Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, May 25-26, 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 25-26,  2023

Ukraine/Russia War

The frontlines in the Russia-Ukraine war have started to move

Ukraine scrambles for African support in geopolitical rivalry with Russia 

Russia says it discussed peace prospects for Ukraine with Chinese special envoy 

Russia to sell Volodymyr Zelensky's holiday home on Black Sea to finance invasion 

Wagner group may be smuggling weapons from Mali to Ukraine, US Treasure says

Globe and Mail

Former Conservative leader informed he is being targeted by Chinese government

Stephen Harper thinks foreign interference is 'far worse than we think'

Targets of Chinese regime reject Johnston findings, call for public inquiry 

My work to protect Canada's democracy from foreign interference is not done  

Official Ottawa buzzing over who will replace Michael Sabia in key finance role 

Michael Sabia leaving Finance Department, expected to be named chief of Hydro-Québec 

Pierre Poilievre is at war with safer-supply programs. What does he hope to gain?

Federal government posts $44.4 billion deficit in final month of the fiscal year 

Canada on the 'wrong track' as a place for business to invest, Globe CEO survey finds 

Mr. Singh, axe your alliance with the Liberals  

Danielle Smith is indifferent to the climate crisis. She's selling an alternate reality to Albertans 

What I saw riding the 505 Dundas streetcar in Toronto 

Doug Ford is leading the charge among Premiers to eradicate systemic discrimination in the job market 

Ex-Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, Stepehen Haper pitch late-day endorsements in late-day endorsements in Alberta election

Only a quarter of Canadians trust government to regulate artificial intelligence - no surprise 

David Johnston's tragedy has become ours 

Inquiry or not, foreign interference in Canada's elections is part of a new Cold War that we cannot hide from

Trudeau's focus isn't on making our elections secure, but making Canadians think they are

US style book bans could happen in Canada too, if we're not careful 

CBC

CBC News poll suggests United Conservative Party headed for victory in Alberta  

Immigration minister says AI isn't making final immigration decisions  

Johnston set to appear before House committee to defend his report on foreign interference  

'A lot of listening': Hockey Canada board chair reflects on 1st months on job

New top Mountie pledges 'change and growth' at RCMP as he assumes command 

Ottawa to spend $2.5B on building dozens of new coast guard vessels 

Provinces and territories agree to help Ottawa meet 2030 targets for protecting wild spaces 

Atlantic premies want federal government to postpone new clean fuel rules 

No charges against former Unifor head Jerry Dias following bribery investigation 

Trudeau says new housing-based long term infrastructure plan coming this fall 

Akwesasne police want more virtual eyes on border with renewed funding 

More Canadian privacy authorities investigating ChatGPT's use of personal information 

Is David Johnston in a conflict of interest? Experts say only Canadians can decide 

Canada's Parliamentary Black Caucus finds common ground with US counterparts 

Consumer confidence is surging just as banks brace for defaults. What's going on?

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC extends reach of property tax aimed at turning empty houses into rental homes 

Eby close to calling by-elections in ridings once held by former premier, minister 

Central Vancouver Island to get cancer centre at Nanaimo hospital, says BC Premier

Province plans for new cancer centre in Kamloops  

Innovative program helps BC patients with overdose-related brain injuries 

Environmental groups launch legal challenge against Roberts Bank port project 

Special prosecutor named in investigation of BC school board candidate 

UBC faculty mourns loss of colleague who died climbing Mount Everest 

Residential school memorial in downtown Vancouver closed after Indigenous ceremony

Could COVID vaccination status shift the vote in Alberta?

