Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, February 17-18, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday-Friday,  February 17-18, 2022

Convoy to Ottawa/Emergencies Act Invoked 

Police move in to clear downtown Ottawa of Convoy protesters after weeks of demonstrations

Ottawa residents express relief as police push convoy protesters back

Children's safety a concern in Ottawa as police move to end convoy protests

Cities prepare for further COVID-19 protests this weekend

For convoy protesters in Ottawa, a very bad day broadcast on Facebook Live

A state of emergency that some truckers don't believe is real

Emergencies Act debate to continue through the weekend ahead of vote Monday

Feds cite risk of violence, extremist elements in defence of invoking Emergencies Act

If COVID-19 didn't clear the bar for the Emergencies Act, does this?

In a time of crisis, out most important institutions failed us

 Trudeau must bear the blame for his divisive words and actions 

Our protests are a weak copy of Europe's. We should learn from their response

Standoff between protesters and massive police operation stretches into night

Convoy organizer Chris Barber released, ordered to leave Ottawa

US Congress asks Facebook: What role did fake overseas accounts have in promoting Canada convoys?

MPs to resume debate on Emergencies Act after police make gains against protesters

It's no sledgehammer - but for Trudeau, the Emergencies Act could turn out to be just as heavy

Truckers say they'll face arrests peacefully - but will defend their rights  

Convoy protest organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, Pat King arrested in Ottawa

Inside the Ottawa convoy protest as police move in

Canadian Civil Liberties Association to sue federal government over Emergencies Act

The defence and criticism of using the Emergencies Act

Liberals pressed for more evidence to justify invoking controversial Emergencies Act

Banks have started to freeze accounts linked to the protests, Freeland says

Police restrict access to Ottawa's core as occupation nears 4th weekend

Police closing in on Ottawa convoy protesters

Police mobilize to remove protestes, trucks in Ottawa 

Trudeau accuses Conservative MPs of standing with 'people who wave swastikas'

Sadness rules the day as Ottawa protest comes to an end

Citizens group wins court-ordered freeze of convoy protest accounts, cryptocurrency

Meet the top five Canadian donors to the 'Freedom Convoy'

So our worker joined the convoy protests. Can you fire them?

'We have a right to be here': Protesters play music and dance as police close in

With Liberals invoking emergency powers, all eyes are now on Jagmeet Singh

Group involved in Ottawa protest asks court to halt Federal use of Emergencies Act

Judge grants injunction to keep Ambassador Bridge clear

Justin Trudeau won't be the one who decides whether his government gets its emergency powers  

So where should we stand on the using the Emergencies Act?

Do convoy protests put Canada's national security at risk?

Ottawa police say over 100 people arrested; convoy organizer Chris Barber released on bail

Emergency Act won't solve the problems that the Ottawa protest has exposed

Police horses trample demonstrators at Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa

The system fights back as Trudeau faces legal challenges

'Freedom Convoy' leader Pat King arrested live on social media

Read the documents Trudeau tabled in Parliament to justify Emergencies Act

Trudeau's Emergencies Act goes too far and must be rejected

Liberals cite CBC's 'analysis' to justify freezing bank accounts

House of Commons sitting gets heated

'A Confederate flag in their barracks?'

This must be what Ottawa police meant by methods not usually seen in Canada

Remaining protesters dig in as police operations begin in downtown Ottawa

Disquiet lingers among some New Democrats over Emergencies Act, despite official party support

No jubilation at end of convoy protest, only relief, sadness and trepidation for the future  

Trudeau's wild misuse of state authority

More than 100 arrests as protester steadily lose ground to police

Remaining protesters dig in as police operation begins in downtown Ottawa

BC Civil Liberties Association urges MPs to vote down use of Emergencies Act

Parliament axes Friday plans to meet over Emergencies Act amid 'police operation'

Kenney to table motion in Alberta Legislature opposing invocation of federal Emergencies Act

Canada's public safety minister draws direct tie between Coutts, Ottawa protests 

Elon Musk tweets meme comparing Trudeau to Hitler amid convoy protests

Tamara Lich, convoy organizer, arrested amid 'major' push to oust blockade

Five unpleasant encounters between convoy supporters and the Ottawa media caught on video

Police push through the line and start hauling vaccine-mandate protesters away

Highlights and lowlights from another loony day in Ottawa

Ottawa police arrest vaccine-mandate protest organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber

Now Musk Prefers Hitler to Trudeau?

