Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, May 31-June 1

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday-Wednesday,  May 31/June 1 , 2022

Ukraine/Russia War

Ukrainian man crosses front lines to lead risky evacuation of thousands 

Canada adds Putin's alleged girlfriend to the sanctions list

Globe and Mail

Canada's Big Banks expect billions in added income following interest rates hike 

Bank of Canada hikes interest rates by another half percentage point, says its ready 'to act more forcefully' 

Morneau criticizes Liberals' economic policies in first public speech since leaving political life  

Trudeau is proposing a national freeze on handguns in Canada. Here's everything to know about Bill C-21 so far

Alberta accepts bid for private hip-knee surgical clinic on First Nation Land

We can no more force a prisoner to serve 150 years than we can execute him six times 

Finance committee approves minor change to budget bill's luxury tax, rejects more substantial changes

Liberal government throws support behind bill aimed at tackling forced labour in supply chains 

Liberal's Online streaming Act generates polarized reaction at Parliamentary committee hearings

Liberals pressed on whether BC drug decriminalization could pave the way

Creation of deputy commissioner of Indigenous corrections 'urgent': Mendicino  

Defence Minster Anita Anand stands by military police chief despite force's mishandling of cases 

Conservatives failed to separate criticism of Chinese regime from Chinese communities, Patrick Brown says

Ottawa must act 'now' to protect women in Armed Forces, says former Supreme Court justice

Federal government not ruling out handgun bans to deal with gun crime

Saudi Arabia top export destination for Canadian arms after United States in 2021

Canadian veterans waiting too long for disability benefits, Auditor General finds. 

Will the Liberals finally find the guts to oversee the military?

CBC

Former finance minister Morneau 'worried' about country's economic future

Senior officer faced with sexual misconduct allegations retiring from Canadian Forces 

Small-scale possession of illicit drugs will be decriminalized in BC starting next year: Ottawa

Military top cop apologizes for failures in investigations, commits to reforms

Federal Government moves to fix airport delays that are framing tourism's comeback

Ottawa struggling to deliver benefits to disabled veterans, vulnerable populations: AG report

Liberals say they're open to speaking with provinces, cities about expanding drug decriminalization 

Commons Speaker Anthony Rota returns to chair after heart surgery 

Trudeau government has adopted dozens of secret cabinet orders since coming to power 

COVID-19 measures to remain at border for at least another month

MPs hear case for making Wellington Street a pedestrian, tramway zone

Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan backs Senate forced labour bill

'Pride Season is a moment for all of us' - Trudeau on raising Pride Flag

Bank of Canada raises benchmark interest rate to 1.5%, signals more hikes on the way

BC man among first Canadians approved for COVID-19 vaccine injury payout 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC residents won't be charged for possessing small amounts of drugs

Fifteen shared with criminal contempt over Coastal Gas Link pipeline protests last fall

Drug decriminalization puts BC, Alberta at opposite ends of the policy spectrum in Canada

BC to join small group of jurisdictions with decriminalizations of hard drugs 

Order of nuns that staffed BC's residential schools to pass records to BC museum

International commission asks Canada to join probe of selenium flowing from BC

Bill to fight forced labour edges closer to becoming Canadian law

Steven Del Duca at risk of losing his own riding, while Doug Ford headed for a second majority, polls show

QAnon Congresswoman takes aim at Trudeau for handgun control, evokes conspiracy theory

Bank of Canada hikes key interest rate by 50 basis points Wednesday as inflation rages 

Ottawa is moving to fix Canada's airport delays. What will that mean for travellers - and will it help?

Canada Infrastructure Bank commits $80 million for clean power project

A skeptical Louise Arbour wants to see real action on sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces

Feds may need to think beyond income taxes to get benefits to First Nations families 

Will the Liberals' handgun crackdown boost interest in the Conservative leadership race?

Bouchard pitches sovereignty as statue of former Quebec Premier Parizeau unveiled

Quebec ends COVID-19 state of emergency, but government will retain some powers 

Why Justin Trudeau's handgun crackdown has a familiar ring

Too busy to vote in Ontario's election? Think of Ukrainians who are fighting for democracy

Who should you vote for? Forget about election promises - in this  Ontario campaign, you need to follow the leader

Jason Kenney's war on doctors has left health care in a shambles 

Justin Trudeau is being asked to hand over secret information linked to convoy protest 

Toronto Sun

Voter no show only only for Ford's competitors

Next provincial government on horizon

Trudeau keeps Canada, travel industry in past by extending restrictions 

Trudeau's 'deliverology' promise hasn't delivered

Here's why Liberal gun ban won't reduce crime

Trudeau's new gun agenda nothing but misinformation

Trudeau government offers odd policies to address 'existential crisis' 

What will happen to Horwath and Del Duca after the election?

Doug Ford has winning formula that Pierre Poilievre lacks 

Trudeau needs to drop the COVID theatre

National Post

The embarrassing failure of Del Duca and Horwath

Latest act of Green fanaticism really takes the case

When narrative replaces facts

Proposed new legal threshold for cellphone searches at border is 'deeply worrisome,' senators hear

Bill Morneau is 'much more worried' about Canada's economic prospects now than when Trudeau was first elected

Irving says new warships will stay on schedule if federal funding for shipyard upgrades comes

Bill Morneau says business community was unhelpful, targets political divisiveness in speech

Federal ethics commissioner flooded with emails calling for investigation into WEF conspiracy

Supreme Court undermined by Chief Justice condemning freedom convoy

Macleans                           

Hard drugs to be decriminalized in British Columbia 

Justin Trudeau to freeze handgun sales in Canada

Global          

Patients information can be released with their consent: BC Commissioner 

Surrey Mayor to not attend police board meetings until after October election 

Handgun sales exploding across BC's Lower Mainland, gun store owner says

15 people charged with criminal contempt over BC pipeline protest, 10 others await fate

Embattled Surrey mayor addresses 'doubters and naysayers' in annual speech

Terrace prepares for possible flooding: Forecast Centre warns of rising rivers 

BC's minimum wage goes up another 45 cents but that's still too low say advocates

Canada alarmed as Chinese fighter pilots 'buzz' Canadian planes over international waters

New firearm legislation not 'fool proof' end to gun violence: Mendicino

There is no 'larger discussion' on drug decriminalization run Canada: Justice Minster 

Drug decriminalization unlikely to be pursued by most provinces despite BC approval

'Slippery slope': Alberta's Kenney questions federal BC drug decriminalization plan

Baby forumla supplies dry up at Okanagan stores, support agency

Miscellaneous            

Rennie survey finds failing consumer expectations of higher home values in Metro Vancouver

BCREA forecasts 2022 homes sales to drop 22 percent with prices becoming 'somewhat volatile' 

Please Advise: What's afoot with Surrey Mayor McCallum?

A deadly wake up call for BC

A week in the Life: An OBGYN who provides abortions 

Vancouver School Board is violating Charter rights, say student journalists 

Drug Decorum plan for BC panned as inadequate 

Canada's online news Act needs these fixes 

Over representation of Indigenous women in jails hits record levels in BC

Higher Royalties, New Subsidy for BC's Oil and Gas industry