Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, September 12-13, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday-Wednesday, September 12-13, 2023

Liberal Party Caucus Retreat 

Behind closed doors, Liberal MPs have 'robust' discussion about government's challenges 

Liberals in 'solution mode' as ministers acknowledge Canadians are struggling and downcast 

Spooked by polls, Liberal MPs hope Trudeau hears their concerns as caucus gathers 

'You should be worried,' pollster warns Liberal MPs as Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives pull further ahead 

Liberals expected to meet with MPs as Liberals hold very frank talks 

Can the Liberal caucus retreat lay out a clearer path amid Poilievre's rise?

Ukraine/Russia War           

Spending fight in US Congress imperils future of Ukraine military aid 

Ukraine strikes Russian naval targets in Crimean city of Sevastopol 

Globe and Mail

Trudeau releases first federal spending in two year hold housing program, a year late 

Canada needs 3.45 million more homes by 2030 to cut housing costs as population grows, CMHC predicts 

Chinese diplomats say it's Michael Chong, not Beijing, meddling in foreign affairs 

Calgary daycares reopen as number of E. coli cases crosses 300

Danielle Smith must uncover roots of E. coli crisis and ensure it doesn't happen again 

The Weather Network calls in RCMP to probe cyber hack

Olymel announces closures affecting around 400 workers in Ontario and Quebec

WestJet is 'non-partisan' will revisit policy after Poilievre speech on PA system, CEO says

Peel school board faces backlash for removing books published before 2008 from its libraries 

Video in which Tamara Lich referred to as convoy 'president' payed in court

Lich, Barber trial sees Facebook videos from Ottawa truck convoy featuring 'hold the line' slogan 

Subsidies deal not quite the dream governments told us to believe 

Government's' $28.2 billion for EV Plants will take 20 years to break even, not five as Ottawa suggested, PBO says

Bank of Canada is bleeding the economy, just like 19th century doctors bled patients 

MP Michael Chang testifies before US lawmakers about being target of Chinese foreign interference 

Environment minister must unblock Rebel News founder Ezra Levant on X under court order

Ottawa mulls fast-tracking international study permits for 'trusted' universities, colleges 

The Liberals are letting themselves become Pierre Poilievre's punching bag

If Chrystia Freeland needs a tool to help Canadians, she should start by freezing spending 

It's not that we have too many people. It's that we have too few houses 

CBC

Why did Trudeau's plane get stuck in India? It has to do with the purchase of new fighter jets 

Afghan immigration applicant says he's getting mixed signals from Canada on security screening 

Poilievre not saying whether he'll support ban on medical interventions for trans minors 

Trudeau announce $74M to help London, Ontario build 2,000 new houses

US lawmakers praise MP Michael Chong's 'courage' in calling out China meddling 

7-10 Canadians worried about climate change poll suggests 

Health Canada approves Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine 

Court orders environment minister to unblock Rebel News founder on X

WestJet to 'revisit' policy after Poilievre speaks on flights PA system

Delayed by pane troubles, Trudeau finally heading home from India 

Canadian military plane that smashed into French plane had only been 'partially secured' report 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Post-COVID recovery plagues waterfront businesses: 'We're not there yet'

Rent Control in Ontario: One Toronto landlord raised the rent $7K a month. Here's what experts say needs to change 

Education Minister Stephen Lecce orders Peel school board to stop throwing out books 

Tories block Liberal bid to force Steve Clark to appear before Greenbelt scandal committee

'Obviously, I'm going to have enemies': Trial sees post arrest video of accused London terrorist

Flood and drought among biggest climate change concerns in Ontario, report says 

Bonnie Crombie taking leave of absence as Mississauga Mayor 

Feds unveil first deal for new housing accelerator fund in London

'Needle in a haystack': Experts say finding daycare E; coli outbreak source complex 

WestJet 'non partisan' will revisit policy after Poilievre speech sparks backlash 

New taxes a good first step as Chow seeks a better deal for Toronto 

The TTC is finally getting cellphone service. What took so long?

