Ottawa Observation: Saturday-Monday, February 5-7, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Saturday/Sunday,  February 5 - 7, 2022

Convoy to Ottawa/Other convoy plans

City of Ottawa wants more help 'to take back the streets' from convoy protest

Trucker convoy protest in Ottawa inspires right-wing activists globally

It's time to end the sedition in Ottawa by enforcing the law and following the money

Federal government urges Ottawa police to take control of convoy protest, proposes cross-jurisdictional meetings

At the trucker protests, the political hard right is co-opting Christianity

How Canadian law allows for military assistance in ending the Ottawa occupation

Police arson unit probes Ottawa fire allegation in heat of anti-mandate protest

Trudeau urges Ottawa convoy protesters to go home 

Ottawa Mayor declares state of emergency over trucker convoy protest

Protesters block traffic in both directions on Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit to Windsor

Removing trucks could be almost 'impossible,' say heavy towing experts 

'It has to stop': Trudeau accuses protesters of blockading 'democracy' during Commons debate

No end in sight to Ottawa protests, not enough resources, says police chief

Ottawa protest's lawyer floats chance of quieter night as police say resources are stretched thin 

Protester denouncing pandemic rules rally across Canada

Crowds swell in downtown Ottawa again for 2nd weekend of protests

Court grants injunction to silence honking in downtown Ottawa for 10 days

Uncivil Society: Ottawa's vaccine protest could be a sign of things to come

Offices of 2 Nova Scotia MPs locked down due to packages with 'chemical irritant'

Ottawa declares state of emergency as police boost enforcement, target protest's fuel supply

'Stop hiding': Justin Trudeau attends debate after critics slam him for silence on 'Freedom Convoy' protest

Protesters, counter protesters flood the downtown (Toronto) core; one arrested for assault

Canadian police forces learn from situation in Ottawa during convoy protests

It's been a sad week for Canada, as protests continue in the nation's capital

Here's how the so-called Freedom Convoy is still raising 'thousands of dollar's per minute even without Go Fund Me

Judge grants interim injunction against loud honking at Ottawa protest

Blaming Freedom Convoy protesters for protesting gets us nowhere 

Ten points to consider in ending the mess in Ottawa

Ottawa Mayor and Police Chief deserve blame for convoy mess

Trucks clog Detroit-Windsor border as part of nationwide protest actions  

No, there wasn't a Neo Nazi uprising in Toronto, More of a Slavic dance party

Ottawa Mayor calls for feds to provide 1,800 more police to clear protesters 

Ontario considering ending licence plate stickers, saving drivers $120 a year

Canada has broken up massive, intransigent protests before. Here's how that went

Truck convoy is a stunt in a country in which populism is still taboo

Vehicles damaged at convoy protest in Victoria, police seek suspect 

Police arson unit probing alleged attempt to start fire in Ottawa apartment building, says mayor

Ottawa Police call for more personnel to 'regain control' of the city

Ottawa Trucker convoy 'not above the law' says public safety minister

Plaid Army vlogger Jeremy MacKenzie claims tat the Mounties are planning mass arrests of Ottawa protesters 

Woman's rant on Freedom Convoy 2022 goes viral

Canada / China tensions                 

Ukraine/Russia tensions

US President Joe Biden says no Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine

In eastern Latvia, NATO gets an icy reception from ethnic Russians as Canada eyes mission extension

Ottawa warns Canadians to leave Ukraine over fears of Russian invasion

What the shadow war in Ukraine might say about a possible Russian invasion

Why we must not appease Putin's approach to Ukraine

Why would Putin invade Ukraine when he's already won?

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Canada is shifting to 'living with the virus' - for better or worse

British Columbia's death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 2,700

Another 32 deaths reported in BC as hospital numbers jump up again

Hey, where's my rapid test?

