Ottawa Observations: January 6-8, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for January 6-8, 2024

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Universities face lawsuits accusing them of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism 

Israelis and Palestinians are both trapped by the dangerous fantasies of history

'Indiscriminately stirking' civilians is war crime, Pope Francis says in major speech 

Israeli strike kills Hezbollah commander according to sources 

Israeli strike kills an elite Hezbollah commander in latest escalation linked to war in Gaza 

Blinken urges Arab leaders to help prevent spread of war in Mideast 

Israel says Hezbollah struck sensitive air traffic base in the north and warned of 'another war'

Four of 11 accused in Indigo vandalism case make first court appearance 

Toronto police chief apologizes after protester handed coffee by officer

Woman fears pregnant sister-in-law won't qualify for family program to escape Gaza 

Like Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu also must go

Cumbersome process and 'arbitrary' Israeli inspections slow aid delivery into Gaza, US senators say 

The case of the Indigo 11: How an act of vandalism became a flashpoint in Toronto

'It was heartbreaking': Canadian trauma surgeon des robes scenes in Gaza hospital

Hezbollah, Israel trade heavy cross-border fire as Anthony Blinken seeks to prevent regional escalation

An Al Jazeera journalist is the fifth member of his family killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza 

Canada must expand eligibility to welcome Palestinians fleeing the 'Worst place on earth'

Young Palestinian girl killed when Israeli police fire at suspected attackers in West Bank unrest  

Israeli strike kills an elite Hezbollah commander in the latest escalation linked to the war in Gaza 

Delivering coffee and donuts not eh job of police 

Stop minimalizing anti-Semitism and use the word terrorism 

Cops must do better with protesters at Avenue Road bridge 

Explosion of anti-Semitism is the canary in the coal mine

Pro-Palestinians disrupt skating party as Olivia Chow calls protest 'democracy in action'

Calls mount for cops to enforce law on disruptive anti-Israel protests after coffee-delivery video

Toronto police chief apologizes after officer delivers coffee to anti-Israeli protesters 

The more pro-Palestinian protesters get, the uglier their tactics become 

It is up to Gazans to stop the fighting 

West seeks rapid end to Gaza conflict as Israel presses on

Israel says it has dismantled Hamas' military in northern Gaza, signalling end of combat in region

Ukraine/Russia War           

'Indiscriminately stirking' civilians is war crime, Pope Francis says in major speech 

Heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least four civilians  

'People realized there really is a war going on': Russian city shaken by Ukraine's attacks 

Globe and Mail

Ottawa, Honda to hold talks on potential EV factory in Canada

Parts of Ontario under winter storm watch as Environment Canada warns of major snow

First major snow of the year arriving in much of southern British Columbia

An American legal scholar flees the divisive politics of Florida - and finds a home in Toronto 

Justin Trudeau seems to have forgotten it's his job to hold the country together 

Canada is haunted by problematic  place names, but we have the power to change that 

The provinces need to play ball with each other on electricity  

New government House leader defends Prime Minister's vacation, saying he followed the rules

How George Brown helped create Canada in spite of himself 

In A Nation's Paper, journalists explore how the Globe and Canada evolved together over 180 years   

Ottawa's ethics loophole for pricey gifts needs to be closed 

CBC

Trudeau says government looking at ways to designate Iran's IRGC a terrorist organization 

Families of PS752 victims push for government action against Iran on anniversary of deadly crash 

Here's how a Canada wide plastics registry could save you money 

Steve MacKinnon to step in as Liberal House leader with Gould set to begin parental leave 

Interim government House leader Steven MacKinnon seeks better decorum in Parliament 

Honda, federal government to meet this week as reports emerge of possible EV plant deal

National Defence vows to get better at helping men who report military sexual misconduct 

BC health minister says he expects Ottawa to protect Canadians from drug shortages 

Court decision barring Chinese student sends message about espionage risk, experts say

A record number of people signed e-petitions last year - do they make a difference?

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Government defends another free vacation for Justin Trudeau at luxury resort: "All of the rules have been followed"

Tax hike, service boost, federal funding: Key questions swirl around Olivia Chow's first budget 

Inflation and interest rates got you down? You're not alone, poll suggests 

Manitoba eyes design changes at intersection where collision killed 17

Major winter storm headed for Ontario could mean messy commute on Tuesday 

Mourners mark fourth anniversary of  downing of PS752 by Iranian military

NDP on track to pay off 2001 election debt, set to begin building campaign war chest 

Doug Ford's government called him with a 'real challenge'  - so he packed his bags for Washington 

Toronto Sun

New name for Yonge-Dundas Square sparks 'widespread disapproval': Poll 

Toronto succumbs to mob rule as pro-Palestinian protests take over 

Toronto Zoo to remain open while investigating effects of cyberattack 

The world needs to wake up to the evils of the regime in Iran

Toronto needs to act now to take control of city back from pro-Hamas protesters 

Declare Iran's military thugs as terrorists 

Here's why the budget won't balance itself 

We don't have to quit the UN to call it out

Overseeing dysfunctional health-care system a difficult task. 

Liberals should be wary of costly pharmacare plan 

The Little Guy from Shawinigan a big success

Higher fees, lower overhead, better benefits needed retain physicians 

National Post

Major winter storm expected to pass through parts of Ontario bringing heavy snowfall and freezing rain 

Alberta's health care just keeps getting worse

How Trudeau defended his last holiday at his friend's luxury Jamaican estate

Trudeau won't shake off this latest vacation fail as easily as the others  

'More to do' to hold Iran accountable, Trudeau says at ceremony marking anniversary of Flight PS752 downing  

Senator says Ottawa must decide whether 'all Canadians' have right to assisted dying 

Manitoba allocates $12M to make intersection safer at site of bus crash that killed 17

Davie Shipyard suing Ottawa to prevent any disclosure of shipbuilding deal

Global          

Another winter wallop to hit much of Canada this week. What you should know 

Canada issues warning as Florida plan to import drugs raises fears 

New government House leader sworn in. What are his priorities?

'Graveyard of sad stories': Safety report on site of Carberry crash arrives Monday

Blunt talk on military challenges is a 'good thing' retired defence chief says 

Manitoba has a 'strong case' to review carbon price in province: Kinew 

Families of Flight PS752 victims mark 4 year anniversary of Iran downing a plane 

Quebec parents anxiously await new school schedules to make up for lost classes 

Canadian airlines say they don't operate aircraft model involved in Alaska Airlines incident 

Cowichan Valley hockey group pushes back against weather shelter at community centre

6 BC search and rescue leaders pen finger-pointing letter to provincial government 

Vancouver police investigate if dog fell our was thrown from DTES window 

Syrian refugee injured by Vancouver police dog launches lawsuit 

Magnitude 4.7 earthquake recorded near Port Hardy

Some Tuesday BC Ferries sailings cancelled, others at risk amid impending storm

Hospitals seeing more patients with increasingly complex medical issues: UBC

BC seeks federal help on overpass crashes, citing jurisdictional challenges 

One dead, one airlifted to hospital after collision on Coquihalla Highway  

Miscellaneous            

With -30 Weather ahead, Edmonton pushes people from tents 

Don't give up on the electric car dream 

As Alberta pushes private clinics, surgeons allege conflict of interest 

Leslyn Lewis is testing us