Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, January 25-26, 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 25-26, 2022

Canada / China tensions                 

Parliamentary hearing witnesses call for more scrutiny over China in Canadian critical minerals after state owned Zijin Mining buys Canada's Neo Lithium

China's COVID blame game fizzles over infection-by mail theory

Ukraine/Russia tensions

US, NATO concede nothing on Russian demands for Ukraine

Trudeau extends Ukraine military training mission for three years

No weapons, but a government stance that bring the new Cold War home to Canada

In Moscow, war drums aren't beating and the public doesn't favour invasion

The many delusions of Russia-Ukraine 'realists'

Russian envoy urges Justin Trudeau to call Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine crisis

Trudeau's dithering on Ukraine should fool no one

How Russia's pipeline politics could split the alliance around Ukraine

Canada expands training mission in Ukraine, promises non-lethal aid

Canada withdrawing families of diplomatic staff in Ukraine as tensions rise

Canada sending defensive equipment to Ukraine, extends military training mission

Canada offers Ukraine non-lethal equipment and up to 400 soldiers as it faces possible Russian invasion

Is Putin waiting for the Beijing Winter Olympics to begin?

Canada has vital stake in Ukraine outcome but 'no currency or heft', experts say

Canada will not send Ukraine weapons but boost cyber support, training mission

NDP MPs criticized for 'terrible' social media comments on Ukraine-Russia crisis

Canada criticized for 'soft, tentative language' amid Ukraine-Russia crisis

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Alberta reports three cases of new COVID-19 sub variant, more hospitalizations, deaths

A COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools could harm many low-income kids

BC to send rapid tests for staff to government funded child care settings

Ontario reports 89 more COVID deaths

Canadians show 'significant' shift on sending. COVID vaccines to other countries: Poll

England lifts most COVID-19 restrictions, including face masks and passes

'Booster hesitancy': Poll shows growing rifts between double vexed and boosted Canadians

Quebec surpasses 13,000 COVID-19 deaths, the highest in Canada

Ministry of Health reports a record 21 deaths in a 24 hour period  

BC is creating confusion with COVID communications, say critics 

Globe and Mail

Ottawa police prepare for trucker protest against federal vaccination mandate

Why an anti-vaccine mandate trucker convoy called the Freedom rally is driving across Canada

Is mandatory COVID-19 vaccination coming to Canada? A look at each province and territory's restrictions and vaccine mandate policies

Don't misread the Bank of Canada's decision as inaction. Interest rates will rise and quickly

Bank of Canada inaction on rates adds more heat to housing market

Omar Alghabra says tweet calling him 'terrorist' is example of hate minorities deal with

You can learn a lot about Canadian politics by looking at the wreck that is 24 Sussex Drive 

Erin O'Toole's days as Conservative leader appear to be numbered 

Conservative riding association wants early leadership review, as poll shows voters favour Poilievre over O'Toole

The bill's about to come due for Trudeau's Liberals, and it won't be pretty

Conservative MPs await results of election review - but don't expect to see it all

Premiers intensify campaign for increase to Canada Health Transfer

Ottawa police prepare for trucker protest against federal vaccination mandate

Attitude on carbon tax rebate defined by politics, not facts, survey suggests

CBC                                             

NDP's Jagmeet Singh denounces trucker convoy, disagrees with brother in law's donation to the cause

Despite record high inflation, Bank of Canada holds interest rate steady - for now

Organizers behind anti-vaccine mandate convoy says it won't tolerate extremists as online rhetoric heats up

Federal government won't budge on vaccine mandate for truckers as convoy heads for Ottawa

Calgary Liberal MP George Chapel fined for election flyer controversy 

Federal government promises probe of RCMP's approach to sexual misconduct in the ranks

'No matter how many times we talk about it, I still feel that hurt in my heart,' Chief Willie Sellars

Ottawa police prepare as convoy protesting vaccine mandate heads to nation's capital

As the pandemic rages on, the political debate moves to the supermarket aisle 

Court places publication ban on Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson's sexual assault case 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Kelowna airport gets $18M for upgrades and operational costs

BC forest watchdog recommends improving forest management to protect water 

BC Environment Ministry issues air quality advisory for Vanderhoof and Houston

BC Appeal Court extends injunction against old-growth logging protests 

Former BC Legislature clerk's cufflinks, whisky subject of indictment: Crown 

93 potential unmarked graves - and more chilling stories - as First Nation reveals findings of residential school investigation

