Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, January 4, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Canada / China tensions                 

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The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Hospitalizations rising countrywide as Omicron threatens to overrun the health system

Ontario hospitals gear up for growing pressure from Omicron wave

With hospitals in crisis, it's time there were consequences for vaccine holdouts

Airlines cancel hundreds of flights as Omicron spreads

BC schools must plan for the likelihood of massive staffing shortages due to COVID-19, province's top doctor says

WHO sees more evidence suggesting Omicron causes milder symptoms than previous COVID-19 variants

With Omicron dominating, businesses need plans for staying open as staff get sick: PHO

Active cases of COVID-19 at record highs in Alberta as Omicron spurs spread

Newfoundland reports 493 new cases of COVID-19, first drop in daily total in more than a week

1,757 new cases of COVID-19, 2 deaths reported in Manitoba Tuesday

Quebec reduces COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days for people with 2 doses of vaccine

Unfair to close schools when almost no other public health restrictions in place: Saskatoon pediatrician  

Parents frustrated as some schools shift online, others plow ahead amid rising COVID-19 cases

BC's top doctor says employers should plan now for lots of sick workers

Ontario's restrictions are too late and might not matter enough. But at least Ontario tried

Trudeau, Horgan discuss Omicron response, BC flooding rebuilding efforts 

COVID DÉJÀ VU: Lockdown 4.0?! Could we have avoided this?

Forget lockdowns - the pandemic endgame is already here

COVID-related staffing shortages fuelled by Omicron variant grinds Canada down

Why OMICRON case counts are no longer a 'true reflection' of the impact of COVID-19

Quebec's curfew is extreme, but Fracois Legault will get a pass

BC records another 2,542 COVID-19 cases, jump in hospitalizations  

'In the tug of war, Omicron has the advantage': BC entered new stage of the pandemic

BC aims to bring back one social visitor per resident back to long-term care homes

Minimizing 'social disruption': Why BC isn't implementing more COVID-19 restrictions

Many gyms 'doing everything right' but top doctor says COVID-19 still spreads within their walls

BC School Districts prepare for 'functional closures' online classes amid COVID-19 surge

Cough, cold or COVID-19? Doctors say with symptoms overlapping, it's impossible to tell

BC appears to be tackling booster backlog ahead of 'boosted' third dose rollout

Prepare for COVID crisis, Businesses warned

The case of BC's Missing COVID-19 Data

Globe and Mail

Canada's dairy trade conduct violates USMCA pact, first panel rules

Ruling forced Ottawa into child welfare deal, says Cindy Blackstock

Liberals kick-start trade pact challenge to US duties on softwood lumber

Residential school records may lie deep in Vatican's archives

Federal transport minister asks for investigation into Sunwing party flight to Mexico

As online learning looms in Ontario, school boards face devices shortages 

Somaliland asks Canada for help amid superpower rivalry in Horn of Africa

CBC                                             

Ottawa releases early details of landmark $40B First Nations Child welfare agreement 

Getting compensation for Flight PS752 victims will be difficult, lawyer says

US defeats Canada in first dispute under new North American trade pact

Women, visible minorities make up larger share of latest Order of Canada appointments

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC property assessments continue to rise; rural communities show highest increases

They made headlines for 751 unmarked graves. Now Cowessess First Nation wants to be leader in child welfare 

On day he was to start Ontario jail sentence, hate-broadcasting podcaster arrested after crossing US border

Antisemitism envoy Irwin Cotler says Quebec's secularism law is discriminatory 

Hackers interrupt Zoom news conference held by families of Iran Plane crash victims

Goodbye, BlackBerry. You were the coolest toy on Parliament Hill

Toronto Sun

Premier Ford has betrayed Ontario youth

Former CBC staffer Tara Henley said what many Canadians think

Closing gyms during pandemic bad for people's health, owner says

Anti masker Kevin J Johnston arrested at US border after failing to serve sentence 

Here's some news about Alberta that the CBC likely won't report

Protect workers by discouraging unionization

Lockdowns are the new pandemic  

National Post

Canada loses to US in trade spat as panel says dairy rules defy USMCA pact

Trudeau and other partisans should rein in the rage

Federal antisemitism envoy Irwin Cotler calls Quebec secularism law 'discriminatory' 

Macleans                           

Canada's hesitancy on military defence is leaving us vulnerable

Global 

Rare winter storm watch issued for BC's South Coast, could bring region to a 'standstill' 

'Very unsettling':Surrey-White Rock MLA's office trashed over holidays

As we start 2022, BC's politicians remain front and centre to navigate COVID and more

2022 BC Assessment shows a significant jump in property values 

Iran plane crash victims' press conference disrupted by vulgar video

Ottawa unveils $40B deal on Indigenous child welfare compensation

Miscellaneous