Ottawa Observation: Tuesday-Wednesday- December 5-6, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Tuesday-Wednesday, December 5-6, 2023

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Irwin Cotler under 24 hour police protection due to threat to his life 

Joly calls for end to Israel-Hamas violence but no explicitly for a ceasefire

Canada considering options to get extended family of Canadians out of Gaza 

Fighting between Israel, Hamas in Gaza poses more civilians toward Egypt border 

Internet, phone outages have cut off Gazans from the outside world - and even their loved ones

Israel presents evidence, witness testimonies of Hamas's sexual violence in October 7 attacks

Former Israeli PM says Netanyahu should resign 

Pro-Palestinian protesters return to Union Station for rush hour sit-in

Fighting between Israel and Hamas rages in Gaza's second-largest city, blocking aid from population 

Universities' inaction on anti-Semitism all about almighty dollar 

US House of Representatives says anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism

Why won't universities stop protests calling for the genocide of jews?

What we saw at pro-Israel rally on Parliament Hill 

UN a toothless tool for tyrants 

'Only a matter of time': Key Hamas leader's Gaza home surrounded, Netanyahu says 

Disingenuous for protesters to call for ceasefire Hams clearly doesn't want 

Ukraine/Russia War           

Ukrainian government shifts blame to foreign media as dissent grows 

Ukraine aid bill blocked in US Senate as Republican press point on border 

US, Ukrainian leaders seek expansion of arms production 

Former Ukrainian politician who fled to Russia after war started found shot dead outside Moscow 

Globe and Mail

Ottawa plans cap-and-trade system to cut oil and gas emissions, but targets lower than expected

Thunder Bay Police officer charged with assault, breach of trust in OPP probe 

CN announces deal to acquire Iowa Northern Railway 

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim moves to axe city's elected Park Board 

BC chief coroner Lisa Lapointe retiring, saddened by overdose crisis policy 

With one video, Pierre Poilievre has taken control of the housing debate 

Manitoba Regional Chief receives most support in fourth round of voting in AFN national chief election 

Rights activists question safety of testifying at foreign interference inquiry 

Unity and division among MPs in the Commons as seasonal break looms

Conservative MP kicked out of Commons for calling Trudeau liar, refusing to retract 

Publisher Jimmy Lai's son presses Joly to publicly call for father's release ahead of trial 

House committee to study impartiality of Speaker Greg Fergus after video tribute 

GCStrategies defies committee summons to reappear, citing mental health concerns 

Ottawa holds talks with Meta over Bill C-18 as minister hints it could still  face regulation

Tories, NDP call out CBC president for not ruling out bonuses, despite layoffs 

Conservatives decry judge's decision to limit their standing in foreign interference probe's first phase 

CBC

MPs agree to have committee look into Speaker Fergus video controversy 

A Speaker who tried to restore 'respect' to Parliament is now accused of disrespecting it 

Assembly of First Nation election stretches into ballot 5 with no winner 

Senators were intimidated and their privilege was breached in carbon tax fracas, Speaker rules

Conservative MP introduces bill to declare December 'Christian Heritage Month'

Foreign Service needs fewer managers, more staff to better respond to global crises: report 

As expected, Bank of Canada holds interest rate steady at 5%

Ottawa set to announce cap-and-trade framework to reduce emissions in oil and gas sector

If Canada axed its carbon tax - and rebates - this is how different households would gain or lose 

Cyber spy agency warns foreign adversaries will 'weaponize' AI to influence next federal election 

With layoffs looming, CBC execs want foreign streaming giants to pay more to support Cancon

US Senator calls out alleged Indian assignation plots: 'not the behaviour of respectable democracy'

Licence to break the law: More Canadian spies get permission to commit crimes, memo shows 

Number of sexual assaults reported in military spiked last year, StatsCan survey says 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

'Conservatives are going to ruin your vacation': Pierre Poilievre threatens to block. business in the House of Commons

Doug Ford accuses NDP of 'gutter politics' amid Peel Region reversal speculation 

Hospitals plagued by staff shortages and ER closures under Ford government, auditor general finds 

Critics claim Bonnie Crombie has inherited a divided Liberal caucus. The numbers tell a different story

'Your clients are f---ed': Toronto couple appeal child murder convictions, arguing judge showed prejudice in closed-door meeting

Cyber attacks will likely hit Canada's next federal election - and it'll be harder to identify who's doing it, report warns  

York University must address rising debt and low program enrolment, audit finds 

MPs agree to ask committee to review controversy over video by Speaker Greg Fergus 

