Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, March 12-14

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

Ukraine/Russia War

At least one Canadian injured in Russian attack on Ukrainian military base used to train foreign fighters 

Zelensky prepares for speeches to Canada's Parliament, US Congress

Ukrainian children with cancer to be flown to Toronto hospital for treatment

Ukraine's farmers stalled due to Russian invasion, fuelling fears of global food shortage

Beijing denies Russia requested military equipment for Ukraine invasion as US, China meet

Russia's war on Ukraine sets the stage of worst food crisis in decades

Putin's Road to War: Unhappy man surrounded by terrified advisers

If Vladimir Putin has committed war crimes, will he be held responsible? 

At what point do we consider this the Third World War?

Financial sanctions will drive Russia into 'deep recession,' shift global economic order: IMF official 

Russia's war on Ukraine on NATO's doorstep after airstrip on military base in Western Ukraine

As the Russian army struggles in Ukraine, the West braces for what Putin might do next

Russia's economy 'rapidly bottoming out' says Bob Rae

Disagreements and short tempers: The inside story of Justin Trudeau's diplomatic scramble on Ukraine and Russia

Hundreds escape besieged Mariupol in Ukraine. Tens of thousands remain trapped

'Our stomachs just knotted up': Toronto MPs watch Ukrainian refugees flow into Poland

Churchill and Mandela have addressed Canada's Parliament. Now it's Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's turn

A Russian soldier's dead hand in the snow and our desire to see it

'I won't hesitate': Canadian sniper in Ukraine ready to pull trigger

War could be over by May, says Ukrainian presidential adviser

Mortal Combat: Elon Musk challenges Vladimir Putin to a fight

Anti-war protester in studio disrupts live Russian State TV news

Putin's war on Ukraine  -- a graver time of reckoning 

Ukraine's president Zelenskyy likely to ask for more than Canada or NATO can give

'I got hit': Canadian volunteer fighter injured in Russian missile strike at Ukraine base

US and China hold 'intense' meeting over Beijing's alleged willingness to aid Russia in Ukraine invasion

Like a good actor, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers drama and persuasion  

China could aid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Here's why experts say that isn't likely

Russia-Ukraine war hitting poor nations hardest, UN Chief warns

China says priority is to stop war on Ukraine from 'getting out of control'

Ukraine starts using AI to identify the dead, uncover assailants amid Russian invasion

Z symbol divides Russians and alienates former Russophiles in eastern Ukraine

Vladimir Putin reportedly puts intelligence officials under house arrest in wake of Ukraine debacle

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As China faces worst COVID-19 outbreak since 2020, many blame Hong Kong

To mask or not to mask, that is the question

A hybrid COVID-19 variant nicknamed 'Deltracron' combines Delta and Omicron

Another 14 people die from COVID-19 in BC, hospitalizations fall

Acting like were all at same risk from COVID makes no sense

Proclaiming the pandemic is over is premature

Everybody (except Ottawa) is declaring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic 

'Do your homework': BC couple stranded in US, unable to find rapid COVID-19 test

BC records another 14 deaths as ICU numbers rise slightly

Globe and Mail

Retired union leader Jerry Dias under investigation by Unifor

Maxime Bernier ordered to pay $132,000 in legal costs after failed defamation case over Project Cactus

Loblaw is buying Lifemark Health Group for $845 million in biggest deal yet to expand presence in healthcare services

Galen G. Weston sets out on a new vision for Loblaw, far from the bread wagon days of his family's roots

Calgary Police chief says officers in no-win situation at weekend protest clash

China's potential long game; First dominate Russia, then on to the Arctic

Saskatchewan chief Darcy Bear won't endorse Poilievre, despite being featured in Conservative leadership candidate's social media

Cost of Ottawa's federal IT contract grows by nearly 70 percent to $55-million, documents show

Conservative leadership candidate Charest says he tested positive for COVID-19

Poilievre pitches to new immigrants as Brown attacks him over 2015 niqab ban bill

Peter MacKay says he won't see Conservative leadership in vote this September

Conservative Party leadership race divides along Harper, Mulroney lines

A shortage of homes isn't the main reason house prices keep rising

Ottawa's Police Board crisis is just the tip of Canada's Police-governance problem

Canada has neglected its national security for far too long

CBC

Conservative leadership hopeful Jean Charest tests positive for COVID-19

Retired union leader Jerry Dias under investigation for allegedly breaching Unifor constitution, union says

