Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, February 12-14, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Thursday-Monday,  February 12-14, 2022

Emergencies Act Invoked 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act to try to Brin an end to the blockades 

Banks get emergency powers to freeze accounts, halt funds

Is invoking the Emergencies Act too much? Time will tell

Premier Heather Stefanson not in favour of using Federal Emergencies Act in Manitoba 

Federal government invokes Emergencies Act for first time ever in response to protests, blockades

The federal government has invoked the Emergencies Act. Here's what that means

The Emergencies Act has been invoked. What does that mean?

Justin Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act to stop convoy protests

Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act for 'illegal' blockades

Trudeau has gone to far

Trudeau's grounds for invoking Emergencies Act are extremely thin

Why Trudeau declaring a national emergency should have been a non starter 

Trudeau invokes the Emergencies Act to clear protesters, border blockades

'Proof of failure': Opposition parties react to Trudeau's call for Emergencies Act

The Emergencies Act: What's seriously endangered?

Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act for 1st time to aid convoy blockade response

Kenney says federal government's use of Emergencies Act 'not necessary' in Alberta

Convoy to Ottawa/Other convoy plans

Alleged data leak shows most GiveSendGo donations to convoy protests were from Canadians 

Edmonton Police under fire for heavy-handedness with convoy counter protesters

RCMP arrest a dozen, seize cache of guns at Alberta border blockade 

For Ottawa's Chief Peter Sloly, police response to protests pits his progressive views against a complicated threat 

Police clear vehicles from Ambassador Bridge blockade, protracted standoff with protesters continues

Remember: Those who wave the Canadian flag do not get to define it for everyone else

Mounties seize guns and arrest 13 protesters at border blockade in Alberta

3 weekends, 1 hot tub: Ottawa residents reach protest boiling point

2 Special Forces members under investigation of allegedly taking part in convoy protest 

City brokers deal for trucks to leave Ottawa's residential neighbourhoods

Ambassador Bridge reopens after police clear protesters 

Canada to send Ukraine lethal military equipment worth $7.8M

Police stand by as anti-mandate protests continue to grip Ottawa

Protest crowd remains on Ambassador Bridge after police clear out park of blockade

Hacked Convoy data shows more than half of donations came from US

Truck drivers face delays after Pacific border highway closed due to protest 

'Yes to peaceful protests': Pierre Poilievre doubles down on support for Ottawa demonstrators 

Justin Trudeau says Ottawa protest has lasted far too long. Well, whose fault is that?

'Had to act': RCMP arrest 13, seize weapons near Alberta-US border crossing

Doug Ford has played right into the protesters' hands

Ottawa police want more officers to deal with trucker convoy. But sources say 'there is no plan' for how to use them

'Hell no, we won't go'

Civil servants, NASA employees and an American billionaire among donors leaded in GiveSendGo hack

Mounties arrest 11 'militant' protesters after guns, ammunition seized at Coutts blockade

Police, protesters continue to face off at BC border crossing with concert barriers in place 

Ontario company gave $75,000 to protesters, as security breach reveals Canadians, US donors

What options are available when Canadian police won't take action against vaccine-mandate protesters?

Can Canada count on its Police?

Canada / China tensions                 

Ukraine/Russia tensions

Canada to send lethal weapons, $500 million loan to Ukraine as it girds for possible war

Ukrainians feeling abandoned by the West, as warning about imminent Russian invasion multiply

With a Russian invasion looming, we can't forget about everyday Ukrainians

Canadian troops retreat from Ukraine amid threat of Russian invasion

Canadian military trainers pulled out of Ukraine before anticipated Russian invasion: sources

Canada pulls diplomats from Ukrainian capital amid fears Russia is heading for war

An invasion of Ukraine would be a catastrophe -  but a larger crisis is already underway 

Canada to send Ukraine $7.8M worth of lethal weapons and additional $500M loan: Trudeau 

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky says he's been told his country will be attacked on Wednesday

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Ontario to end vaccine passports, was capacity limits, but masks stay on 

Let us praise vaccine mandates before we bury them

17 more deaths recorded in BC over weekend, hospitalizations declining 

Saskatchewan lifts passport, no vaccination proof needed for Valentine's Day diners 

COVID19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to fall in Ontario

Horwath upset that Ontario's top doc ditches vaccine passports

17 more deaths recorded in BC over weekend but hospitalizations declining

BC set to ease COVID-19 restrictions, will not change vaccine card rules

Vancouver Coastal Health's chief medical health officer says there's great debate over whether COVID-19 is airborne

Is our pandemic the ghost of the 1889 Russian flu?

Globe and Mail

Canada aims to welcome 432,000 immigrants in 2022 as part of three year plan to fill labour gaps  

Are pandemic restrictions gone for good? If not, what will trigger action again?

The border closings have done enormous damage to Canada's reputation at the worst possible time

Conservative private member's bill takes Bank of Canada attacks to next level

Former Speaker of BC Legislature didn't consider conflict of interest, trial hears

Ottawa moves up timeline to repay benefit clawbacks for low-income seniors

Truck carrying 2,000 firearms allegedly stolen in Peterborough Police say

CBC                                             

Two backbenchers show the nation how to talk about the pandemic without screaming

Federal government to begin repaying GIS clawbacks in April 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Statue of Vancouver's founder torn down during women's memorial walk 

British Columbia introduces online auto insurance renewals

British Columbia introduces skills trade  certification  for apprentices, journeymen in 10 trades  

Former Speaker of BC Legislature didn't consider conflict of interest: trial hears 

Centrist Conservatives may have found their champion in the battle for the soul of the party 

Inflation isn't the only economic problem on the horizon 

Toronto Sun

Canada in a sad state, plenty of blame to go around

Theft of truck carrying 2,000 guns not a targeted incident: Peterborough cops

End of vaccine passports praised by ailing small businesses 

At 101, 'Hurricane' Hazel still has some words of wisdom

Breaking up with Trudeau! International Left and Right agree: PM is a disaster 

Justin Trudeau -- he just wan't ready

For there to be unity, politicians need humility 

Protests, blockades damaging Trudeau 

National Post

Peter MacKay and Vern White: What's happening in Ottawa is not freedom, it's anarchy 

Canada escalates immigration targets to cope with worker shortage in post-pandemic recovery

Trudeau should follow Doug Ford's lead and end all pandemic restrictions 

Macleans                           

Global 

'When are we going to be seen as humans?: Downtown Vancouver packed for annual Women's Memorial walk

Gassy Jack statue in Vancouver' s Gastown toppled during women's memorial march, video shows

'An eyesore and an embarrassment': What will it take to stop graffiti vandalism in Chinatown?

ICBC moving to online car insurance renewals, but change won't save drivers any money

Gas prices in Metro Vancouver break records, expected to continue rising

Craig James trial: former Speaker of BC Legislature doesn't recall retirement payout documents 

'Escalated beyond belief': Calls for action on Vernon rental housing crunch

Annual memorial march in honour of MMIWG takes place in Montreal  

Miscellaneous            

Gassy Jack statue toppled during February 14th Women's Memorial March

ICBC will soon accept online renewals of insurance policies and eliminate requirement for decals on licence plates 

BCREA reports 23.5 percent increase in average home price amid 'listings drought'

Gassy Jack's statute is toppled in Vancouver 

The BC Government Tapes: Old Growth

Where Grief Meets Rage

The long, tragic road to a killing on a summer night