Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, July 11-12, 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 11-12, 2023

British Columbia Port Workers Strike

Archive of notes on the labour dispute available here.

Canadian Wildfires 

Wildfire options 'exhausted' as lightning, drought strain resources in BC district 

Out of control wildfire burning on Mount Seynour

Wildfires sparked around BC as number aches more than 320 

I'm living through BC's worst ever fire season 

Ukraine/Russia War

NATO's failure to accept Ukraine is an insult to a country that has more than proven itself 

NATO offers Ukraine a faster path to membership while critics say the plan is too vague 

Ukraine to rely on security guarantees from individual  G7 allies until it joins NATO

Fallout from US cluster munitions decision strains NATO unity over Ukraine 

Ukraine's future space in the NATO alliance remains unsettled. Here's why 

At NATO summit, Joe Biden declares 'our unity will not falter' on Ukraine 

Ukraine now has a path to NATO membership, but allies have not set out a timeline  

Volodymyr Zelenskyy declares NATO summit victory for Ukraine as Canada, allies pledge more help  

Ukraine wins G7 security pledges but NATO membership remains elusive 

Sending cluster munitions to Ukraine a necessary evil

'The war hasn't ended' but time is running out on Canada's special Ukraine visa program 

Diplomacy won't end Russia's brutal war in Ukraine 

BC mortgage calculator: A simple way to examine interest rate changes 

Trio of BC Porsche drivers hit with 3 month suspensions for excessive speed 

Vladimir Putin wants to 'grind down' NATO. Trudeau says that won't happen 

As NATO grows, why some Russian Allies are likely backing away

Globe and Mail

Ottawa says it can't commit to Manitoba landfill search without province. 

Trudeau say Bank of Canada rate hike bad news for Canadians 

Bank of Canada raises key interest rate to 5%, highest since 2001

Bank of Canada's latest interest rate hike may be one too many

Bank of Canada raises its key interest rate to 5%, the highest level in 22 years. Here's what's next 

High interest rates mean the new normal in vehicle buying is a monthly payment in the 1,000 range 

The ministers who can't explain why they weren't told

Canada refuses to delay digital services tax further as overall multinational tax agreement pushed back

Nike Canada faces federal probe over allegations it uses forced Uyghur labour in China 

Ottawa could help health care with better international recruiting, premiers say

Federal Government announces $82 million funding for emergency response

Ottawa's bid to bring Facebook onside on Bill C-18 not enough to stop it blocking news 

Canada pledges $450 million for UN Climate change fund

Alberta calls on federal government to help Indigenous communities with opioid crisis

Canada lags behind allies as NATO plans to increase defence spending targets 

Green Leader Elizabeth May home after hospitalization due to overwork

Nuclear Power is a key part of a green future

CBC

Premier's say they're concerned - and confused - about Ottawa's plans for the future of the RCMP

Bank of Canada raises its key interest rate to 5%

More than 1,000 Canadians take CRA to court over pandemic payments - and some win

Watchdog probing claims that Nike Canada, old company benefiting from forced Uyghur labour

Ford, Legault call on Ottawa to allow Bombardier to compete for surveillance aircraft contract 

Poilievre rejects 'straight pride' message in controversial Calgary Stampede photo 

Ottawa tops up fund for humanitarian groups as climate disasters take their toll 

Poilievre blames Trudeau after Bank of Canada hikes interest rate again 

Regulator proposes changes to air passenger bill of rights, wants Canadians to weigh in 

Manitoba's decision not to search landfill "heartless': Crown-Indigenous relations minister 

Support to reinstate national chief RoseAnne Archibald fizzles as Assembly of First Nations gathers in Halifax

Infrastructure, fuel taxes are high on the to-do-list as premiers gathering in Winnipeg  

Mendicino's call for RCMP to ban neck restraint not backed up by evidence: external panel

Assembly of First Nations in uncharted territory as annual assembly begins in Halifax  

Toronto/Vancouver Star

BC Mountie charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm 

Artizia sees net income fall to $17.5 million in first quarter despite higher revenue 

Uncertain demand clouds future of Canada's planned LNG exports, experts say

Staff at lodge for LNG worker approve strike, potentially disrupting Kitimat project 

BC police warn about 3D printed funds that look like 'harmless toys'

29 year old victim of suspected targeted shooting in Surrey identified 

Canada ends policy that forced immigration applicants and refugees to disclose HIV status to sponsors

