Ottawa Observations: Thursday/Friday, March 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 March 17-18, 2022

Ukraine/Russia War

Biden warned Xi of 'consequences' if China provides military or economic support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Russia can't be trusted to negotiate end to war in Ukraine, Joly says 

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky say I is time for meaningful security talks with Russia

Ukrainians and residents in Warsaw, once strangers and now roommates try to find common ground

Putin, in his own words, told us long ago that Russia would invade Ukraine

Ukraine 'temporarily' loses access to Sea of Azov, defence ministry says

Some Russians say they're being denied entry into US, while Ukrainians are admitted

Ukrainians fleeing war can stay in Canada for three years, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser

The West is allowing Vladimir Putin to 'escalate' his way to victory

Canada's UN mission goes viral with tweet mocking Russian letter to United Nations

Russian forces pound Ukraine's capital and also target Lviv, as British warn of 'reckless' new strategy

Ottawa reveals details of emergency immigration program for Ukrainian refugees

'West has to keep Zelensky in Ukraine in fight against Putin' says former NATO Supreme Allied Commander of Europe

Federal government adds 22 Belarusian defence officials to sanctions list

Russia will lose the brutal war in Ukraines. So will the West, while it dithers and blathers

Canadian-Polish co-operation is crucial to defence against Vladimir Putin's aggression

Have pity for the lost boys of Vladimir Putin, sent to die in a senseless war

Canadians should imagine what it would be like if we were involved in a nuclear war

Give Zelenskyy everything he needs. Now

Canada more than scheduler in chief when it comes to pushing back Putin

10 realities of Ukraine

'Isn't what we want to see': Xi assured Biden on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Putin is surely trembling over Canada's 'convening' power

Backpacks, beans and 60s era rocket launchers: The military gear Canada pledged for Ukraine

Zelenskyy tells Moscow it is time to meet for meaningful peace talks

Russian state TV abruptly cuts away mid-sentence from Putin speaking at rally

Could a neutral status help guarantee Ukraine's safety? Experts weigh in

How US gunmakers are helping Ukrainians against Russia's war

Ukraine invasion sees the West unified like never before, says Joly

Canada's UN mission sparks Twitter spat with Russia by editing Ukraine resolution

Chinese foreign ministry meets with Russian ambassador to China

Canadian anti-vaxxer Chris Sky justifies Vladimir Putin's bloody invasion of Ukraine

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Ottawa officially announces vaccinated travellers won't need COVID-19 test to enter Canada as of April 1

We can't make COVID disappear. But we can make the pandemic history

Tam says the federal government is 'examining' all vaccine mandates

Dr. Peter Jüni stepping down as director of Ontario science table in a few weeks

Canada is dropping pre-entry tests. Here's what travellers need to know

Health Canada approves Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged 6 to 11

Federal government to end pre-arrival COVID testing for travellers entering Canada

199 new COVID-19 cases in BC as hospitalizations drop

We need a public inquiry to learn the lessons of COVID - and how not to forget them

Pandemic fuelling greater demand for hard-to-book psychologists

Urgent ways Canada can -- and should -- help Ukraine

Canada runs out of arms for Ukraine

BC reports 6 new deaths, cases in hospital fall again

It's Not Over. Experts Warn o New COVID wave

The case for masking

Globe and Mail

Supreme Court eases First Nations' fight to obtain court-ordered subsidies for legal challenges

Indigenous groups line up for Trans Mountain pipeline stakes; BC leaders call it economic version of a smallpox blanket'

Calgary gets court injunction against anti-mandate protests amid increasing tensions

Convoy protest cost Ottawa $36.3 million, city memo says

The world has change. Our policies - on defence, the economy, and beyond - will have to as well

Commodity markets might suddenly allow Canada to afford both guns and butter

RCMP reverses decision to end contracts for Ukrainians working on now-suspended training mission

Conservative leadership hopeful Jean Charest says he wouldn't change Canada's firearms laws

