Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, June 13-14, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Tuesday-Wednesday, June 13-14,  2023

Canadian Wildfires 

Rain welcome but it won't be enough to extinguish BC wildfire risk 

Wildlife the unseen casualty as forests burn in worst wildfire season of the century 

Firefighters from Spain, Portugal arriving in Canada to join wildfire effort 

Tourist businesses in Tofino reeling from ongoing wildfire related road closure 

'Prepare for the worst': BC wildfire officials warn of season ahead 

Ukraine/Russia War

Russia says relations 'on the verge of being severed' as Ottawa seizes cargo plane 

In the aftermath of atrocity, Ukrainians struggle to clean up and carry on 

Russia strikes civilian buildings in Zellenskyy's hometown, killing at least 11

Russia says relations with Canada close to 'being severed' as Ottawa seizes cargo plane 

'Keep fighting': Ukrainian soldiers continue battle with Russia despite low morale 

Russia steps up aerial strikes on Ukraine, killing at least six amid Kyiv counteroffensive 

Trudeau toured Kyiv alongside controversial Bandera apologist 

Russia says ties with Canada on verge of being 'severed' over cargo plane 

Globe and Mail

PMO alerted in March that Paul Bernardo may be transferred to Medium Security prison, Trudeau's spokesperson says 

Poiliievre calls for Mendicino's resignation after minister missed memo on Bernardo transfer 

Ontario doctor's fight for his employment records reveals flaws in Canada's FOI system 

Ottawa rejected watchdog request for more access to information funding 

An art gallery paints a picture of Canada's serious transparency problem 

Justice Russell Brown's departure leaves conservative vacuum on Supreme Court of Canada 

Hushing up the fall of a Supreme Court judge 

RCAF declines to participate in massive military war-game in Europe 

Bell cutting 1,300 positions , closing or selling nine radio stations amid declining revenues 

Bonnie Crombie leaves door open to developing some parts of Greenbelt as she launches Ontario Liberal leadership bid

Opposition MPs call on government to fix broken access to information system 

Alberta's refusal to share FOI data highlights gaps in access to information 

Ottawa halts participation in China led development bank 

Danielle Smith selling her rail car restaurant 

Alberta denying information requests is worrying 

Postmedia is in a crash dive - Ottawa should let it decline 

Many Canadians don't know the first thing about real sacrifice  

Environmental protection law gets an update, but now everyone is happy 

Employment minister Carla Qualtrough rejects key Senate amendment to government's disability bill 

Ottawa freezing deportation orders for international students duped by fake acceptance letters

Deep-sea mining for critical minerals is coming - thanks to a Canadian firm

Freeland disputes PBO report saying Volkswagen support will cost $3 billion above original estimate  

CSIS intended for Blair to read memo on Chong, director says 

CBC

PMO staff were told about possible Paul Bernardo transfer in March, spokesperson says 

Volkswagen battery plant to cost Ottawa over $16B: budget watchdog 

Staff in Mendicino's office knew about Bernardo transfer months before minister did, his office says

RCMP opens investigation into claims China intimidated MP Chong 

Bonnie Crombie officially enters race for Ontario Liberal leadership 

Canada halting all government-led activity with China-led Asian infrastructure Investment Bank 

Tories, Bloc discuss next steps on foreign interference as NDP pitches its own idea 

Travellers demand compensation after foul-up at immigration department upsets their plans 

NDP tables pharmacare bill to pressure government 

Supreme Court chief justice slams Liberal government over slow judicial appointments process

With Johnston gone, we're running out of time to get answers on foreign interference 

Blair says CSIS could have picked up the phone to alert him to Chong intelligence

Russel Brown steps down from Supreme Court, halting probe into misconduct claim 

Ottawa pausing deportations of international students affected by acceptance letter scam 

Conservative MP says justice minister threatened his professional reputation in an email 

 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC border agents find 6,300kg of meth, including largest single seizure to date 

BC becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments 

Key Vancouver Island highway cut by fire won't open for at least 10 days: minister 

No vote on Vancouver Chinatown condo plan after meeting hears from about 100 speakers 

Bell cuts 1,300 jobs, including prominent CTV journalists

Ottawa pauses deportations for Indian students caught in fake admission-letter scandal

Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives  widen their lead over Justin Trudeau's Liberals, with vast majority of Canadians wanting change, poll suggests 

Why can't Conservative politicians and big oil talk about climate change?