Defence minister announces panel members tasked with reviewing military colleges 

Tories threaten to delay government work, hold up billions over price on pollution

No fifth ballot winner as Assembly of First Nations seek its next national chief 

Meet the candidates vying to be the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations 

'Deeply concerning': Rate of sexual assault allegations in Canadian Armed Forces doubled in latest survey, Statistics Canada says 

Global Affairs Canada says two Canadians dead in Antigua 

Ontario names former GM executive as new representative in Washington  

Uncertainty continues for Peel employees as province mulls dissolution reversal

Minister says no decisions made on 'potential' dissolution of Peel Region

Toronto Sun

Audit shows how decrepit current Ontario Science Centre really is 

Toronto Police chief proud of 'brave' off-duty cop who foiled armed robbery 

Fergus has left Ottawa, it's time he left the Speaker's chair 

Speaker Greg Fergus too Liberal in video message  

COP28's focus on food and Canada's dilemma 

Crombie's first test - will she do what is right for Ontario?

Ford pauses Peel break-up, looks for new deal for region 

CBC to axe jobs, will they axe executive bonuses as well?

Trudeau's eco ego stifling investment in Canada 

Government spending sprees helping fuel inflation and high interest rates 

Bernardo's move shows Trudeau is soft on crime 

Low interest rates aren't coming back 

National Post

Framework for emissions cap on oil and gas sector coming Thursday, source says 

Nope, Trudeau hasn't been 'vindicated' on India murder allegations 

Alberta government rejects bill amendment binding it to results of a pension plan referendum 

'We need to get our story out': Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Dubai 

Senate report calls on Global Affairs to cut senior management, denounces 'troubling' loss of expertise 

Speaker's impartiality questioned again over comments made in Washington 

Out of sight, out of mind: Speaker Fergus to travel outside the country as he faces calls to resign 

'You will have no rest': Poilievre warns Trudeau no MP holidays without farm carbon-tax relief  

Panel tasked with reviewing military colleges named by defence minister

Enough with the Conspiracy theory polls, already 

Poilievre makes a hit movie out of a gloomy script 

Pierre Poilievre looks like a Prime Minister in waiting 

China and Russia are targeting elections around the world, Canada's cyber agency warns 

Denying Conservatives full status at foreign interference inquiry, undermines its credibility, party says 

Senator censured for 'insensitive' comments during pro-Freedom Convoy rant 

Global          

'Profound malaise' lingers in Canada's diplomatic service, Senate committee finds 

Bank of Canada holds rates again. So when will cuts begin?

After complaints, Transport Canada launching in-depth review of Chevrolet Volt hybrid

Alberta named "Fossil of the Day' at COP28 by environmental groups 

Canada's oil and gas emissions cap coming with 2026 target start date: sources 

Poilievre threatens to delay rise of Parliament unless carbon pricing plan revised 

Canada, G7 banning direct import of Russian diamonds  

MP's debate whether to have committee review Speaker's video controversy. 

Generative AI, deepfakes will 'pollute' election campaigns, CSE warns 

NDP ridings got more federal  rapid housing cash than Conservative ones. Why?

Majority of Canadians want Ottawa to spend more on health care, housing: Poll 

Pass gun bill without delay, father of Ontario shooting victim tells senators 

Staff shortages crippled some emergency departments in Ontario: auditor general

Political shift underway in BC, says confident Tory Leader  John Rustad 

'Protection money': mounting fears over extortion letters targeting BC businesses 

'System is broken': Vancouver Mayor announces plan to remove elected park board 

Future of Vancouver Park Board in question as mayor to push for revamp: sources 

BC moves to reduce raw log exports, boost higher value wood manufacturing 

BC touts 'radical change' in health-care system as recruitment efforts continue 

Surrey charity offering Christmas cooking kits as families struggle with inflation 

Voluntary decals to alert BC first responders to presence of people who are neurodivergent 

BC to ban waitlist fees for most daycares starting in April

'An honour to serve': BC's Chief Coroner to retire in February

Coast Guard investigating oily sheen in Vancouver's False Creek

Miscellaneous            

How BC is tackling the 'paradigm shift' in its forests 

Why modular housing stands empty during Vancouver's Homelessness crisis 

Fighting workplace abuse by building community 

Here's what Danielle Smith is really doing in Dubai 

'Spend as much lifting our people up as pushing them down'

Please advise: What about Big Poll Numbers for Rustad and Poilievre 

Union drive backfires for some PHS Peer workers 

The last thing Alberta's NDP needs is a name change