Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, June 8-9, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Thursday-Friday, June 8-9,  2023

Canadian Wildfires 

More than 400 wildfires still active in Canada 

Residents flee as 'incredibly intense' wildfire closes in on Tumbler Ridge, BC

Our smoke, their sky: Canadian haze triggers everything from jokes to jabs as it hist US capital 

US, Canada open to a 'NORAD-like' model of joint disaster response Blair 

When wildfires destroy their homes, where do the wild things go?

Danielle Smith is 'concerned' about arsonists causing wildfires. Experts are more worried about misinformation  

Air quality index currently at level 5 in Toronto; New York airport grounds flights for the second day in a row 

Wildfire triggers evacuation order for Tumbler Ridge 

Happy to help Canada, but US Wildfire season is rapidly approaching, officials warn 

Here's why your COVID masks can protect you from wildfire smoke 

Canada's burning because of bad forest policy, not climate change 

Wildfire just 4 or 5 kms from Tumbler Ridge could reach town by end of day 

Air quality improving in Southern Ontario and Quebec, but smoky skies linger in Alberta 

How the dangers of Canadian wildfire spread far beyond the flames 

Canada wildfires are disrupting US flights. What are the risks of flying?

More firefighters on the way to fight the Cameron Bluffs wildfire 

Highway 4 on Vancouver Island remains closed as Cameron Bluffs wildfire burns 

Unusually early campfire ban takes effect across BC as wildfires rage

Why is the federal government looking to create a national emergency agency?

Has Smoke put Canada on the US Enemies list?

'There's no looking back. Your past is wiped out'

Wildfire smoke is making us sick

Ukraine/Russia War

Russia has received hundreds of Iranian drones to attack Ukraine, White House says 

UN aid chief says Ukraine faces 'hugely worse' humanitarian situation after the dam rupture 

Russia claims it blew up advanced Ukrainian tank, but video shows its helicopter attacked a tractor 

Vladimir Putin asserts Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun, while drones strike within Russia 

Ukraine dam collapse makes humanitarian crisis 'hugely worse': UN official

Globe and Mail

David Johnston quits as Trudeau-appointed head of probe into foreign interference 

David Johnston ends relationship with crisis communications firm Navigator in foreign interference probe 

How Canada's FOI system broke under its own weight 

The Globe's Secret Canada project aims to make governments more transparent 

The Story behind Secret Canada: Why we set out take on Canada's culture of secrecy 

Ottawa's clawback of COVID-era benefits is punishing small mistakes and hurting the poor 

Schools become targets for backlash against LGBTQ rights 

Facing rising anti-LGBTQ hate crimes and threats, drag performers are more defiant than ever 

Former Supreme Court justice Louis LeBel remembered for eloquence, humour, intellect 

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces new cabinet 

BC government shares Columbia River Treaty revenue with Indigenous groups 

WestJet to wind down Swoop, integrate into main operation

Mr. Poilievre's Hollywood filibuster 

Canada sought use of European Union compound in Kabul for fingerprinting  

NDP stands by Liberal pact amid foreign-interference discontent 

Minister gives CRTC direction on the manipulation of algorithms  

Danielle Smith looking forward to working with Ottawa on climate change 

Liberal budget bill passes in House of Commons after Conservative filibuster  

Amended bill that would extend citizenship rights to some born abroad heads to House 

Government policy tells CRTC to exclude social media users from online streaming bill 

The far right's persecution of the trans community risks all the gains made in securing LGBTQ rights  

CBC

David Johnston resigning as special rapporteur on foreign interference 

David Johnston no longer working with crisis communications firm Navigator 

Supreme Court mourns former justice Louis LeBel, who served 14 years on the bench 

Senator rejects minister's call to pass Liberal guns bill quickly  

Canadian Muslim charity wins 'milestone' settlement after being falsely accused of funding terrorism

MPs adopt budget bill after Poilievre calls on Parliament to work 'all summer long' to rewrite it 

PM's ex-security adviser calls system for flagging vital intelligence 'ad-hoc' and 'inconsistent'

Canada lost 17,000 jobs in May - mostly among young people 

LGBTQ Canadians facing a rising tide of hatred, Trudeau says 

Head of RCMP watchdog says a lack of resources is keeping her from launching investigations 