Forcing senior couples apart in long term care must stop 

'Abysmal' funding of Ontario's colleges and universities 

Why we need a public inquiry into the Greenbelt scandal

Toronto Sun

Progressive cancel culture strikes out again at Poilievre 

A hateful, racial tirade against a black female TTC driver has man on charges 

Crombie to pause Mississauga mayoral duties on October 7: Report 

Jann Arden plans WestJet boycott after Pierre Poilievre plane speech 

Poilievre plane speech triggering for Jann Arden

The quiet courage of Michael Chong 

Climate change no longer winning issue for Trudeau

Lecce, Ford order end to book banning at Peel public schools

Canada's military is not a disaster management service 

Want to learn grocery competition? Look at the U.S.

Numbers show Crombie may not have Ontario Liberal race sewn up

Time to mask up again? Dr. Tam can pound sand 

Would you like crickets with that?

Governments crazy for electric vehicles, but at what cost?

No Saviour: Trudeau is a foreign affairs failure 

Trudeau's plastic ban plan - stunningly poor and deceptive policy 

Feds should forgive CEBA debt owned by small business  

Trudeau in a deep hole after weekend from Hell 

PM's green plans will raise cost of housing 

National Post

Theresa Tam recommends masks and updated COVID vaccines this fall

Trudeau announces first agreement with London Ontario under new housing fund

Jann Arden for Liberal leader - who better to lead a party of trolls?

Here's just how high immigration has gotten

Petty attacks show that Trudeau Liberals are playing defence 

Ontario's book-banning school board zealots have completely lost the plot 

School board's 'equity' cull of older books is offensive,' Ontario education minister says 

Chong lauded by US lawmakers while a scolded Trudeau has wings clipped 

'I'm going to have enemies': Jury sees video of police interview with accused in deadly track attack        

Fellow organizer identified Tamara Lich as president of Freedom Convo in video, trial hears 

India offered Trudeau a VIP plane after jet breakdown, but Canada declined: report 

Schools keeping kids' gender secrets isn't even practical, never mind its advisability  

Pierre Poilievre's conservatism is chokingly cool

Trudeau outdoes himself with another disastrous India trip 

MP Michael Chong couldn't defend Canada's indefensible China policy before US Congress 

Canada should work more closely with US to counter Beijing's interference Chong tells Congress

China is targeting me because I'm being effective 

Guillbeault ordered by court to stop blocking Rebel News found after settlement 

Global          

Hurricane Lee: Storm to 'grow in size' decrease intensity as it approaches Canada's East coast  

Calgary daycare  E. coli outbreak brings supply chain, inspections into question  

WestJet to review policy after Poilievre's plane speech criticized 

Doug Ford told ministers to significantly reform health and education in 2018 mandate letters 

Trudeau calls on municipalities to 'step-up' on housing plans 

Should Canadians still use nasal decongestants? What we know after FDA ruling 

Premier Doug Ford's 2018 mandate letters demanded savings by 'year two'

Canadians are borrowing less and getting paid more amid higher interest rates 

Firefighting efforts across Western Canada allowing many to return home 

Canada on pace to build fewer - not more- homes by 2030 target: CMHC

Morocco earthquakes: Canada to match donations to Red Cross over next 2 weeks 

'Freedom Convoy' trial Day 7: Press conferences to be examined 

Trans Mountain says 'worst case' could see pipeline project's completion delayed to end of 2024

Miscellaneous            

BC Conservatives get boost as BC United MLA Pulls away

For queer people needing mental health care, rural access is tricky

Staffing shortages leave expectant parents in the lurch

Starbuck workers back a strike

Walking among Vancouver's Urban Giants 

How prescription heroin is saving lives 

Vancouver Animators are drawing up plans for a union 

A year after a police car slammed Dennis Hunter, his family welcomes charges 

BC sets rent increase for next year at 3.5 precent