Globe and Mail

Canadian airlines cancel flights, call for travel-restriction rollback

Nobody wants pandemic restrictions. The challenge is dispensing with them responsibly

Should Canada host the Olympics again in 2030? Not if we have to pay for it

Pierre Poilievre riding the populist wave that began as a protest against vaccine mandates

Alberta premier, UCP pandering to COVID-19 blockaders, NDP Opposition leader says

Ottawa to launch review of competition laws, catching up to 'today's digital reality'

Ottawa's plan for Canada's 2030 climate target needs to be a reckoning with where we're really at

New BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon plans to run for legislature seat in Vancouver 

Arts sector welcomes broadcasting bill as critics remain concerned about government interference online

Ontario New Democrats affirm Andrea Horwath's leadership at convention

Conservative MP Alain Rates steps down as deputy leader to focus on leadership race

As a Conservative, it pains me that we aren't learning from our mistakes

CBC                                             

Pierre Poilievre becomes first MP to bid for Conservative party Leadership

Donald Johnson, first non-European to head OECD, passes away

Chaos agent

Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest courted by Conservative MP as possible leadership candidate 

Protesters stay, a leader goes

Erin O'Toole's fate sent a message - MPs are not instruments of a leaders's will

Stripping Alberta Teachers' Association of discipline role a serious mistake 

Leaders, MPs spar over protest convoy, vaccine mandates 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC government rejects proposal for gold and copper mind for third time

New BC Liberal leader plans to run for legislature seat in Vancouver riding

BC expected to have more than 1 million job openings in the next decade

Advocates thrilled as court orders Health Canada to reassess glyphosate decision 

How many candidates could run for Conservative leader? Depends on timing and rules

Canada's Chief Justice says system must continue modernizing beyond COVID-19 pandemic

It's now or never for the Conservative party

Cozying up to Maxime Bernier would seal the Conservative's fate as a fringe party 

Toronto Sun

Time to finally allow us to get back to living 'normal lives'

Truckers association calls on Trudeau, Biden to  end COVID-19 mandate

Truth and transparency about U of T and anti-Semitism

O'Toole paid the price for flip-flopping on carbon tax

Horwath has allowed anti-Semitism to fester in the NDP, members should show her the door

Tories should pick the road, not the ditch

Trudeau can't unite us because his strategy is to divide us

Trudeau tries to bring back online censorship bill

Lockdowns causing more job losses

National Post

Two Canadian gangsters' big plans as narco bosses undone by undercover sting down under

Where is Justin Trudeau? NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says PM has 'not been visible'

'We just lost one of the greats of Journalism  in Canada': John Honderich dead at 75

Privacy commissioner: Few realized the government was tracking their pandemic movements 

Judge has 'heard enough' grants interim injunction against truckers honking in Ottawa

Macleans                           

Stephen Poloz on economic dangers ahead, staying positive and lessons from Start Trek

Global 

'Next to nothing': BC dad's custody of kids dramatically reduced because he's unvaccinated

'He said I was too exposed': BC Woman says doctor refused treatment over what she was wearing

Police shut down illegal night club, issued pandemic fines in New Westminster

BC expecting to lose 600k workers to retirement in next decade 

BC announces $228M to help farmers, ranchers impacted by floods

BC government rejects proposal for gold and copper mind for third time

RCMP seeking suspect related to 'suspicious object' discovered at Surrey Hospital

Kevin Falcon wins BC Liberal leadership in a landslide

Former BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson set to resign as an MLA

Councillor wants to add 'teeth' to bylaw enforcing Vancouver building maintenance

English Bay barge to be broken down and removed in pieces

Singh urging emergency debate in House amid trucker convoy 'crisis'

Federal government asked Canadians about radical changes to mail delivery

Polievre can be a 'strong' leader but uniting Tories is a challenge: former minister

Right-wing backlash on display in both the federal Conservative and BC Liberal parties

Miscellaneous            

Vancouver property virgins: purchases by first time home buyers increased every year from 2018 - 2021

What will it take to change long-term care in Canada?

Two legislature protesters berate Global News BC reporter Kylie Stanton; others urge demonstrators to get vaccinated

Doctor Bonnie Henry, Adrian Dix and the rise of pro-COVID demonstrations in British Columbia

Wilkinson quits, clearing way for Falcon to Run for MLA

Kevin Falcon, baggage handler

Convoy Pushback: 'Thank You Health Workers'