David Johnston forgot something important in his report - and it could give the reassurance Canadians need

Mélanie Joly's office upset over Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis and preacher Charles McVety's plan to host Israeli minister  

'Overwhelmed by debt': Canadians are hurting as their debt problems mount - and now the bans are suffering too

Time for the wrecking ball? Report warns Toronto's glut of empty office towers could last at least two more decades

Talks stall as Trudeau and Ford's multibillion offer to save Stellantis EV battery plant falls sort: sources 

New system will bring families of immigrants to Canada faster: Fraser 

'We are being treated like trash': Afghan Canadians sue Ottawa, claim immigration rules are discriminatory  

Florida man pleads not guilty after Canada-US human smuggling tragedy in Manitoba

Feds warned about risks of delaying 24 Sussex decision almost a year before it closed  

The trip was years in the making. Here's what Canada's Black politicians learned when they visited their US Peers 

David Johnston was already set to testify at committee before opposition demanded he appear 

Singh asks Trudeau for certain conditions before getting security clearance

Toronto Sun

China's interference into our elections is Canada's biggest threat 

Johnston report wants us to ignore reality on China 

Auto workers sweat as Trudeau plays political games 

Anthony Furey gaining ground I latest Toronto mayoral race poll

Private health delivery: A tale of two provinces 

Canada needs to get serious about China threat 

Trudeau and Johnston bragged about being friends for years  

PM ignoring reality on foreign interference 

Trudeau surrounds himself with people who will protect him 

Yes, Pierre Poilievre can get a security clearance, he already has 

Poilievre says MPs can't push for inquiry without Singh 

National Post

WestJet pilots deal grants 25% pay raise over four years 

New Brunswick MP proposes scrapping oath to King

Delaying decision on 24 Sussex puts whole structure at risk, feds warned year before closure 

Man pleads not guilty to smuggling charges in 2022 death of four migrants 

Opposition must not be silenced on the David Johnston report

Second Quebec group suspected hosting Chinese 'police station' received federal funding 

New leave for Indigenous public servants 'a step in the right direction' advocates say 

David Johnston succeeds at massaging Trudeau's message 

The (failed) plot to cancel Canada Day

There are 102 candidates running for Toronto mayo - including this dog

Albertans to choose between NDP's free opioids, UCP's forced treatment 

Why Trudeau and Poilievre are both delighted with Johnston's report - for different reasons 

Among G7 leaders, Trudeau has flown the most, emitting slightly less CO2 than Macron 

Tory attempts to demand more from David Johnston at committee blocked by NDP-Liberal tag team 

Before getting interference briefing clearance, Singh seeks 'assurances' he can be critical

How intelligence sharing in Ottawa became the dysfunctional mess highlighted in the Johnston report  

Global          

Eby Close to calling by-elections in ridings one held by former premier, minister 

I would have no hesitation of going to Surrey Memorial: Fraser Health CEO

'Substandard conditons' among concerns Surrey ER doctors noted in patient charts 

'Deplorable': Woman says she was left to care for own mother at Surrey Memorial Hospital

BC Addictions doctor raises concerns about safer supply as minister offers reassurance 

BC expands speculation and vacancy tax in Vancouver Island, Howe Sound

BC NDP aide faces probe over recent municipal election 

Broadway subway: 2nd tunnel-boring machine breaks through at City Hall station 

As ChatGPT's popularity grows, BC Greens want artificial intelligence task force 

'A different place': How the missing children of a former BC residential school changed Canada 

Safe Sport reform is just getting started But are some sports more prone to abuse?

24 Sussex closure: Ottawa was warned of risks in delaying PM home decision 

The unanswered question at the heart of David Johnston/s foreign interference report 

Singh says he wants conditions for NDP before receiving security clearance 

Johnston was ready to testify at committee before MP requests 

Quebec adopts motion calling for release of documents from 1995 referendum probe 

Hoping to immigrate to Quebec? You'll have to know French, premier says 

Miscellaneous            

Where they stand: The UCP and NDP on Four Key Issues 

A vote for the UCP is a vote for wage suppression 

How 105 Keefer can be done right 

A day in the life: A Paramedic in BC

Corporations and Wildfires Grow in similar ways

When John Vaillant contemplates catastrophe, we should listen 

Where the Alberta parties stand on LGBTQ2S+ Youth rights 

The NDP and the UCP both need better immigration plans 

'You're leaving your life behind' 

The real lessons from the phoney Chinese election interference scandal 

BC Housing Board had conflict concerns in 2021, says former member