Survivor stories led to expanded investigation at St. Joseph's Mission, location of 93 potential burial sites

Interior Fraser steelhead face extinction, warn BC fishing conservation groups  

Customers are reporting bare shelves and product shortages at grocery stores but retailers say there is no food shortage, yet

He worked as a VP for Metrolinx while the agency awarded his private consulting firm contracts worth millions  

'A major realignment': More than 200,000 restaurant workers left the industry during the pandemic. Here's where they went

What Jordan Peterson's outdate argument shows us about meritocracy  

'Freedom Rally' truckers convoy hits Ontario - picking up Conservative political support as it rolls

Quebec Muslim leaders call for federal handgun ban in letters to Legault, Trudeau

Future of transit at stake, big city mayors say in plea for federal funds

Erin O'Toole prepares to face his caucus as findings from election loss presented 

Doug Ford doesn't have a chance as a minority Premier 

Protesting truckers don't want their vaccines? Let's give them to people who do

Ignoring antisemitism hasn't made it go away

Toronto Sun

Payments to influential Metrolinx consultants firm hidden from taxpayers 

Joe Rogan talks Ottawa bound truck convoy 

Trucker convoy took two hours to roll through town

Bank of Canada holds key interest rate unchanged, signals hikes coming soon

It's time for solutions, and it's time for Canadians to come together 

Trucker vaccine mandate loads of trouble: CFIB

Gerry Butts opens the Twitter spoilers on truckers' rally

'Freedom' truckers may form world's longest convoy

O'Toole should trigger a review of his leadership now

To fight inflation, bank rate hike must happen in March

Payments to influential Metrolinx consultant's firm hidden from taxpayers

Trudeau uses trucker protests as political weapon

Latest inflation numbers may be sign of thins to come

Roll On, Freedom convoy

Trudeau needs to drop the division over mandates 

PM must think about inflation

National Post

Reopen Parliament early for Freedom Convoy's arrival in Ottawa

As Trucking convoy approaches Ottawa, police warn of traffic slowdowns

Canada's rankings in the Corruption Perceptions Index have plummeted under Trudeau

Transport minister concerned trucker rally becoming a lightning rod for far-right fringe

Why did the Bank of Canada and Fed hold and what's next?

Buying Canadian Lithium firm part of China's aim to dominate high tech manufacturing, MPs told

Progressives shamefully gaslighting Canadians about food shortages 

Canada's mineral policy in need of a critical review after China's lithium firm purchase

Conservatives need to 'up our game' says O'Toole as election campaign review due

Digital giants must pay Canadian media for using news: Federal heritage minister says

Macleans                           

--

Global 

'I remember': BC residential school survivor speaks following discovery of possible burial sites

Could nuclear power help BC reach its climate change goals? SFU research makes the case

'Fringe minority' in truck convoy with 'unacceptable views' don't represent Canadians: Trudeau

Interest rates are holding steady. Here's what that means for inflation, housing

Quebec language police tells Montreal bar to change English-Only Facebook posts

One third of Canadian, American students think Holocaust was fabricated: study

Canadian auto production hit lowest level since 1967 last year amid chip shortage

Canada's Big City mayors call on federal government for transit funding 

Canada's public safety minister calls for removal of Hillier 'hate' tweet about Alghabra

Miscellaneous            

Seniors advocates highlight existence of ageist housing discrimination in different areas of Vancouver 

Assessment of stoner hero Tommy Chong's unsold West Vancouver home up $1.5 million to nearly $5.5 million

Plaid Army Blogger Derek Harrison wants truckers convoy to turn into Canada's own January 6th event

Conservatives accused of fear-mongering over empty grocery store shelves in Canada

Ground-penetrating radar finds 93 'reflections' - indicative of potential human burials - at former residential school 

A BC Ex-MP, Western Separatists and that Truck Protest

Climate change drives BC's push for New Watershed plans

Earth has exceeded its safe limit for Chemical Pollution

Vancouver aims to end School 'Streaming' Will Black and Indigenous students benefit?

A Nation's journey into the 'Darkest Recesses of Human Behaviour'

What can we learn from a Plague 24 centuries ago?

Honk if I should fear vaccine mandates