Ottawa Observations: Thursday/Friday, March 24 and 25, 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 24 & 25, 2022

Ukraine/Russia War

As the westbound stream of refugees slows, some Ukrainians head home from Poland and foreign volunteers head east to try to enter the fight

Africans trapped in Ukrainian city of Kherson without food, water, as families abroad plead for help

Russia signals scaled-back war aims as Ukrainian forces advance near Kyiv

The freedom and wealth of the EU threaten Putin as much as NATO does

For Ukrainian refugee couple, baby's birth in Poland is a story of hope, faith and charity

Russia is facing a demographics disaster and Putin's foolish invasion of Ukraine will only make it worse

Streamlined immigration program for Ukrainians creates a 'two-tiered' 'radicalized system, opposition says

Canada to boost energy exports to US to aid in supply crisis triggered by Russia's war in Ukraine

Trudeau calls on European leaders to unite, aid Ukraine and further sanction Russia

To save Ukraine, the West must preserve Volodymyr Zelensky's government

War in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear-arms race in Asia

Russia appears to scale back war ambitions to 'liberation' Donbas

Ukrainian president presses NATO for more support as alliance meets in Brussels

NATO reinforces its easter flank as it braces against threat of Russian chemical attacks

What would it take for Russia to launch a nuclear attack?

'Smacks of desperation': Why Vladimir Putin is referencing JK Rowling and cancel culture to define his war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is playing himself in the role of a lifetime

Is Mad Vlad a war criminal?

Trudeau warns Canadian and European leaders against politicians acting just like he does

Why Vladimir Putin may never he held accountable for invading Ukraine

Reports of mass graves, forced relocations by Russians as bombing campaign leaves 'utter destruction' in Mariupol

So, Putin is a 'war criminal' what are we going to do about it?

Trudeau unveils new Russia sanctions but avoids committing to NATO defence spending target  

Canadian veterans on the ground in Ukraine with ambulances and medical supplies

Bills in rubles for Russian gas exports days away, Moscow tells West

Will Russians toss their leader?

How Putin's War is fast changing our energy future

Taking on Russia at the United Nations, Bob Rae enjoys his finest hour

The Liberal/NDP arrangement

Jagmeet Singh puts on a rare display of integrity in politics

The Liberal-NDP alliance is just like any majority government. That's the problem

NDP will hold Liberals accountable through committees despite deal, Jagmeet Singh says

What the federal Liberals and NDP can learn from BC's 2017 confidence-and-supply deal 

Jagmeet Singh's NDP has tied itself to the Liberals. Is the party ready for what happens next?

Liberal-NDP deal might change which riding your are in

Liberal-NDP 'coalition' will make Canada worse off. But that's just fine for Singh and Trudeau

Parliament was already neutered - just the way Trudeau likes it

Liberals table bill to protect number of Quebec seats in Parliament, a condition of deal with NDP

How the Liberal-NDP deal could impact Conservative leadership race

Let's Break down the Liberal-NDP deal

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

For parents of medically fragile kids, the lifting of the mask mandates in schools has them worried

Is that a tidal wave of COVID-19 heading towards us, or just a ripple?

BC reports two more deaths, hospitalizations inch up

The WHO doesn't wan the only Canadian-made vaccine. What does that mean for our 20 million doses?

BC reports 2 deaths, cases in hospital see 2nd bump this week

Pharmacy investigated on charges it fraudulently entered people into BC Vaccine system

Who is going to stand up for BC's imunocommpromised K-12 students?

Globe and Mail

Couples booking weddings as COVID-19 restrictions ease face skyrocketing prices from vendors

A bag of cash and a bottle of cologne: Inside the undoing of Unifor's Jerry Dias

Aide to form Unifor boss Jerry Dias was whistle-blower over alleged $50,000 payment

Interest rate increases could be bigger - and sooner - due to inflation, warns Bank of Canada deputy governor

How the arrest of a Canadian hacker unveiled the rise of 'ransomware as a service' out of Russia

There's a stinking albatross around Patrick Brown's neck; Why is Michelle Rempel Garner standing so close?

