Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, February 15-16, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday-Wednesday,  February 15-16, 2022

Emergencies Act Invoked 

RCMP identify dozens of financial crypto accounts tied to convoy protests

Trudeau accuses Conservatives of standing with 'people who wave swastikas' during heated debate in House

Border protests involve 'a far right extreme organization' Public Safety Minister Mendicino says

Ottawa pushes ahead with Emergencies Act as border protests end

In Question Period, an unprecedented step meets routine politics 

Whether or note the Emergencies Act is the solution, blockades are a growing problem

By invoking the Emergencies Act, the Feds go from no action to the nuclear option

MPs brace for fierce debate as Liberals table Emergencies Act declaration in Commons

Armed with new powers, police are working 'day and night' to end Ottawa occupation, minister says

Banks are moving to freeze accounts linked to convoy protests. Here's what you need to know

By invoking the Emergencies Act, Trudeau tries to seize a new crisis

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

Protesters who come to Ottawa risk being tied to 'dangerous criminal activity' minister says

Ottawa truck convoy protesters warned to leave immediately 

Trudeau Government now directing the Police in Ottawa

Accusing Jewish MP of 'standing with swastika' a new low of PM

Yes, Trudeau Government now directing the police

Here's why the Emergencies Act shouldn't have been brought in

Trudeau uses the nuclear option -- without justification 

The scary banking aspects of Trudeau's power grab

Emergencies Act reveals embarrassing truth that Liberals just can't govern

Trudeau oblivious as Canadians lose faith in government's ability to keep peace, order

'Stand with Swastikas': Emergencies Act debate turns ugly as opposition grows

Liberal Ministers call blockades a foreign attempt to subvert Canada's democracy, economy

Trudeau's monumentally misguided emergency measures are an insult to Canadians

Candice Bergen: Conservatives will not be supporting Emergencies Act

Regulating cryptocurrency under Emergencies Act not as clear as Freeland suggests 

Why did we need the Emergencies Act to clear some truckers, again?

Lessons from his father - we need more than Trudeau's word on Emergencies Act 

Unprecedented sledgehammer: Conservatives attack Trudeau for Emergencies Act declaration

What is the Emergencies Act and what Ottawa can-and-can't do with it

Convoy protests a 'threat to our democracy' Trudeau tells premiers in letter

What powers will the Emergencies Act give the government? Here's what the convoy can expect

Convoy to Ottawa/Other convoy plans

Trudeau accuses Conservatives of standing with 'people who wave swastikas' during heated debate in House

Is the trucker rebellion a one-off eruption? Don't count on it

Police issue order for Ottawa convoy protesters to leave immediately 

Ottawa will see pushback if tow trucks are forced to clear blockades, towing industry says

Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly resigns amid criticism of how vaccine-mandate protests were handled 

Death threats, harassment, abuse: welcome to life as a journalist in Canada

Peter Sloly takes the hit for loss of public trust in Ottawa police

Peter Sloly resigns as Ottawa's police chief, says force now 'better positioned to end this occupation'

Protesters who come to Ottawa risk being tied to 'dangerous criminal activity' minster says

From Snakes to Spartans: The meaning behind some of the flags convoy protesters are carrying

For many inside the Freedom Convoy, faith fuels the resistance

US won't stand for border blockades becoming normalized  

'You must leave the area now' police warn remaining protesters 

Police intercepted Ottawa convoy suspected of heading to Windsor 

'A perfect solution': Manitoba border blockade ends as RCMP escort protesters away

Four facing conspiracy to commit murder charges, as Coutts border blockade ends

Tory staffer suddenly departs Queen's Park after donating $100 to convoy protests 

Ottawa's police service has deeper problems than a failed chief

Who supports the 'freedom' protesters and why

An inquiry must probe the collapse of policing and government abdication 

The PM and the Mayor came through - the premier did not

Freedom Convoy supporters facing punishment and retribution  

Edmonton's police chief defends handling of recent protests as second officer placed on leave after praising Coutts convoy 

Activists say some suspects arrested at Coutts have white supremacist links

The problems underlying Chief Sloly's 'resignation' 

Trucker 'siege' shakes Ottawa city hall as head of police board turfed amid protest tensions. 

