccinated' community, says BC family doctor

BC's top doctor signals major shift in COVID strategy, says contact racing no longer useful

Starting January 22, all Canadians must be fully vaccinated to enter the US

Two years into pandemic, effects of COVID-19 on youth mental health a growing concern

Patients with and without COVID can share hospital rooms, Fraser Health says

Alberta can start 'significantly relaxing' COVID-19 rules once hospitalizations dip: Kenney

Omicron cases may be dropping in Canada's First Nations: top doctor

As Omicron fuels COVID fatigue, Canadians weigh the risks for themselves 

BC Centre for disease control apologizes for isolation guidance flip flops

BC changes its COVID-19 Isolation requirements

The test trap for Long COVID patients

BC Omicron cases have yet to peak, warn Independent analysts

Globe and Mail

How elders from Nunavut end up in long-term care thousands of kilometres from home

Bank of Canada rate hikes are coming, but that doesn't mean a recession will follow

Justin Trudeau decries 'human-traffickers' after the deaths of four near US-Manitoba border

Jason Kenney has become the Boris Johnson of Canadian politics  

A pandemic fed urge to ramble sending BC real estate prices soaring

'No choice' in enforcing court injunctions against demonstrators, RCMP Commissioner says

Conservative Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters confirmed in regional party caucus despite removal from national caucus

Policing key focus of talks among Canada, US and allies on Haiti recovery plan

Ottawa, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation sign pact on handover of residential school documents 

Climate scientists urge Ottawa to cancel proposed carbon-capture tax credit

A warning sign of government bloat

Inflation is about a lot more than just the rising cost of living

CBC                                             

3 Canadians killed, another injured in Mexico resort shooting, local police say

Trudeau says he's looking at options for the crumbling Prime Minister's residence at 24 Sussex

Ottawa, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation make deal to hand over residential school documents 

Man arrested after 4 people, including baby, found frozen to death near Manitoba-US border

O'Toole's boycott leaves security panel of parliamentarians with no Conservative MPs

Polarized debate over public health measures sees politicians facing angry protesters at their homes

The shorter work week: An idea whose time has finally come

Calling in student nurses points to pending criss in Alberta hospitals, doctors say

'We cannot eliminate all risk: BC Health Officials shift emphasis to preventing transmission of COVID-19

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Utility says BC's heat, rain and cold in 2021 underscore changing demand for power

BC study links low river flows with lower chinook salmon productivity

New report suggests Alaskan fisheries are over-harvesting plummeting BC salmon stocks

NDP calls on government to give emergency one-off payment to desperate seniors 

O'Toole's flaws must be part of Conservative election report: Sen Batters 

Canada contributes $50 million to start of regional summit to discuss Hait's future 

Kill the BBC/CBC! Cut its throat! Bash it in! Or at least, defund it

Liberals tout rapid-housing program as MPs delve anew into probe of home prices

Toronto Sun

In the short term, restart surgeries,  in the long term, get them out of hospitals

Let's pick up the pace on dropping COVID rules

Judge won't lift ban on reasons for accused Toronto cop killer's bail

Apparently criminals pay no heed to Trudeau's gun ban announcements

Ford's reopening plan is still to slow, beholden to special interests

Opposition can't do their job with O'Toole's carbon tax

Where in the world is Justin Trudeau? The world's on fire but our PM is playing hide-and-seek

Poliievre uses Twitter as a hammer to bang out the truth

National Post

Charity sector worth $300B per year, but CRA audits have dropped four-fold since 2010

They walked for hours in the frozen prairie darkness, and four didn't make it

Canada pausing intake of highly trained skilled immigrant workers amid heavy backlog 

Corrections officer charged with criminal negligence after death of Manitoba inmate

'No dissent is allowed': School board bars teacher from raising concerns over transgender books

Alberta needs to learn to say 'no' to the Trudeau Liberals

The case for breaking up the CBC

Back to the future over fears of inflation and Russian invasion 

Negotiations with Quebec shipyards to build much-needed icebreakers still mysteriously stalled for two years

Macleans                           

The case for an inquiry into Canada's treatment of First Nations children

Global 

Police remove 'unruly' unmasked passengers from flight at Abbotsford airport

BC SPCA seizes 216 'neglected' beef cows from Vancouver Island property

Canada Post recognizes jazz legend Eleanor Collins with new stamp

Return of pay parking at BC Hospitals hurts universal access to healthcare: critics

National fitness association critical of non-compliant gyms

BC Transit workers in Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton issue strike notice

BC Hydro: 2021 was a record breaking year for electricity demand

Experts say truckers should have done more to prepare for vaccine mandate 

Ucluelet First Nation without water and Tonga tsunami surge probed as possible cause

O'Toole facing crucial test as Conservative MPs gather for caucus retreat

MP Sukh Dhaliwal considering a run for mayor of Surrey

Miscellaneous            

Leave plastic where it belongs - in the tar sands

Downtown Vancouver office vacancies rise as Omicron derails return-to-work plans

Organizer of 'monumental convoy' Pat King says the plan is for truckers to shut down Ottawa

Cottage style home in Vancouver gets 26 offers and sells $580,000 over asking for $1.83 million

Realtor suspended for falsifying signature of mother's dead boyfriend in Richmond condo deal

CIBC Economics says COVID-19 immigrants more employable and 'in position to purchase a home earlier'

Why the politics of the pandemic could catch up the NDP

Downtown Eastside women's organizations describe recent Vancouver Police news release as 'particularly egregious'

World Class of Liveable? Vancouver's Split Imagination

Getting to Zero Waste by 2040

As Vancouver shrinks, the Suburbs swell