Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, November 18-20, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Saturday-Monday, November 18-20, 2023

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Relatives of Gaza hostages say stop talk of execution for Hamas detainees

Liberal, Conservative MPs visit Israel in show of solidarity 

Vengeance in war is terrible - and nothing new 

China welcomes Arab and Muslim foreign ministers for talks on ending war in Gaza 

In tight-knit community of Nir Oz, survivors of the massacre mourn those lost and a way of life that may never return 

Israel battles Hamas near another Gaza hospital sheltering thousands; premature babies evacuated to Egypt  

Israel-Hamas hostage deal edges closer despite fierce fighting in Gaza 

Canadian MPs arrive in Israel for solidarity trip as tensions between Trudeau and Netanyahu remain high

Israel reveals signs of Hamas activity at Shifa, but a promised command centre remains elusive 

With the world's eyes on Gaza, attacks are on the rise in the West Bank, which faces its own war 

Crombie pressed at mosque, 'You with the Muslims or the Israelis?'

SickKids anesthesiologists anti-Israel comments 'terrifying' B'nai Brith says 

People starve as billionaire chieftains enjoy luxe life

McGill University students vote in favour of Pro-Palestinian policy

The fine line between offensive speech and Illegal speech 

When has war ever been 'proportional?'

Is Canada's law against Holocaust denial actually working?

Jewish rape victims don't matter to phony feminists on the left 

Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Saskatchewan legislature, call for ceasefire 

IDF helps evacuate premature babies from Gaza to Egypt 

'Hamas-aligned' charities have received $260 million in donations: report 

The pro-Hamas letter that got head of U of A Sexual Assault Centre fired

Obama's blunders created the Iranian threat terrorizing Israel 

Inside an Israeli village attacked by Hamas: 'Today, nobody lives here'

Gaza Ceasefire takes centre stage at the BC NDP convention 

Ukraine/Russia War           

Globe and Mail

Spavor blames fellow prisoner Kovrig for Chinese detention, alleges he was used for intelligence gathering 

China decries Canada's 'hypocrisy' after Spavor blames Kovrig for their detention 

Freeland to deliver $15 billion in rental housing loans in slimmed-down fiscal update 

What Canadians need from this week's mini-budget is for its government to retrain itself 

Canada planning $20 billion in subsidies for carbon capture, clean tech: source 

Ottawa urged to address the erosion of affordable housing units across Canada 

South Africa could abandon UN refugee treaty under new plan using Canadian-style asylum system 

We are not at war on several fronts, but one 

The Manning report is part and parcel of Danielle Smith's promised reckoning 

Why are our schools addicted to foreign student tuition? Because government was the pusher  

'Canadian experience' requirements are not just discriminatory - they harm the economy 

Alberta COVID-19 panel chair urges federal Conservatives to weaponize his findings 

Windsor Police say they expect 1,600 Koreans to work at EV Battery plant 

MPs, unions raise alarm over Windsor EV battery plant's plan to bring in foreign workers  

CBC

Federal housing minister floats Airbnb crackdown to boost long-term rental supply

CRA claws back $458 million in pandemic-era wage subsidies after partial audit 

Jury begins deliberating in trial of former RCMP official accused of leaking secrets  

Manning tells Conservative MPs his COVID-19 panel report could help defeat the Liberals 

Facing need to cut some spending, defence minister says more must be spent on 'right things'

Foreign states targeting Canadians through social media, CSIS warns 

Ottawa to appeal court ruling that overturned order listing plastics as toxic substance 

Plan to bring in South Korean workers for NextStar battery plant sparks backlash 

Board President of federal Green fund resigns amid conflict of interest probe 

As major Pacific summit wraps, Canada is sidelined on a new US led trade initiative 

Crown closes case in convoy trial of Tamara Lich, Chris Barber 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

'Shocking': Fears raised Ottawa-Ontario EV Cash swill benefit foreign workers and not Canadians

Doug Ford defends lack of public hearings on Greenbelt protection bill 

'It's time for telling the truth': Ontario Place architect steps away from Doug Ford's revamp to speak out against tree clearing 

