Ottawa Observations: Thursday/Friday, March 16 & 17, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Thursday/Friday,  March 16 & 17,  2023

Ukraine/Russia War

 

Russia's offensive bogged down in Eastern Ukraine, though it could still take Bakhmut, top NATO official says

ICC issues arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine

Russia to award pilots involved in US drone incident

Canada's Pornhub removes Wagoner ads recruiting mercenary fights to join war

ICC judges issue arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes in Ukraine 

ICC issues arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine war crimes probe

Slovakia sending MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, joining Poland 

Globe and Mail

Why I blew the whistle on Chinese interference in Canada's elections 

BC Premier David Eby requests CSIS briefing on China election interference 

A financial crisis by any other name

Schedule changes coming after plane seizures, Flair CEO warns employees

Chief nursing officer Leigh Chapman brings her outsider experience to fight for Canada's struggling nurses

David Johnston is a man of high integrity. But as rapporteur? We should be in high dudgeon

David Johnston is an honourable man - and the wrong choice to head Trudeau's foreign interference probe

David Johnston too close to Trudeau family to oversee China interference review, Conservative, Bloc leaders say

Trudeau defends David Johnston, accuses Conservatives of 'horrific' attacks special rapporteur

China's Vancouver consulate interfered in 2022 municipal election, according to CSIS

There has to be a big broad inquiry on China's election interference now

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim irate over CSIS reports on China's election interference 

Anti-abortion group threatens political action over Conservative nomination battle

Mélanie Joly calls out Israel judiciary reform and 'unilateral actions' that undermine peace

Internal documents show what RCMP considered 'lessons learned' from convoy protests 

MPs move to summon Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook plans to end news sharing under C-18

For St. Patrick's Day, let's pay tribute to one of Canada's founding peoples - The Irish

CBC

Foreign interference is the 'greatest strategic threat' facing Canada's national security, CSIS says

Ottawa says Human Rights Commission discriminated against its Black employees 

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim rejects 'insinuations' he won election due to Chinese interference 

Energy company drops idea of shipping LNG to Europe, cites associated costs 

MPs questioning of  UWindsor law prof during federal committee on bail reform described as racist

Opposition leaders question ties between PM and special rapporteur, repeat calls for public inquiry 

Man who crashed through gates of Rideau Hall to threaten PM loses sentence appeal 

Canada lifting COVID-19 screening requirements for travellers from China, Hong Kong

Trudeau calls David Johnston 'unimpeachable' as Conservatives attack his impartiality 

With the coronation just weeks away, poll says Canadians are split on dropping the Royal Family

China election interference investigation could cause more anti-Asian racism, communities warn 

Joly calls out Israei's judiciary reform and 'unilateral actions' that undermine peace 

Record breaking number of immigration cases went through Federal Court in 2022

Michael Duheme named interim RCMP commissioner  

Internal documents show what RCMP considered 'lessons learned' from Freedom Convoy

Toronto/Vancouver Star

              

BC school support staff for K-12 ratify new three-year contracts 

'Troubled' BC Premier David Eby seeks CSIS briefing on alleged Chinese meddling in Vancouver election 

Vancouver hotel issues apology for discriminatory actions of employee 

BC high court orders a new trial for former X ray tech convicted of sexual assault 

Vancouver mayor says foreign meddling 'insinuations' are because he's not Caucasian

Vancouver's mayor blasts report over Chinese interference, condemns 'insinuations'  

Fatal shooting in Prince George as RCMP respond to distraught man

Guards union says second pigeon wearing tiny backpack found in BC prison 

Man who crashed through gates of Rideau Hall to threaten PM loses sentence appeal 

For a party that's so against discrimination, here's a lesson Ontario's NDP is still struggling to learn

David Johnston keeps collecting great appointments 

Banking is the centrepiece of the world economy and its weak spot 

Trudeau government rejects court challenges defends use of Emergencies Act to end 'Freedom Convoy'

Insiders reveal what Chrystia Freeland has up her sleeve for this year's federal budget 

Justin Trudeau says Pierre Poilievere's Conservatives are more interested in undermining Canadian democracy than protecting it 

Citizenship oath at the click of a mouse is designed to be a temporary fix: minister 

City of Yellowknife, civic workers' union ratify deal after strike/lockout 

Ottawa requests joint 'working group' on oilseeds contamination with Alberta 

Foreign Minister Mélaine Joly calls out Israel judiciary reform and 'unilateral actions' that undermine peace 

PM Justin Trudeau strikes out at Tories for questioning personal ties with special rapporteur 

Toronto Sun

No Mr. Trudeau you aren't serious about China's interference 

PM's special rapporteur owes Canadians answers 

Dear David Johnston: Don't get involved in something that is so beneath you

Did you know David Johnston was skiing buddies with Trudeau?

Trudeau claims others playing political games on interference

Problems with PM's 'eminent rapporteur'

Ontario putting $1.2B into long term care, minister says 

VIA Rail ordered to rehire engineer terminated over COVID vaccine 

Showing respect for the thin blue line

Ontario NDP hugs radicalism as Hamilton candidate elected 

Ottawa's own policies defeat its critical minerals push

National Post

Deputy Tory Leader says new Conservative coalition is building to bring down Liberals 

Judicial punch-up hurts Alberta's chances at Supreme Court challenge over pipeline act 

How the Trudeau Foundation became a scandal mill 

Canada's needless corporate welfare for Volkswagen just insults our intelligence 

'She knows all the secrets': Tories to force vote in House of Commons over Katie Telford testimony 

Johnston 'absolutely unimpeachable,' Trudeau says, calls opposition criticism of rapporteur 'horrific'

Trudeau's hyper partisanship undermines democracy 

Lt. General Michel Maisonneuve (retired): Canadians deserve an operation Navy

David Johnston is a man of trust in a post-trust world 

Liberals to ask parliamentary committee to summon Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify 

Vancouver Mayor says foreign meddling 'insinuations' around municipal election are because he's not Caucasian 

Global          

BC Hydro decommissioning  2 electrical vaults after Vancouver explosion 

'Troubled' Eby seeks CSIS briefing on interference 

Island Health testing overdose detecting sensors in select washrooms 

Another BC strata says ICBC won't cover full cost of vehicle damage to its property 

Fraser Valley bus union threatens 'indefinite' strike to begin Monday, First Transit responds 

DFO slaps 3 BC men with conbined $113K in illegal fishing fines

BC school support staff ratify new contracts 

BC agricultural export terminal to double capacity with $23M in federal cash

BC's police watchdog called in after RCMP shoot and kill man in Prince George  

Burnaby set to reverse course on plan to build organic waste plant in park

Staff at BC prison bust another backpack wearing pigeon

Hundreds rally in Nanaimo to demand more public safety measures after shooting

British Columbia gets low grades from environmentalists on old-growth forest protection 

The CSIS hunt for interference leakers helps Trudeau but harms democracy

Mom fought to get gun away from son after he killed 2 EPS officers, no link to other crimes made: Police

Man who let Edmonton police into apartment building recalls deadly shooting

How a looming vote on Katie 'Telford may test the Liberal NDP deal

Miscellaneous            

Where will the RCMP spend $194 Million for Rural policing

Police smashed into him, then interfered with First Aid, say witnesses

What's behind Union members' support of Poilievre?

Is BC Assessment letting businesses dodge property taxes?

'We still face an underfunded system'

We need to talk about Private forest lands 

Will Vancouver's unhoused residents lose 98 units of decent housing

Is BC LNG Really Green?