Unifor head Jerry Dias retires, citing health issues

Canada looks to reinforce Arctic sovereignty through diplomacy, military, says minister

Federal budget will be a 'back to basics' document responding to the chaos in Europe, sources say

Patrick Brown launches Conservative leadership bid

Brown, Poilievre trade shots over niqab ban as Conservative leadership race heats up

How the rules could help shape who becomes the next Conservative leader

Peter MacKay rules out run for Conservative leadership

CSIS warned space agency about ex-engineer now facing charges: court documents

Ottawa appeals Quebec court decision finding parts of Indigenous child welfare law unconstitutional 

Cryptocurrency donations to convoy protest can still be tracked, committee hears

Electric vehicles face roadblocks as feds try to boost sales

Toronto/Vancouver Star

 Inflation pushes BC's minimum wage up by 45 cents to $15.65 per hour

BC announces new regulations to curb catalytic converter thefts

Regulator fines engineers 8 years after Mount Polley disaster in BC

'And then, there's Brian Jean': Why Jason Kenney's political life is set to get even more dramatic

Ottawa urged to pause proposed BC port expansion, consider alternative plan 

Lewis calls Bill 21 'religious discrimination' Poilievre hopes Quebec repeals law

Should Ottawa push to boost oil production as an alternative to Russia? Environmentalists say that's a bad idea

Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest says he tested positive for COVID-19

'The whole system falls apart': Nunavut group concerned about Ottawa care home

Federal study details workers whose extra earnings get dinged most by tax system

Poilievre pitches to new immigrants, as Brown attacks him over 2015 niqab ban bill

Ottawa is backsliding on refugees. We cannot return to the contemptible policies of our past

Don't underestimate Patrick Brown - for better or for worse

When it comes to emissions, Liberals will choose the practical - not the purist - route

Justin Trudeau says he has a plan to fight Russia's disinformation 

The front-runners have changed since the last Tory Leadership race - and so has the job

Toronto Sun

Tory infighting only helps Trudeau's Grits

A rail strike is the last thing Canada' supply chain needs

Supporting education vouchers is putting children first

To mask or not to mask Freedom of informed choice to cover up is now ours

The Emergency Act Inquiry must probe PM's convoy spin

Supply chain concerns have become even more urgent for Canada

Conservative leadership about picking someone who can win

Don't forget about Emergencies Act inquiry  

The 'new normal' changes worth keeping

Time to reform our health care

National Post

City of Toronto being taken to court over $100K pledge of support for Bill 21 challenge

'Explicit religious discrimination': Conservative Leadership candidates roast Quebec's Bill 21

'There's more to Pierre Poilievre than the caricature he sometimes seems

Unifor leader Jerry Dias retires amid allegations he breached constitution

Signs of hope for Canada's hopeless young home buyers

Patrick Brown attacks Pierre Poilievre for backing 'barbaric cultural practices' Policy

Jean Charest tests positive for COVID days after launching Conservative leadership campaign  

Conservative leadership race promises to be a nasty one

The military discussion we need to have

Macleans                           

Kirsten Hillman on combatting US protectionism and the possible return of Donald Trump 

Trumpism is alive and well on Canada's right 

Global          

British Columbia ties highest in Canada minima wage increases to inflation 

It has been 50 years since Howard Hughes checked into a Vancouver hotel - and no one saw him

'This should be the jewel of Vancouver': Gastown store's windows broken 7 times in 3 months

'This needs to end': Whistler mayor calls for solution as transit strike drags on

BC government cracking down in attempt to prevent catalytic convertor thefts 

Truckers rally to protest BCs surging gas prices

Sticky side hustle: BC's thriving maple syrup industry  

Mental Health and substance use services bolstered in Vernon

Miscellaneous            

Vancouver police board wins appeal to director of police services, overturning council's 2021 budget allocation

BCREA reports average home price up 25 percent with 'market conditions extremely tight'

Knowledge inertia underpins BC NDP government's decision to scrap mask mandate in schools

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team deployed after shooting death in North Vancouver

A dire warning about the end of human civilization  due to climate feedback loops

Cut down trees just to burn them? We can do better

Inside June's Deadly Heat Dome. And surviving the next one

Where are the 495 Long-Term Care Beds promised for BC's Interior?

Next Tory Leader? Leslyn Lewis came close last time