'Im at a loss': Trudeau government's own experts upset by its foot-dragging over online harms law 

Justin Trudeau's Liberals will try to recapture some public confidence with their fiscal update 

Feds to appeal court ruling that struck down cabinet order labelling plastics toxic 

Police testimony resumes in criminal trial of 'Freedom Convoy' organizers 

Changing Armed Forces policies is slow and labour-intensive, external monitor says 

Transport Committee launches probe into accessibility at Canadian Arlines 

Colleges ask Ontario for five-per-cent tuition hike and funding boost 

With eight universities running deficits, Doug Ford needs to boost funding, not cut it, NDP says 

Pierre Poilievre is crushing Justin Trudeau,. Is that about to change?

Doug Ford made a mess of Ontario's postsecondary schools. Now he needs to undo the damage 

Toronto Sun

Liberals need to give sober second thought to booze tax hike 

Feds' foolish fight to the last straw 

As CBC defunding looms, the network doesn't know what to do 

Senators need to stop playing games on carbon tax relief for farmers 

Freelands's fall economic statement will be all sizzle and no steak 

How does Canada regain its place on the world stage? Get rid of Trudeau 

How Justin Trudeau can still win the next election  

Ideology shouldn't push plastic elimination agenda 

Trudeau 'excited' to show Canadians his fiscal responsibility 

The straw that brings plastics back?

Nathaniel Veltman ceased to be human when he wiped out an innocent family   

Canada's back eh? Not so you'd notice 

New questions about Canada's two Michaels 

National Post

Michael Kovrig's work in China 'legitimate' despite new spy claims, former ambassador says 

Most Atlantic Canadians want carbon tax carve-out extended to all home heating: poll 

Trudeau would fail miserably if we faced half the crisis Israel has  

Saskatchewan Premier says he's repulsed after legislature member allegedly procured sex 

Trudeau devotes a quarter of his time to 'personal days': data

Liberals offering up housing focused fall economic statement 

Feds to appeal court ruling that struck down cabinet order labelling plastics toxic 

Canadians appear to have stopped caring about climate change   

Trudeau Liberals economic update will make the bad even uglier 

Global          

Ottawa to appeal Federal Court's overturning of single-use plastic ban 

Plastic pollution treaty talks head to Ottawa next year. What's at stake?

Manning urges Federal Conservatives to weaponize his Alberta COVID response report 

Canadian Military colleges review 'about to be launched' new report says 

Liberals are 'running out of time' heading into fall economic update, Here's why 

Blair pushing PMO, Finance for more defence spending ahead of mini budget 

Taxpayer subsidized Stellantis battery plant potentially importing international workers 

NDP federal leader Jagmeet Singh takes swings at political oppositions at BC convention 

'A real threat to democracy': Iranian-American activist urges Trudeau to act 

BC New Democrats meet in Victoria for convention   

'Humiliating' Former Paralympian forced to haul herself up stairs to board West Jet Flight 

Landlords of East Vancouver building consumed by fire appear in court 

Foundation helping BC hospitality workers with medical hardship struggling with demand 

Vancouver park boards' process for setting, managing fees needs a reset: Audit 

Police seek man accused of assault, pointing gun at Vancouver Sky Train station 

Crash involving transit bus in Surrey injures two people 

Surrey Mayor says city will take another step toward stopping police transition 

Squamish reforms zoning rules to fast track affordable housing builds 

Runaway barge wrangled from hitting Vancouver's English Bay Beach 

Could Vancouver convert empty office towers into housing?

Striking union, Rogers Communications reach tentative deal in Metro Vancouver  

Train carrying freight derails in North Delta, no injuries reported 

Man accused of assaulting officer at Trudeau-Gaza protest in Vancouver granted bail 

Miscellaneous            

Danielle  Smith says the darnedest things 

Please Advise! Can Poilievre Axe BC's Carbon Tax?

Gaza Ceasefire takes centre stage at the BC NDP convention 

BC is clearing the barriers for Skilled Foreign Workers 

BC granted 'limited' status in Human Rights Inquiry