Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, July 18-19, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday-Wednesday,  July 18-19, 2023

British Columbia Port Workers Strike

Archive of notes on the labour dispute available here.

Canadian Wildfires 

First Nation loses homes in wildfire near Cranbrook, Eby says 

At least 7 homes lost, nearly 100 displaced as wildfire near Cranbrook grows 

Ottawa offers to help with BC's worst-ever Wildfire Season 

Ukraine/Russia Wara            

Russia targets port City of Odesa in 'hellish' attacks, damaging agriculture infrastructure

Russian President Vladimir Putin evades arrest warrant by skipping BRICS summit in South Africa 

Russia warns against ships travelling to Ukraine after Kyiv announces temporary shipping route

Nuclear threats from war in Ukraine prompts Ottawa to update plans for catastrophe

Ukraine War prompted Canada to update its plans for a nuclear catastrophe 

Russia's Black Sea grain deal exit is 'de facto blockade' Canada says

Russia targets Black Sea port after suspending Ukraine grain deal 

 

Globe and Mail

BC orders Surrey to drop the RCMP and move to municipal police force 

RCMP officers' group says Mounties shouldn't be 'pawns' in Surrey policing dispute

How can Canada fix its FOI systems? Norway, Mexico and others may offer solutions  

Toronto to open hotel rooms for 150 asylum seekers amid shelter shortages 

Coast Guard floats a new solution to problem of abandoned boats 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls Ottawa's light rail 'a mess' funding latest system wide shutdown

Oil and gas methane reductions less expensive than paying carbon tax, study finds 

There is no 'convention' that the party with the most seats gets to govern

Google and Facebook act tough in Bill C-18 standoff because they re desperate 

Justin Trudeau should listen to Justin Trudeau on temporary foreign workers 

Porn sites want exemption from C-11 regulation on grounds they don't express Canadian cultural identity 

Trudeau calls for deeper co-operation with 'like minded partner' Australia 

Freeland reports 'constructive' digital services tax talks at G20  meetings in India

When Ottawa picks winners through industrial policy, the economy is the loser 

CBC

Province orders City of Surrey to stick with transition to municipal force 

Program to attract tech workers from the US hits capacity one day after opening 

Poilievre ally calls Trudeau one of the 'most successful' politicians of his generation 

Canadian arrested by UK police on suspicion of membership in a terrorist group 

Families sue US manufacturer over helicopter crash that killed 6 Canadian military members 

Canada's inflation rate falls to 2.8%

Tamara Lich lawyer says court shouldn't put 'Freedom Convoy' on trial

Shortage of air traffic controllers causing delays, cancellations in Canadian airports

Language tests used to determine admissibility into Canada are a 'money making machine; critic says

Canada's looming power problem is massive but not insurmountable report 

Senator's convoy rant breached ethics code, watchdog says apology not sufficient  

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Province directs Surry to stay with local police force despite city's wishes 

RCMP officers' group says Mounties shouldn't be 'scapegoats' in police shortage  

BC Police sound alarm over wealthy cryptocurrency investors being robbed 

Lack of compensation for Doukhobor religious group disappointing: BC ombudsperson 

BC Coroner's Service blames illicit drug supply for 184 deaths in June

'Unimaginable terror': Families of victims from military helicopter crash sue manufacturer 

Doug Ford and Olivia Chow team up to demand more help from Trudeau government for asylum seekers, refugees 

Lonely in Canada: How older immigrants are struggling with a 'public health emergency'

Doug Ford gives children's hospitals annual $330M funding - touted as the largest expansion of kids' health-care in Ontario history 

RCMP union head says Trudeau government's 'vague language' around Mounties, future is 'demoralizing'

Canada might loosen Turkey arms embargo, Ottawa's former military envoy says

Opponents of telescope development in Hawaii urge UN to hold Canada accountable 

Tamara Rich's case is not a trial of the 'Freedom Convoy' says defence lawyer 

'It's about time': Ottawa offers millions more in housing support to shelter refugees in Toronto 

Ottawa's troubled light-rail train service remains closed after yet another shutdown 

Grassroots groups say Canada won't meet UN Sustainable Development Coals, lack data

Toronto Sun

Cheers  to beer in parks, but gas weed whacker ban needs to be cut

The controversial beliefs of Canada's 'Famous Five' suffragettes

John Baird story more proof that the CBC needs to be defunded

Elderly couple win $100,000 lawsuit against RCMP and Niagara Police for wrongful arrest 

Poverty reduction only solution to hunger 

A radical proposal for solving Canada's housing crisis 

Taxpayer Funded Bonuses: At the Bank of Canada, bad results are still rewarded 

Trudeau government still stiffing Toronto on refugee funding

Ontario's political welfare regime expands yet again 

Death, perhaps slowed, can never be stopped, and is always heartbreaking 

Canada's climate policy now made in America

National Post

John Baird says CBC 'manipulated' his comments to 'sow discord in the Conservative Party'

Olivia Chow's move to open up shelter spaces for refugees gets unanimous backing of Toronto City Council 

WestJet customers 'very disappointed' after airline cancels bookings for cheap Europe flights, blaming system glitch

Governor General has come to embody the extravagant hypocrisy of our Liberal elite 

Steaming giants rebuff CRTC's push for early Cancon payments, before regulations are finalized 

'Neo-Colonial' environmental activists are tearing First Nations apart 

Cyclone helicopter manufacturer sued by families of Canadian soldiers killed in 2020 crash

BC Police warn robbers are targeting the homes of wealthy cryptocurrency investors  

Canadians do not need lectures on tolerance from their politicians  

We're not out of this inflationary mess yet due to reckless Liberal policies 

Trudeau, left-wing media insult Muslims by calling us dupes of the far right

RCMP or Surrey Police Service? The BC government to reveal its decision today

'Not for lack of trying': Peter McKay on why Conservatives couldn't meet NATO's defence-spending commitment   

Global          

Farnworth puts his foot down. Surrey will ditch the RCMP, proceed with Surrey Police Service

'Rare opportunity;' Surrey Police chief calls for collaboration after 'division of transition 

'Politics over facts': National RCMP group decries BC's decision on Surrey police

'Misguided': Locke slams province over move to force Surrey Police transition 

BC Ferries 'Coastal Celebration' headed back to dry dock, more sailings cancelled 

Fraser Valley Transit Strike: Employer agrees to mediated settlement

Amber Alert issued by SurreyRCMP for two children believed to be with their Mother 

BC Coroner says fentanyl the main culprit as 184 people died of toxic drugs in June 

Residents of doomed Sunshine Coast subdivision facing looters, vandals 

Heat warnings issued for Okanagan, Fraser Canyon 

Penticton councillor steps back in wake of historic criminal allegations  

Paul Bernardo prison transfer needed to be kept 'low profile', officials said

LeBlanc to meet with Han Dong about rejoining Liberal Party caucus 

Advocates push Liberals to relax Hong Kong immigration rules 

G20 finance ministers end India meeting without consensus on Ukraine war 

Canadian Senator breached ethics code with 'Freedom Convoy' rant: watchdog 

Would Singh trigger an election over housing? What he and his team say

Arrest the homeless? London councillor promotes controversial plan

Miscellaneous            

BC's response to Doukhobor Children's detention is 'deeply disappointing'

Smith presses on with Big Handouts to Oil and Gas Companies 

BC spent $60 million on COVID-19 PPE. Half was wasted

Inside Victoria's escalating Hospital Staffing crisis 

Rage Farming is poisoning our politics. How to resist