There's one thing the new Ontario energy plan doesn't mention - and it's a biggie 

Olivia Chow calls for review of Ontario's property assessment system to 'make sure that everybody pays their fair share' 

They benefitted from Doug Ford's Greenbelt land swap. Now, these developers are going to court to dodge the auditor general's questions 

Four years after passage of law on abandoned boats, only two fines have been levied 

Danielle Smith ignores the global shift to renewable energy at her own peril 

Doug Ford sees a problem in surging electricity. demand - and an answer in nuclear power 

Doug Ford says this mining region is a top priority. Ottawa doesn't necessarily agree 

Recognition of First Nations rights a 'sticking' point in new policing law plan: AFN

Military prepares to pull crashed Chinook helicopter from Ottawa River 

RoseAnne Archibald removed from Assembly of First Nations meeting for violating code of conduct, says interim chief

Corporate ethics czar launches forced-labour probes into Nike, Dynasty Gold in China 

Get another COVID-19 booster in the fall, Canada's immunization panel recommends 

Feds offer additional money to disaster response groups as climate change worsens 

Toronto Sun

With Mayor Olivia Chow at the helm, what's old is suddenly new again 

Ten reasons for taxpayer concern about subsidizing EV batteries 

Olivia. Chow officially Mayor: Swearing-in ceremony for Toronto's 66th Mayor 

Protesters pour gas on barricade at Winnipeg landfill, injunction to be heard 

Bloated federal bureaucracy offers no benefits 

Why was Trudeau's seat empty at NATO summit?

Given Toronto's big challenges, is Chow up for the job?

Trudeau's new regulations will hike costs for low0-income families  

Starting up a  ticking mortgage time bomb

Slow economic growth is hurting Canadians 

National Post

More than 1,000 Canadians take CRA to court over pandemic payments - and some win 

Meta's new social media platform Threads 'could be' regulated by Online New Act: heritage minister 

Alberta mother sues Starbucks for allegedly firing her over cancer symptoms mistaken for COVID-19

Olivia Chow promises 'new deal' for city in first speech as mayor of Toronto

Resource development, ownership essential for Indigenous progress  

Don't blame municipal leaders for the housing crunch 

Federal government should streamline process to recruit foreign health-care workers, premiers say

NDP, business group call for extension of repayment deadline on pandemic small business loans 

Canada commits to new target as NATO members pledge to boost defence spending 

Facing crisis over detaining high-risk migrants, CBSA official says prison contracts cancelled over 'poor understanding'

Global          

'Mind-blowing': BC mother believes WestJet profiled her due to her tattoos 

'Devastating news': BC premier worries about interest rates for residents 

BC preparing for fall rollout of new Omicron COVID-19 vaccine 

Female Mountie passed over for pronoun takes Force to court 

BC Police shooting inquest recommends linking mental health workers with crisis negotiators  

Cost of new PNE Amphitheatre  balloons to $103.7 million, up more than 60%

Lack of funding forces closure of Penticton's Pathways Addictions Resource centre 

BC rescue teams to get specialized training in searches for people with dementia 

'Deadly defect' blamed for 2021 Kelowna crane collapse: Construction company 

BC Minister defies call to resign after horrific First Nations foster child abuse 

Nearly 100 Surrey Police Services Officers expected to transition to RCMP: City report 

Task Force needed to fix Surrey's health woes: Hospital foundation  

Canada leaves door open to regulating Meta's threatens platform 

'A unified voice': Premiers call for meeting with Trudeau as conference ends 

Premier's set to wrap up Winnipeg conference: health care, housing among key topics 

Over 1,000 Canadians took CRA to court over COVID benefits. Who won?

Union leaders amass as Canadian premiers gather in Winnipeg for second day

Passenger sits in blood-soaked area on flight from Paris to Toronto, investigation underway 

Hong Kongers may now find it easier to become permanent residents in Canada 

Miscellaneous            

All My Friends are Dead: Grieving the Poisoned drug crisis through art 

Well, META went and blocked the Tree. That's a big deal

Disabled Kids are still being excluded from Education in BC

He's back. Stephen Harper jumps back into the News 

Inside the RCMP's investigation into a 'well known Canadian'

Please advise! Which tech billionaire has the worst social media network?

The problem isn't high food prices. It's poverty 

Plastic waste keeps piling up. Can 'advanced' recycling save us?