Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, April 20-21, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday-Friday, April 20-21,  2023

Federal Government Workers Strike

One-third of PSAC members participated in strike vote, documents show 

The federal public servants' strike is backing Ottawa into a corner

How working from home gave Canadians a big pay raise - and why nobody wants to give it up

Union, fed sign deal to staff military heating plants after shutdowns during strike

Union leader accuses government of trying to undermine strike action

Think of the managers: Non-union civil servants need raises, too

Trudeau says his government supports unionized workers as strike begins

New ruling reveals on ly a third of the 120,000 striking PSAC members voted for the work stoppage  

Freeland says Ottawa's offer to public sector workers is a fair one that won't burden taxpayers

PSAC strike vote was flawed and hurt turnout, workers say. Complaint dismissed but 'irregularities' found

Veterans warned of longer wait times due to federal public service strike

Labour board flags 'irregularities' low turnouts in public service strike vote

Trudeau has to settle the PSAC strike quickly if his government is to survive

Privileged federal bureaucrats don't deserve a penny more 

Barely one-third of striking PSAC members cast ballot in vote with 'major irregularities': ruling

How does remote work fit into the PSAC strike? Here's what experts are watching 

Ukraine/Russia War

Canada pledges $39-million in sniper rifles, non-lethal aid for Ukraine  

Canada buying gasoline, sniper rifles and radios for Ukraine 

Russia's Air Force accidentally bombs its own city of Belgorod

Globe and Mail

I'm the CEO of Dominion Voting Systems - and I believe the truth still matters 

Ottawa's $250,000 to celebrate King Charles's coronation with stories of his ties to Canada

Measuring Canada's  defence commitment in terms of dollars a 'bad mistake': ambassador

Twitter removes 'government funded' labels on CBC and other news organizations 

Discredited Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond voluntarily returns another honorary degree 

Ottawa's 13 billion (and counting) ribbon-cutting won't reverse Canada's economic decline 

The Trudeau government was supposed to be 'open by default.' Open at all, ever, would be a nice start

Volkswagen could be a legacy-building moment or a boomtown pipe dream

Teck's strategic errors helped make it prey-not predator

Government to curb final Senate debate on C-11 to speed its passage into law

Liberals table legislation to overhaul airline passenger rights charter

MP Han Dong sues Global News for defamation over foreign meddling allegations

Google denies it engaged in 'astroturfing' to lobby Ottawa through third parties

University of Montreal won't return Chinese businessman's 2016 donation, will divert money to democracy-building efforts

MPs tout supply management as fix for poor countries, aim to shelter from trade deals

BC's new housing policies are draconian. And they need to be

           

    

CBC

VW CEO says EV battery plant planned for Ontario could become one of the world's largest

Federal Government giving Volkswagen up to $13B in subsidies to secure St. Thomas EV battery plant

French court finds Hassan Diab guilty of involvement in 1980 bombing

Canadian says she was barred from seeing family in Cuba for criticizing the government 

NATO's two per cent spending target - where it came from, what it means

Canada's rocketing employment and food prices spell infatuation worries

Trudeau blasts Poilievre at Volkswagen plant announcement

Hunted by the Taliban, Afghans who worked with embassy sue Ottawa over immigration delays

MP Han Dong seeking $15M in defamation suit against Global News 

Alberta wants equalization reforms as Ottawa aims to lock in formula until 2029

Foreign Affairs minister says evacuation from Sudan 'impossible' now due to security risks

Liberals table legislation to overhaul passenger rights charter 

MPs grill Google execs on decision to block news access

Former industry minister Navdeep Bains gets Rogers job, sparking criticism 

Ottawa not tracking impact of individual emission reduction policies: environment commissioner 

Can you future-proof a refinery against climate change concerns? Shell thinks so

Toronto/Vancouver Star

First Nations in BC died at a much higher rate from toxic drugs, health authority 

Vancouver officers testify about efforts to resuscitate Myles Gray after beating

West Vancouver man fined for repeatedly feeding black bear and cub

Premiers united in call for bail reform after meeting with police chiefs, says Eby

Norwegian sovereign wealth fund to support Teck Resources plan to split business

Officers told not to make handwritten notes after death of Myles Gray, inquest hears 

Key shareholder Sumitomo to vote in favour of Teck plan to split business 

Insurance association warns federal dental plan could lead employers to drop coverage 

Is Canada becoming a dumping ground for goods made with Uyghur forced labour? Here's why some are raising the alarm

UBC students construct one of Canada's first 'carbon-minimal' hempcrete buildings