My Pillow's Mike Lindell barred from entering Canada to support convoy protesters 

'A truck fortress with kids': How dozens of children could make it harder to end Ottawa protest 

More military members under investigation for alleged support of trucker protests 

'Adopt a Trucker' GiveSendGo page raised around $600K and most donors were Canadian, new leaded data show

Leave Now or face arrest: The end to the Ottawa occupation could come quick

Threats close Ottawa Café after owner's name appears in GiveSendGo data leak

The Coutts blockade and controlling the narrative

Ottawa police pressed for answers on end to convoy blockade: 'This will take time'

Ottawa police issue new warning amid convoy blockade: 'leave the area now'

Anti-hate experts concerns about possible neo-fascist involvement at Alberta trucker convoy

Raging Dissident Jeremy MacKenzie's pal Chris Lysol shared with conspiracy to commit murder 

Populist rebellion over vaccine mandates puts Canadian media in the crossfire

The police, not the military, must stop the 'freedom convoy' and Canada's far-right uprising

Anti-lockdown videographer Ryan Kulbaba gets emotional as Surrey RCMP disperses crowd near US border

Now's a good time to find your trucks 

Canada is giving a Master Class in eroding Democracy 

Canada / China tensions                 

Beijings Games of Shame show far China's government has fallen

Ukraine/Russia tensions

 

Biden all but powerless to stop invasion of Ukraine, but he is calling Putin's bluff

Ottawa has secured exit routes for Canadians still in Ukraine, minister's office says

With invasion threat in limbo, the West asks itself again; What does Putin want with Ukraine

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Canada adjusts COVID-19 border measures for fully vaccinated travellers 

Ottawa dropping pre-arrival PCR test for travellers as of February 28 

There must be long-term studies on the negative masking impacts on students 

11 more deaths in BC, falling hospitalizations as event restrictions set to expire

BC Outlines plan to begin lifting COVID-19 restrictions 

Globe and Mail

BC orders review of its own housing agency amid scrutiny over funding of non-profit partners 

Kenney, Moe, join US governors urging Trudeau, Biden to end trucker COVID-19 vaccination rules

Nearly one month on, Global Affairs remains hobbled by computer disruption 

Envoy optimistic Canada's Latvian deployment will be extended three years 

CBC                                             

Federal government to begin repaying GIS clawbacks in April

Flaws in cyber defences expose government information to state-sponsored theft: report 

Jason Kenney sees opportunity in political chaos

Diane Deans outside from Ottawa Police Services board by 15 members of council 

Search ends for 12 missing few members of Spanish fishing vessel off Newfoundland coast 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

                                                              

Lawyer says he didn't advise BC Speaker on clerk's retirement benefit 

Volunteers who supported seniors a lasting legacy of pandemic: BC Seniors advocate  

Pacific Salmon Treaty failing to address harvest of struggling BC stocks: advocates 

Proposed class-action lawsuit in BC seeks permanent deletion of sex-work records                          

Canada's immigration minister insists he's dealing with backlog, amid 'race for global talent'

For Doug Ford (and other politicians), emotion beats logic every time  

Toronto Sun

Capacity limits at Ontario restaurants, gyms gone as of Thursday

Trudeau's inaction on inflation will cost Canadians clearly 

A new COVID consensus: Open Up

National Post

Ottawa Mayor asks Police Services Board Chair to step down over hiring of new chief

Macleans                           

A brilliant scientist was mysterious fired from a Winnipeg virus lab. No one knows why

Global 

Spectators to return for BC school sports, but only at half capacity

Vancouver mayor criticized over 'campaign ad' style radio ad

BC man says he was fired from grocery store for helping homeless people

'I broke through the blue wall of silence': Sex assault victim speaks at Vancouver cop's sentencing hearing

Paper work backlog leaves international students in BC in limbo

Cruise industry outlook 'optimistic' but questions about COVID-19 passenger testing remain

Charges expected for Oliver woman after racial epithet hurled at teens 

Squamish Nation asserts need to lead reconciliation  after Gassy Jack statute toppled 

Ottawa City Council ousts Diane Deans as Police Board Chair 

State of Emergency finally lifted for Sechelt, embattled Swatch subdivision 

Miscellaneous            

Average Canadian home price rises to $748,450 with 2022 shaping up as 'another interesting year'

'De-Task' the Police, says former Toronto Mayor

Law, Order, Emergencies and Enforcement: Who Matters?

The BC Government Tapes: Climate, Energy and Site C

Balmoral Continued to Rot under city ownership and must be torn down

RCMP error delays court hearing for pipeline protesters 

The BC Government Tapes: Pipelines and Reconciliation