Ottawa commits $2 billion in new health transfers to help provinces, territories clear backlogs

Ontario Power Generation executives head province's 'sunshine list' of top paid public sector workers

Canada's red-hot housing markets hint at cooldown as higher rates, inflation bite

National Security threat in relation to trucker-convoy blockades identified in early February, OPP says

Liberal MPs press for appointment of special envoy to free long-jailed Canadian in China

Canada, UK start free trade talks; dairy, beef, pork and grain to be sticking points

Taiwan predicts China will think twice about military invasion after watching Ukraine

Why should you care about the Hungarian elections? Because the future of an 'illiberal democracy' is at stake

CBC

Trudeau faced harsh critics in the EU Parliament this week. Here's who launched the attacks

Canada lauds NATO, but won't commit to alliance's spending target 

Feds announce another $2B to clear surgical backlogs, promise more money for future health transfers 

'I don't need this job;" Kenney says he has to stay to keep lunatics from 'trying to take over the asylum'

Conservatives again demand an end to all federal COVID-19 restrictions

OPP identified convoy protest as national security threat in early February

Thunderhead design chose for LGBTQ2+ National Monument in Ottawa  

Poilievre vows to ban oil from 'polluting dictatorships' double production in Newfoundland

Freedom Convoy leaders face new criminal charges

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC drivers getting one-time rebate to help with rising fuel prices

BC reports two more deaths, hospitalizations inch up

Environmental group gives guarded support for company's old growth forest plan

Inside the $11M renovations to the prime minster's official country home

Doug Ford's challenge: How to fight COVID while pretending COVID is over

More low-income Canadians took out instalment loans during the pandemic and had to pay interest rates of up to 60%

Convoy organizer Tamara Lich to appeal bail conditions: lawyers

YouTube warns federal bill could hit digital creators' earnings from abroad

'You don't attack someone who's not a threat': Steven Del Duca is flattered to be under fire from his political rivals

Can Canada increase fossil fuel production and cut greenhouse gas emissions at the same time?

Canada will boost oil and gas production to help Europe cut use of Russian energy

Toronto Sun

Liberals promising tax holiday for pandemic-hit biz

Number of Ontario teachers on Sunshine List doubles

NDP fighting has PCs, Liberals eyeing Hamilton seat

Man allegedly stabbed at Vaughn dump truck protest

Trucker convoy organizer Tamara Lich to appeal bail conditions: Lawyers

Jerry Dias' assistant reported allied breach of code of ethics Unifor

Statistics Canada's quiet mea culpa

Carbon Tax fails smell test: Pay tax, to save tax??

Science has fallen on dark days with COVID and Climate debates

Pierre Poilievre promises to set you free

Most of us pay more in carbon taxes than we get in rebates

More good news coming for Ontario's auto sector

The real reset is coming

PM called out in Europe for trampling democracy

Trudeau needs to halt these harmful carbon tax increases 

Carbon tax higher than rebate for most

National Post

Pierre Poilievre promises to ban oil from 'dirty dictators' within five years of being elected

Is it too late to save the Commonwealth?

UCP backbenchers call for Jason Kenney to resign after format for leadership review changed

'There is going to be a cost': Federal carbon pricing to generate 'net loss' for most households, PBO finds

Avoid calling leadership rivals 'not Conservative;' interim leader Bergen says

Ottawa Police were not ready for number, behaviour of Freedom Convoy participants occupying streets: Interim Police Chief

Only 2,385 Afghan nationals who assisted CAF mission relocated to Canada

COVID's winding down, but Trudeau isn't nearly done blowing out the debt

Macleans                           

Global          

Drivers to get $110 one-time ICBC rebate amid record-high gas prices

BC Ferries warns of possible summer cancellations amid staffing crunch

Cell phone coverage to expand along rural BC route

BC daycares report delays in funding approval as more $10 a day spaces announced

Conservative leadership hopeful Pierre Poilievre promises to ban more foreign oil during NB campaign stop

Extended transcript of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's secretly recorded meeting with UCP caucus staff

Ottawa pledging $2B for pandemic surgery delays, warns Universal Health Care 'at risk'

Miscellaneous            

Upcoming appearance by Bill Gates at TED Talk will likely bring another convoy to Vancouver 

Vancouver police arrest two men after store window smashed in Kitsilano

Grow Vancouver. How to fight climate change

One of Vancouver's oldest heritage homes sold exactly at assessed value of $1,479,000

So Kenney Just noticed he has too many 'Kooky people' in his party

Memo to Climate Action supporters who back the convoy

Who's your landlord? Use our helpful guide to find out

One BC Fossil fuel subsidy reached $1.2 Billion last year

Should Fossil Fuel Companies get to teach kids about climate change