The Convoy's appropriations are an attack on Indigenous people 

Canada / China tensions                 

Ukraine/Russia tensions

 

Canada pressed to offer Ukrainians visa-free access as possible war looms

Canada considers sending more troops to Europe as threat of Russian invasion of Ukraine persists

Canada condemns Ukraine kindergarten shelling as military mulls more troops for NATO

Freeland strays from G20 Economic script to warn Russia on Ukraine: sources

Russia has begun  'false flag attacks' US and Britain say as Kremlin blames Ukraine for mortars strikes 

Biden says US believes Russia will attack Ukraine in 'coming days'

Putin's Villainy is graphic 

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Ottawa's bill for COVID-19 tests for travellers arriving in Canada climbs to $1.2 billion

Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine approved for Canadians 18 and older

BC's Top Doctor extends COVID-19 vaccination order in post-secondary residences

Health Canada approves Novavax vaccine against COVID-19

Five more BC Deaths, hospitalizations down 30% from peak

8 more deaths in Alberta linked to COVID-19, Hinshaw reminds people health rules still in effect

Globe and Mail

Time to rethink Canada's fundamental tax structure

How did Conservatives come to be so attracted to extremism?

Pierre Poilievre's support for the convoy is not the fatal political decision it seems

Ontario to permanently end toll on Highway 418 and Highway 412

The Conservative leadership is Poilievre's to lose, unless the party broadens its support

The Convoy protests are an opportunity to talk about what defunding the police actually means

Conservatives need a climate plan that will position Canada for a future of clean growth

Emergency visas could help journalists in risk countries

CBC                                             

Immigration backlog of nearly 2 million applicants has forced some to wait years for updates

Cost of TransMountain pipeline expansion soars 70% to $21.4 billion

Toronto/Vancouver Star

                                                              

BC's top doctor extends COVID-19 vaccination order in post-secondary residences 

Wage increases, bursaries and courses planned for BC childhood educators 

BC pipeline attack left workers 'traumatized' says company

Where are the grown-ups in the Conservative party?

BC eases work-from-home rules as COVID-19 hospitalizations drop  

Politicians condemn violence at Coastal GasLink construction site in northern BC

Ontario to end tolls on two Toronto-are highways this spring

Pipeline protest or convoy blockade - police should apply the same standards to all illegal demonstrations 

Ottawa has no timeline for delivering promised paid sick days

Toronto Sun

Polls show Canadians losing faith in country 

Canadian democracy is taking a beating 

How blind bidding is hurting the Housing/Rental Market!

Ford's broken promise to cut hydro rates 12% a 'stretch goal'

Government shielded from the pain it causes

PM playing politics with the law

National Post

Justin Trudeau left increasingly isolate as much of the world looks to move past COVID restrictions 

'This has gone way too far': Investigators begin probing violent attack on Coastal GasLink site

Macleans                           

Global 

Wet'suwete'en Nation condemns northern BC pipeline attack as new images released

Police officer injured in 'escalation' of violence at northern BC pipeline site

Downtown Vancouver businesses see light at end of tunnel as COVID-19 restrictions lift 

Prices up, vacancy down: Report paints grim picture for Grater Vancouver renters 

Employees have few legal rights as BC health orders shift back to in person work

BC woman fined $2,300 at school protest that went viral, apologizes for comments 

Popular Granville Island newsstand given 60 says to close up shop

18 arrested in Richmond enforcement blitz on thieves using Canada Line

BC First Nation to search for children who didn't come home from Alert Bay residential school 

BC government lays out plan to grow economy, fill 1M jobs over next decade 

 

Miscellaneous            

Crab cops yank 312 illegal traps out of Boundary Bay

Vancouver to preserve  heritage building that was once one of tallest commercial buildings in the British Empire  

Mounties' claims about Coastal GasLink attack raise fears of looming crackdown on Wet'suweet'en land defenders 

Three Vancouver Island First Nations announce searches for unmarked graves on former residential school sites

RCMP history of smear campaigns warrants skepticism about 'violent confrontation' with Coastal GasLink workers 

Alone and in pain, this ER patient was left at a bus stop

Gassy Jack is down. What now?

FOI Reveals a problem plagued BC $8.9 million tech project

BC's Fossil Fuel subsidies are second highest in Canada