Ottawa wants to keep social media creators out of online streaming rules 

CRTC erred in its decision on Radio-Canada N-word broadcast,  court finds

Air Canada now offering some compensation over recent delays 

In hours long speech, Poilievre says Liberals are leading country into 'financial crisis' 

His threatens election to quell rebellion over Policy 713

Phoenix pay backlog hovers at 200,000 transactions 

Ottawa looking at options for a national disaster response agency as wildfires rage 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC to requires licence for asbestos treatment contractors by 2024 

Vancouver's Chinatown provides a shifting backdrop for divisive condo proposal

Fire on bus carrying school children cuts road and power in Chilliwack

BC government taps veteran mediator to resolve Fraser Valley bus strike 

David Johnston quits as special rapporteur on foreign interference 

David Johnston quits, Justin Trudeau to consider public inquiry into foreign elections interference

Critics are hammering David Johnston, but his most serious wounds are self-inflicted 

Why the Conservative movement is so amenable to simplistic Christianity 

Lawyer for Paul Bernardo victims says families told of transfer the day it happened

New Brunswick's proposed education policy change sparks backlash in Ottawa 

Who can play dragon slayer and defeat Doug Ford? Here's where we'll find them 

Conservative obsession with David Johnston a silver lining for Liberals 

Pierre Poilievre's plan for tackling climate change remains hazy 

Former Supreme Court justice Louis LeBel remembered for eloquence, humour intellect 

New name proposed for Sir John A Macdonald parkway reflects Indigenous heritage 

Trudeau Foundation board chair says donation from Chinese company has been returned 

Toronto Sun

David Johnston quits special rapporteur role given to him by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 

Trudeau's arrogance leaves reputations in tatters 

Lawyer for Bernardo victims says families told of transfer the day it happened  

Women's shelters issue warning on violent trans sex offender 

Paying the price of government spending 

Toronto admissions fiasco underscores need for school choice 

Canada's infant formula embarrassment and the untapped milk reservoir 

Trudeau's words on low interest rates come back to bite him

Chong dissects PM's game on interference 

National Post

Happy Retirement, David Johnston 

Critics say David Johnston was compromised by his deep affection for China 

Johnston's resignation leaves Trudeau with few options but a full public inquiry into foreign interference 

David Johnston resigns as special rapporteur into foreign interference 

With David Johnston out, our leaders must get serious about tackling election interference 

If Irving Oil leaves New Brunswick, Justin Trudeau will be to blame 

Bernardo should 'rot' in maximum-security prison, Polievre says 

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveils new cabinet 

Blaine Higgins shouldn't risk handing New Brunswick to the Liberals 

Governor General won't say whether statue desecration was' right or wrong'

Liberal's war on cars harms low-income Canadians 

Former National security adviser says intelligence leaks putting lives at risk

Poilievre's cost of living pique has the public mood right, if not always the facts 

Liberals, Conservatives ready to stop House from rising for summer break

Liberals to direct CRTC to keep hands off social media with streaming regulation 

Global          

Strike vote underway for 7,000 terminal cargo movers in BC, raising business concerns  

BC high-pressure ridge leads to 20 new daily weather records 

BC to require license for asbestos abatement contractors by 2024

Majority of British Columbians give ER wait times a failing grade: poll 

Opposition leader calls for 'urgency' in Surrey Memorial Hospital upgrades 

BC scientist, fishing group concerned about gravel removal from salmon-spawning river

Vancouver developer seeks delay in paying $10 million owed to city 

Hope non-profit and Pride crosswalk damaged in act of 'hate': RCMP

BC First Nations sign Columbia River Treaty revenue-sharing agreements with Province 

BC pharmacists did 801 patient assessments on first day of new prescribing powers 

David Johnston says he will resign as foreign interference rapporteur 

WestJet will shut down Swoop, ending budget airline offering 

Ottawa protest over 'gender ideology' met with hundreds of counter protesters 

Air Canada says it gave 'erroneous' response on delays compensation 

Unemployment rate rises for 1st time since August amid 'cracks' in job market 

Quebec facing criticism over refusal to allow religious gathering at convention centre 

New Brunswick's proposed education policy change sparks backlash in Ottawa  

Miscellaneous            

Why Economists need to tackle the wealth gap

The shipping climate crunch

The Big Tobacco lawsuit that fell off the public radar 

'We exist in a state of constant possiblity'