Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, January 18-19, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday-Wednesday,  January 18-19, 2022

Canada / China tensions                 

Security flaw found in smartphone app for Olympians in Beijing

Chinese government expanding use of coercion to bring back citizens abroad, report says

China Mobile presses court for federal info to help fight national security card

Ottawa looks on as China buys Canadian Lithium operations 

China's latest wild accusation about Canada 

A Cold War with China and its authoritarian allies is inevitable 

Ukraine/Russia tensions

Canada set to extend training mission in Ukraine as it considers aid request 

Biden's timidity is only emboldening Russia

On Ukraine, let's not forget what history teaches us about appeasement 

Russia is looking for a pretext to invade Ukraine, Trudeau says

As invasion threat looms, Ukraine asks for weapons - and Canada makes evacuation plans

Joly promises Ukraine financial help as it stares down threat of Russian invasion

Trudeau says he fears armed conflict in Ukraine, but is coy on what Canada will do

This just in: The PM has green phoning cabinet ministers

Trudeau says Russia is looking for 'excuses' to invade Ukraine

Russia accuses Canada of 'ignoring' numerous crimes by Ukraine amid rising tensions

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As the Pandemic drags on, governments can only do so much to protect us 

Testing vaccinated air travellers on arrival is pandemic theatre at the border

British PM Boris Johnson to life nearly all COVID-19 restrictions as resignation calls intensify 

Ontario set to loosen pandemic restrictions starting January 31

Trudeau defends vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers amid supply chain concerns

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh supports vaccination, but is concerned about Quebec's proposed tax on the unvaccinated 

Trudeau says antiviral treatment won't make up for low vaccination rate among children 

Let's not play Russian roulette with Omicron and embrace it as inevitable

Here's what you need to know about 4th doses of COVID vaccine 

COVID-19 antiviral pill incoming as fifth wave's peak in sight for some provinces 

Ontario on cusp of a COVID transition - let's welcome it

Twitter doctors can dish it out but can' take it

Lift restrictions: Ontario needs to follow the UK's lead

Children, staff exposed to COVID-19 can still attend daycare if symptom-free; BC-CDC

BC-CDC flip flops on isolation requirements for unvaccinated COVID-19 positive people

BC reports 13 new deaths as hospitalizations near 900

After WHO recommendations for N95s in care settings with poor ventilation, Fraser Health bans them in hospitals

BC extends most COVID restrictions for a month

My daughter couldn't be sacrificed to 'Get Back to Normal'

Globe and Mail

Erin O'Toole never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity

Ahead of June election, Ontario mulls changing zoning rules to address housing crisis

Hyperventilating over inflation? Try looking beyond the headline 

Inflation hist three decade high as Bank of Canada interest rate hike looms

Liberal government 'undermines' financial transparency with delays in disclosing spending details, PBO says

Opposition parties call on Auditor-General to investigate McKinsey outsourcing contracts

Liberals press Conservatives to change mind on proposal for Winnipeg Lab documents 

Federal government in no rush to conduct overview parliamentary review of assisted dying law

O'Toole keeps running, but it doesn't look like he's going anywhere

Ottawa turns to consulting firm McKinsey to fix Phone pay system, doubling spending on outsourcing

CBC                                             

Trudeau says government not planning new law to curb protests targeting politicians 

Over 200 Afghan refugees arrive in Vancouver after fleeing from Taliban

Canada terminates $222M PPE contract following forced labour probe

Jagmeet Singh and his wife have 'realized their error', will pay for $1,895 rocking chair gift

Alberta justice minister needs to be fired after latest UCP government scandal. It's that simple

Ontario to reopen restaurants at 50% capacity on January 31, sources say

Nunavut issues boil-water advisory for Iqaluit after fuel smell returns to city water 

Canada's inflation rate rises to new 30 year high of 4.8%

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC First Nations make deal with Western Forest Products to defer old-growth logging 

Imperial Metals surrenders mining rights in BC's Silverdaisy watershed

Vancouver Island community without water after barge damages underwater line 

Afghans who worked closely with Canada in Afghanistan reach BC with families 

He got a ticket, then called the police chief. But the suspension of the first Black Justice Minister in Canada is drawing criticism 

Quebec details plan to capture, fence in isolated caribou herds to protect them

Ottawa and First Nations in PEI sign agreement to establish national park reserve 

Don't tear down 24 Sussex. It's a national treasure

Justin Trudeau didn't create Canada's inflation problem - and there's not much he can do about it

Quebec unprepared for 1st wave of COVID-19 pandemic, leading to long term care deaths

For Ontario voters, the race for second place might be the most interesting 

Unvaccinated military face 'steeper' challenge than airman who refuses anthrax shot 

24 Sussex is part of our heritage. If the politicians can't save it, take it out of their hands

Doug Ford should help dig the city out of this hole instead of digging cards out of snowbanks

Suddenly, Doug  Ford looks beatable in coming June election

Doug Ford takes social media by storm by shovelling up a helping of folksy PR

Toronto Sun

City ponders sending crisis teams - not police - to distress calls

Ontario to permit indoor dining at 50% capacity: source

Sparse grocery shelves no reason to panic: Retail Council 

Trudeau's lack of interest in inflation is costing all of us

If Trudeau didn't think about inflation in 2021, he does now

What do Vaccine mandates mean? Trucker shortages and skyrocketing prices?

Trudeau made trucker shortage worse, but you'll pay for it

The less Trudeau the better it is ... for Trudeau

Trudeau government's plastic bans will cost Canadians money

Trudeau knows he's worsening inflation

National Post

With inflation soaring, it's time to put brakes on stimulus spending

Inflation climbs to higher in more than 30 years, raising odds of rate hike next week

Made in Canada rocker lands Jagemeet Singh in ethical trouble

More than one in four Canadians support jail time for the unvaccinated, poll finds

The Liberals are denying citizens their charter right to re-enter Canada

Jordan Peterson: Why I am no longer a tenured professor at the University of Toronto

Macleans                           

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Global 

'Welcome, just drive slow': BC's storm ravaged Coquihalla Highway reopens to the public

BC First Nation raises concerns about scores of pig carcasses at compost facility 

Bars and other BC businesses affected by pandemic closures to receive more help

Canada eyeing 5G's impact on 'critical aircraft tech amid US warnings 

Canadians' support for lockdown, government dips amid Omicron COVID-19 wave: poll

Miscellaneous            

BCREA analysis says looming interest rate hikes 'unlikely to result in significant home price declines' 

Death by a thousand lies

Is Vancouver worth the gazillions in rent?

Tenants in BC Housing - funded SRO are bullied out of rooms, alleges support worker

It pays to pollute in BC

Why small shops along Broadway are getting Fried

Coastal GasLink attempts to block reporters from Wet'suwet'en Territory