He's halfway around the world with a full-time job for the Trudeau government. Now it has another task for him

BC First Nation says 40 unmarked graves found around former residential school 

Outdoor store MEC commits to cutting carbon emissions from products, supply chain

Canadian Tire stores in BC broke privacy laws on facial ID technology, privacy commissioner says

Situation in Sudan volatile and deteriorating rapidly, says Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly

'We're winning in spades': Small Ontario City set to boom after VW deal

Gatineau police officers who allegedly beat Senegalese diplomat will not face charges 

The unrelenting hope of Chief Cadmus Delorme: How one leader found strength at the centre of a residential school reckoning

Moving the Science Centre is the right move from our wrong-headed premier

Toronto Sun

The gold heist, the restaurant and the cops strange language 

Ten years of ethics woes and flawed policy

Liberals table legislation to overhaul passenger rights charter  

Save original Ontario Science Centre, firm of building's architect urges 

Ethically challenged Trudeau strikes again?

Huge Pearson heist takes $22 million from major Canadian Bank

Is TD Bank on the hook for $22M Pearson Heist?

Our climate emperor has no clothes 

CBC is looking at this Elon Musk Twitter dispute the wrong way

CBC isn't 'state-run' but it is state-funded

National Post

BC 'Freeman' says Canadian law doesn't apply to him, but judge rejects his 'stupid' arguments 

Charges dropped after Toronto cop steals two bags of cocaine, overdoses in parking lot

RCAF faces 'significant disruption' with lack of trained staff as new aircraft arrive, generals told

Trudeau's cut of personality keeps knives out of his back - for now

'Incredibly concerning': Rogers' hiring of former Liberal industry minster slammed by opposition 

Much criticized passenger rights charter to get overhaul as Liberals table legislation

$13B for Volkswagen shows Trudeau has no confidence in Canadian innovation 

Trudeau says handing out billions to Volkswagen 'not a waste of money' calls out Poilievre for lack of support

VW's $13B is biggest corporate welfare payout in modern Canadian history

Measuring Canada's defence commitment in terms of dollars spent is 'bad mistake': US ambassador

Canadians ambivalent about Israel on eve of the Jewish state's 75th birthday celebration

Canadian academic convicted in 1980 Paris synagogue bombing receives life sentence

CBC to keep Twitter accounts on pause for now after 'Government-funded' tag removed 

If Liberals want to save the CBC, they're doing it wrong

Ontario politician solicits funds to sue network that alleged he aided Chinese election meddling

PM's reported NATO comments 'a perfect example of what not to do' ex US envoy says

Google undecided whether to pull news from Canada over online news bill, execs say

Global          

Police stage dramatic rescue in Metro Vancouver kidnapping 

US nurse charged 4 years after fiery Peace Arch border crash killed BC pastor 

Vancouver officer testifies about efforts to resuscitate Myles Gray after beating

Owners of seized Hells Angels clubhouses in BC File court application to appeal

Testimony at Miles Gray inquest puts spotlight on Vancouver Police Union

Doctor concerned long COVID patients 'left as orphans' in BC after clinic closures 

BC Communities should be able to make own bylaws waist hard drug use says BC United

Conservationists decry 'devastating' impact of BC Port expansion on orca, salmon  

Port Hardy Hospital emergency department to shutter on Saturday due to limited staff

Was Pearson heist an 'inside job?' Questions swirl with $20M in gold, goods stolen

Here's where Canadians are spending less amid high inflation, interest rates 

Trudeau's reported NATO remarks a setback for US-Canada ties: former envoy

Rogers names former Liberal minister to executive role, raising influence concerns

'Bad mistake' to judge Canada's defence commitments solely on spending: US envoy

Will Ottawa's $13B Volkswagen deal be worth it? Trudeau, Ford defend plans

Canadian Police Chiefs call for urgent bail reform in meeting with Premiers

Ottawa signs agreement with Nova Scotia First Nations chiefs on health services 

Discredited Mary Ellen Tuprel-Lafond returns honorary degree from New Brunswick University  

Miscellaneous            

Why BC needs to bring back mask protections 

Migrant caregivers were promised a better deal. It hans't happened  

Speaking for ourselves

We did it for Nuclear Weapons. Can we do it for Fossil Fuels?

BC lags most provinces in cutting emissions 

Will Housing Cost Trudeau the next election?

BC Greens call for provincial ship breaking regulations 

Surviving Disaster is just the first hurdle

'Coming out in politics'

Rain Gardens are a concrete solution 

Shutting down cannabis compassion clubs hurts  Patients and the Public