Governor General Mary Simon requested briefing on the Indian Act

To truly support our allies, Canada needs a CD Howe moment 

Jason Kenney's tenure as Premier just became more tenuous

CBC

MP Kevin Vuong aims to rejoin Liberals, calls past accusation a 'fantasy'

Multiple refugee crises across globe put pressure on Canada's immigration system

How the war in Ukraine showed that Canada is ill-equipped to fight a modern army

Other countries have rules for online fundraising, committee probing convoy protest hears

Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest says he has the qualities that win elections

Governor General Mary Simon says she and the Queen discussed reconciliation, Canada's real history

Top court quashes Ottawa's attempt to throw out RCMP harassment lawsuit

Canadian Navy cancels training course after alleged racist and sexual misconduct incidents

Number of reported hate crimes set new record in 2020 as other crimes decreased: Statistics Canada

For Jason Kenney, there are plenty of political potholes on the road to Red Deer

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Funding for year round wildfire service won't be all in place until after 2022 fire season

BC wildfire service to increase prevention work from backyards to forests: official

No end to 48 day transit strike in BC's Sea-to-Sky region as talks break off

She's endured threats, attacks and now exile. But it's red tape that may keep this Afghan activist out of Canada

Andrea Howarth ejects veteran MPP from NDP caucus

We asked all 34 local medical officers of health if they'll keep masking after Ontario's mandate ends. Here's what they said

Why is Ontario's government removing COVID precautions in schools? It's simple: they value political power more than the lives of students

Conservative party leadership candidates are sorely lacking in life experience outside politics

Money and vote-splitting both favour Doug Ford in Ontario's June election

On defence, the government must finally stop talking big and acting small

Canadians will vote against a Conservative leader who doubles down on the party's divisive 2015 policies

Toronto Sun

Canadian Armed Forces need to be better equipped: Foreign Affairs Minister

Joly's comments unfair to military

Hulk star and other Hollywood celebs have it wrong on Canadian oil and gas

Canadians on board with producing more oil and gas to squeeze out Putin

Discrimination based on political views undermines democracy

As Ford dithers, Ontarians suffer

National Post

How a Toronto accountant became one of oligarch Roman Abramovich's closes assocaiates

Russia's invasion has Ottawa looking to 'protect our Arctic Sovereignty'

Canadian Armed Forces need to be better equipped: Melanie Joly

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs suspends leader after sexual assault accusation

Is Nuclear energy green or not? Federal government sending conflicting messages, critics say

Farmers in Western Canada brace for worst in Canadian Pacific labour dispute

More than half of Quebecers say their province should be more energy self-sufficient: poll

UCP co-founder Brian Jean returns to Alberta Legislature with goal of taking down his own party's leader

Airline industry happy to see end of COVId testing requirement for Canadians

MPs told of confusion panic after Liberals vowed financial crackdown on Freedom Convoy

Macleans                           

Why the working class has embraced right-wing populism

Global          

Norovirus warning issued as 50 people fall ill after eating raw BC oysters in 1 week

'Called us disgusting' Vancouver businesses facing push-back for requiring masks

Amid soaring gas prices, British Columbia set to announce relief next week

Mark Ruffalo 'saddened' by John Horgan's response to anti-coastal GasLink campaign

BC's bigger public-sector unions team up to push province for higher pay

BC wildfire service gears up to increase prevention work

Sea-to-Sky transit users left in limbo as bus strike talks break off

Canada is eying a defence spending boost. Here's where experts say cash should go

Jean Charest says leaders must listen to health experts on lifting federal COVID-19 mandates

Miscellaneous            

Bureaucrat who overruled Vancouver council budget for VPD had 34 year career with RCMP

Vancouver Police release video of assault at Granville Station

Stand with Asians coalition discovers it has many allies

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammolite!

Are Alberta Politics worthy of Shakespeare?

Where should ships go when they die?

Celebrities call on RBC to stop funding Coastal GasLink Pipeline

Snow-washing: Canada's Role as a haven for Offshore wealth

Too obsessed with 'Character' Homes?