Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, December 16-18, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday, December 16-18, 2023

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Police urged to enforce harassment and intimidation laws after MPs face rise in threats, vandalism  

US envoys work for new hostage release deal, scale-down of Israel Hamas war but say mo timetable 

Canada joins EU, Britain, others decrying 'extremist settlers' violence in West Bank

Explosives charges laid against Ottawa minor accused of terrorism

US, Canada to join multi-national operation to counter attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea

Israel's military has turned its sights on Jenin refugee camp following deadly Hamas attacks

UN delays vote on cease-fire resolution as US, Israel and Qatar hold new talks 

Ottawa youth faces additional charges in alleged terror plot targeting Jewish community

Poilievre says Trudeau playing all sides in Israel-Hamas war 

This isn't Gaza. It's unacceptable to threaten to kill Jews or shoppers 

Anti-Israel demos threaten public safety 

Self-professed 'pro Palestine' protests now hate non-Jews too

Peace can only be achieved by destroying Hamas 

Trudeau sucks and blows on the war in Gaza

Canada has a prolific history of military violence against civilians 

Canada to join multinational effort to protest Red Sea  commercial shipping from Houthi rebel attacks 

Ottawa youth charged in anti-Jewish terror plot had makings of bomb: Police

'I'll put you six feet deep" Masked pro Palestinian makes threat in front of Toronto Police officer 

Radicalized in universities, 'journalist's seek more bias agains Israel

Terror arrest underscores threat to Canadian Jews 

Canada joins multinational operation to counter Red Sea commercial ship attacks 

Three hostages holding white flag mistakenly killed by troops, Israeli military says

Ukraine/Russia War           

Governor General Mary Simon says Zelenskyy's use of Inuktitut 'brought tears to my eyes'

One last Ukraine aid package planned before money runs out, White House says

Globe and Mail

Canada to join US led naval mission to safeguard Red Sea from Iran backed rebel attacks

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith denies thwarting plan to hire Deena Hinshaw 

Alberta Health Services exec says he resigned over political interference from Danielle Smith's office 

Is the university's problem too much free speech, or too little?

Travel advisories, warnings issued for Ontario cities ahead of heavy snowfall 

Drought conditions force BC Hydro to rely on power purchases

Trans Mountain project costs 'reasonably and justifiably incurred' says Crown corporation building pipeline

Beverly McLachlan's strange lack of judgment on Hong Kong

Bring the standardized housing catalogue - we desperately need it 

Tiff Macklem isn't ready to bring the same holiday cheer that Jay Powell is 

Case of Indigenous sisters serving life sentence underscores need to reform review process for miscarriages of justice, lawyer says

How Canada's foreign policy isn't keeping up with a rapidly changing world

CBC

Ottawa expected to release promised EV sales regulations Tuesday  

Liberals don't want to regulate speech with online harms bill, justice minister says

Canada's top spy reflects on his uneasy year in the spotlight 

Community leaders worry about increased radicalization risk after arrest of youth in Ottawa

MPs call for new measures to rein inCanadian pension investments in China 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Are Canada's EV targets out of reach BC and California early surpassed theirs 

What does it mean to be 'middle class'? Canadians say it's anywhere from $20K to $150K, new poll finds

Bonnie Crombie is exposing vulnerabilities in Doug Ford's Tories, poll suggests

Why student housing may be key to unlocking Toronto's waterfront 

Liberals don't want to regulate speech with online harms bill, justice minister says 

Canada will require all new cars to zero emissions by 2035

Climate change could be avenue for adversaries to harm Canada, spy service warns 

Ontario elementary teachers vote to accept new contract with Ford government

Toronto Sun

Deputy PM 'absolutely' certain Grits can form government again with Trudeau 

Toronto woman with long COVID applies for MAID program

Now's not the time to give up on Ontario's auto sector

With attack ad onslaught' Ford PC's not following Trudeau Liberals' mistake

Poilievre says Trudeau lacks moral compass 

Pierre Poilievre would be wise not to count out Justin Trudeau

Will no one stand up for common sense?

Don't count Trudeau out 

National Post

Donald Trump would be bad for Canada ( but not as bad as Trudeau) 

Poilievre doubles down on 'parental rights' pitches disaffected NDPers, in Rex Murphy's year end National Post interview 

Rex Murphy's year end interview with Pierre Poilievre - Full podcast

I don't want online harms bill that 'looks like people are trying to tell you what to think': Justice Minister 

Newfoundland to receive an equalization payment for first time since 2008 

Canadians are discovering there are even scarier health-care futures than 'American style'

Harm reduction activists heed to regain the public's trust 

Don't give campus censors more power - they'll double down on woke agenda 

Global          

Smith denies accusations of nixing Hinshaw job offer

Will Canada get a green Christmas this year? What to expect 

Liberals' online harms bill not about regulating speech: minister 

Ottawa set to announce that new cars must be zero emissions by 2035

Most voters still say Trudeau should resin - and expect an election 2024 

US optimistic Canada will spend enough on defence to meet threats: envoy 

BC PPC candidate must stop using 'engineer'

Human rights tribunal accepts CRAB Park resident's complaint against Vancouver 

'Half finished': Report highlights successes, challenges of BC's $10 a day child care 

BC Conservatives select former RCMP officer to represent West Kelowna-Peachland

'Cash grab': New 'secondary suite fees' have some Mission residents livid 

'Unprecedented': Surrey council votes down key school planning document 

Delta police investigate 'suspicious' death in Ladner 

'Not going anywhere': Tenants defy order to leave unsafe New Westminster building 

Vancouver Island's Myra Falls mine not 'financially viable', going into maintenance 

'The lowest point': BC restaurants indebted, bleeding cash says  industry advocate 

Union files labour practice complaint against BC Ferries amid 'tense' negotiations 

University of northern BC to offer bachelor's degree in Nisga'a language 

One man dead in Police involved shooting in Abbotsford 

Earthquake in BC felt from Vancouver Island to Kelowna 

Miscellaneous            

Who's behind the plan to shut eight Edmonton  Tent Camps?

How often are vulnerable adults unlawfully detained?

Eby defends BC's LNG and Coal Exports 

Heroes of the Pandemic