Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, May 11-12, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday-Friday, May 11-12,  2023

Ukraine/Russia War

Canada to sanction Moldova groups aiding Russia, send judges to boost integrity 

Zelensky expected in Rome to meet Pope Francis, Italian officials  

Russia acknowledges retreat north of Bakhumut

South Africa summons US ambassador over weapons for Russia allegations 

US confident Russian ship was loaded with weapons in South Africa

Ukraine says it has retaken territory near embattled eastern city of Bakhmut

Globe and Mail

CSIS contacting more MPs to brief them on Chinese political interference  

CSIS had kept tabs on expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei for 3 years

What to expect in the days ahead with Alberta wildfires

Wildfires are impairing air quality across Western Canada, reversing decades of progress

Informal separation agreements carry legal weight, Supreme Court rules

Toronto declares state of emergency over homelessness

Tidal power firm winds up Nova Scotia project, blames red tape and delays from Ottawa 

Canada's lobster industry fears dispute with China could see it move from winner to loser 

Hollywood studios say Canada is out of step with defining what counts as a Canadian movie 

CBC says it has no control of gambling ads during hockey broadcasts

Pierre Poilievre may be on his way to becoming Prime Minister

Yes, Canada's new passport really is that bad

What a 2,500 year old story can teach Canada about how to deal with China 

CBC has a Gambling problem

100 million Canadians by 2100  may not be federal policy, but it should be - even if it makes Quebec howl

The housing bubble could shift into high gear

Streaming platforms must promote Canadian films globally in English, French and Indigenous languages 

People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier aims to run in Manitoba by-election

Federal Minister May Ng announces India trade mission, pledges limited deal within months 

Federal agency struggled to get Pharma companies to engage in drug-price reform, memo shows

G7 statement to target China's 'economic coercion'

    

CBC

CSIS has begun offering other MPs briefings on foreign interference 

Former Harper deputy chief of staff says CSIS never briefed her on foreign interference  

Military considering limiting access to alcohol to curb sexual misconduct 

A foreign agents registry bill will be tabled later this year: source

New Canada Soccer president gets a rough reception from parliamentary committee

What the end of a US COVID-19 border restriction could mean for Canada

Government says it's not responsible for danger faced by Afghan immigration applicants 

Liberals, NDP call Conservative bill a 'veiled' attempt to roll back abortion rights 

Monarchist group blasts the Governor General for commenting on King Charle's unpopularity  

A group interrupted a UCP event to protest a 2021 Danielle Smith video today- what's it all about?

As threat of nuclear war grows, Canada's military support for South Korea 'very clear' says force commander

The political brawl over 'woke' is about everything and nothing 

China's been blocking Canadian beef for 17 months and industry has no idea why

As Liberals' govern rebate bill becomes law, one-time payments will land this summer

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Social housing provider Atira gives back $1.9 million to government, launches review

Vancouver Chinatown may be lit in neon again, with $2.2 million revitalization grant

First Nation did not probe Aboriginal title for entire claim area: BC Supreme Court

BC police watchdog deployed to Vancouver Island after shooting in RCMP parking lot

Two northern spotted owls found dead in BC forest, in blow to release program

Another stop-work order issued for Coastal GasLink pipeline over erosion  concerns

NDP leaves spring sitting at legislature facing turmoil in public housing management 

SFU names special adviser as it looks for feedback on its cancelled football team

Former NDP cabinet minister Harry Lali joins Opposition BC United, cites rural divide

Pierre Poilievre trashes Justin Trudeau's 'egotistical' redesign of Canadian passport, says he'd scrap it

What this Hong Kong radio host and activist wants Canada to know about Beijing

Why even her Hitler reference hasn't sunk Danielle Smith 

Lost homes and screaming horses: How survivors of a Canadian inferno are meeting a raging new wildfire season 

Shooting in Bourget Ontario leaves OPP officer dead- And a community looking for answers 

Canada unveils a new passport design. And yes, it's still blue

She was a Muslim spy at the forefront of CSIS's fight against terrorism. Then, she turned whistleblower

There's good reason for Trudeau's slow reaction to China 

Doug Ford has made lives miserable for landlords and tenants. Here's how he needs to fix that 

We should be outraged about China. But why don't we care about Canadian death threats against politicians?