Toronto mayor candidates are attacking Doug Ford. But is this a winning strategy?

'Resign! Resign!' Controversy over Paul Bernardo prison transfer dogs Justin Trudeau's public safety minister

New Changes to Canadian Environmental Protection Act just a start: Minister

Chrystia Freeland says Canada will suspend work with Beijing based bank after allegations of Chinese government control  

Controversial Conservative Bill on violence against pregnant women defeated 

Seamus O'Regan gives impassioned defence of global LGBTQ labour rights 

Singh and Poilievre to begin talks on terms for public inquiry on foreign meddling 

Markham mayor calls for York Region to become one city, cites potential savings 

Government sought out 'impartial' military college review board members 

Toronto Sun

Incompetence of Trudeau Liberals is on full display 

Finally a mayoral debate with no candidate unfairly left out 

Mississauga mayor makes Ontario Liberal leadership bid official 

Conservative bill on violence against pregnant women defeated 

Mendicino should quite - or be fired 

'Greedflation' campaign needs to end

Ontario should privatize Catholic schools and increase choice for parents 

Liberals riding out storm of controversy over foreign interference 

Keeping parents informed about their child isn't 'far right'

Unifor members must unify 

More flights of fantasy on climate change 

National Post

BC man banned from school events after he wrongly suggested girl 9 was transgender

Canada suspends work with Asian infrastructure bank amid allegations of Chinese Communist Party Control 

National Security in shambles under Justin Trudeau

Pornhub asks CRTC not to regulate adult content under online streaming bill 

Canada is missing a crucial NATO exercise because our Air Force is up on bricks 

Some MPs cheer as bill on harm against pregnant women defeated in House 

Law Society hearing into former Alberta health minister adjourns until September 

BC becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments 

The Canadian flag should always take pride of place in our nation 

The danger of Trudeau calling parental rights 'far right'

France also just had a 'rapporteur' look into foreign interference (but their's wasn't a disaster)

Volkswagen plant to cost $2.8 billion more because of tax rules, PBO estimates

'All parties on side' to grant Russian activist Kara-Murza Canadian citizenship: MP

A lament for our national decline from the man who might have stopped it

Global          

BC Public Safety minister wants to see Surrey police plan ahead of Council vote 

Village of Lytton votes to lift state of emergency nearly 2 years after community destroyed by Wildfire
RCMP launch homicide probe after 4 found dead in Prince Rupert home 

VPD officer convicted of assaulting man during jaywalking arrest apologizes

Record amount of methamphetamine found in canola oil jugs bound from BC to Australia 

BC becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments 

Flair Airlines add two aircraft to meet summer passenger demand 

Two apartment buildings evacuated in Esquimalt after construction site collapse 

First Nations and environmentalists vow to keep fighting BC port expansion 

Thieves steal $30K worth of clubs from Surrey Golf Course  

Vancouver Police to pilot body cameras this fall after homicide finding in death of Myles Gray

The PMO knew in March of Paul Bernardo prison transfer 'possibility' 

Alberta Premier decries big tech and government censorship as Facebook account temporarily suspended 

Conservative bill defeated amid concerns it would promote fetal rights 

Why Poilievre wants Mendicino to resign over Bernardo's prison transfer 

Volkswagen plant will cost $16.3B with 'marginal' benefits: PBO

Toronto ranks as Canada's most expensive city for 2nd year in a row: survey 

Bell Media cuts 1,300 positions, shutters six radio stations 

Miscellaneous            

Health workers doubt BC's new whistleblower protections 

We can restore the world's forests 

'I'm  not afraid of the fire'

How a new SFU program will prepare you to fight climate change - Equitably 

Four mistakes that cost the election for Alberta's NDP

SFU Teaching assistants launch mob action at Convocation Ceremony