Maxime Bernier wants to take on the 'radical leftist' agenda in Parliament - and thinks this riding will send him back there  

Manitoba Senator Raymond Gagné becomes Senate's third-ever female Speaker

Top Tory strategist accuses Liberals of dropping the ball on foreign interference  

Toronto Sun

Does no arrests mean the gold heist perps got away with it?

Toronto declares homelessness an emergency, urges provincial, federal funding

School board under fire for 'explicit' lessons on pornography 

One person dead after downtown stabbing outside injection site 

FanDuel allows Ontarians to bet on Toronto mayoralty race 

Feds forced to admit they ignored China's threat to MP

Trudeau plays the abortion card as support among women falls 

Making homelessness a valid lifestyle choice is wrong 

Brad Bradford rejects calls to back out, vows to beat Olivia Chow for Mayor 

Trudeau pulls a 'Trump' going after the media

New passport art looks like a cheap Ikea colouring book

Control of internet will limit Canadian's free speech

Moments like this remind us why police officers are heroes 

Bail reform isn't a cure-all for violent crime 

Teach our kids to respect police 

Federal program may increase opioid crisis 

National Post

Trudeau government ignores evidence it is aggravating the opioid crisis 

Bill that has nothing to do with abortion denounced as 'anti-choice' by Trudeau cabinet 

Search for remains of two First Nations women at landfill could take years, cost up to $184M: study

Couple assaulted outside Ontario Liquor Store for suspected purchase of Bud Light: Police

Memorial University succumbs to specious woke sensitivities 

Edmonton murders expose failed operating philosophy of Canadian Justice

Easier revocation of gun licences rammed through committee by Liberals called 'concerning'

Governor General's meals, Quebec licence renewal failure earn top awards for government waste 

Bernier accuses Tories of veering left as he launches by-election campaign in Manitoba

Canadian military has referred 93 sexual offence cases to civilian police since December 2021

Parliament is not dead, but respect for it appears to be

Activists storm stage at Danielle Smith news conference to protest hospital privatization comments 

Liberals say Poilievre wants to ban abortion, but anti-abortion advocates don't endorse him

Terry Fox vs a wheelbarrow: Look inside the old and new Canadian passports 

China has interfered for decades but every government ignored it, ex-CSIS agent tells MPs

Why Canada's new passport features old Queen's Crown instead of new snowflake design

Global          

'More humanity' BC family urges change after man ends life hours after hospital discharge 

Kamloops lawyer charged with murder in death of TRU instructor 

Hepatitis A warning issued to diners at McDonald's location in Vancouver 

RCMP shoot man accused of crashing into police cruiser, injuring officer in Duncan

New map of BC evictions paints grim picture of 'high stakes' for tenants 

Atira launches review of practices after damning BC Housing audit, gives back $1.9M

$35 million coming to replace aging, noisy SkyTrain tracks

Vancouver's Chinatown to get $2.2 million from province to reshape, revitalize 

First Nation did not prove Aboriginal title for entire claim area: BC Supreme Court 

Hundreds walk in Victoria to end gender-based violence in Canada 

Safe Supply: Are prescribed opioids being sold on BC's streets, and if so, is that a problem?

Vancouver Council take sheet for vote to refund millions in Empty Homes Tax to developers 

Burnaby residents say screeching Sky Train is unbearable, TransLink says it's working on it

Switching Sides: Former NDP MLA joins BC United Party 

West Jet pilots strike looms: What to know if you've got a flight booked 

West Jet pilots could strike next week; imminent walkout would be 'premature'

Expelled Chinese diplomat accused of threatening MP has left Canada: source 

Alberta wildfires: Grande Prairie residents prepare in case they need to flee

What Alberta's massive wildfires look like from space 

Drayton Valley evacuees told re-entry not possible for at least another week

Beijing is targeting MPs, but not with threats of 'physical harm: CSIS

Canadians need a 'wake up' call on China interference in Canada, Liberal MP says 

Miscellaneous            

Altered minutes, duelling appraisals: Inside a Troubled supportive housing deal

BC Government and its lawyers head toward unionization showdown

'Why am I taking a polygraph when I'm telling the truth'

There's a better way to deliver primary health care 

What it means to kill a 121 year old local newspaper

Danielle Smith's Mission to dismantle public health care 

After a delay, the VSB passed a balanced budget 

What we haven't learned from the Pandemic  

How the Big Strike advanced working from home