Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, January 13-15, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday,  January 13-15, 2024

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Hamas appears to show dead  bodies of two hostages after warning Israel 

Lawyers raise concerns over screening of Gaza visa applicants 

Group alleges ban on protests at Toronto highway overpass enforced 'selectively' 

Liberals trying to play both sides in Gaza conflict 

Liberal, NDP MPs to travel to West Bank to connect with Palestinians 

US owned cargo ship struck by missile off coast of Yemen 

US says it shot down anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas 

'A hundred days in darkness': Don't forget Israeli hostages held by Hamas

Invasive or not enough? Lawyers raise concerns over screening of Gaza visa applicants   

Rishi Sunak defends his decision for the UK to join the US in 'limited' strikes on Yemen's Houthis

Follow the money - taxpayer cash funding anti-israel rallies?

Canada considers taking in refugees from Gaza as Egypt says no

Cheering on terrorists in the streets of Toronto 

One rally in Toronto calls for peace, another for violence 

The shameless hypocrisy of putting the wold's only Jewish state on trial for genocide 

Screening questions for Gaza's seeking visa to Canada criticized as both too vague and too invasive 

Hamas says two out of three Israelis dead from hostage video 

Gaza death toll is not even close to those of actual genocides 

The Liberal MP who thinks his party is getting things wrong 

Defamation case against antisemitic slander only the beginning 

Anti-Israel protesters strike Joly's home; Toronto protests fizzle after three arrested for blocking. bridge 

How Canadian shippers are feeling the strain of the Red Sea conflict

Gaza death toll passes 24,000 as UN warns of famine without more aid

Ukraine/Russia War           

Ukraine claims it show down two Russian command and control aircraft in significant blow to Moscow 

The Russians are spending big on infrastructure to absorb occupied Ukraine 

Switzerland hosts President Zelenskyy and offers to host a peace summit for Ukraine 

Globe and Mail

As cold snap strains Alberta grid, province's energy debate with Ottawa back in focus 

Snow moving into BC while polar cold snap moves east through Prairies to Ontario

Canada stuck in 'population trap' needs to reduce immigration, bank economists say

Ottawa's inaction is fraying the consensus on immigration 

BC police secretly collected DNA from Kurdish community members in  tea-cup sting to solve murder 

Quebec man pleads guilty to setting 14 forest fires, forcing hundreds from homes 

Who gets the dog in a divorce? Changes to BC family law hope to help courts decide 

An immigration system that's lowering national wealth? Yes, th Liberals did that

Carbon tax rebates to land today for Canadians in several provinces 

Danielle Smith needs to own the imported-medicine mistake 

Non-prime lenders warn thousands of borrowers they could be cut off because of new maximum interest rates

Ed Broadbent state funeral announced for January 28 in Ottawa  

CBC

House ethics committee to discuss PM Trudeau's recent Jamaica trip 

Millions of Canadians get their carbon tax rebates today, S why do many not believe it?

Canada led efforts to weaken original UN Indigenous rights declaration 

There are no simple answers to the immigration and housing question 

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent will receive a state funeral on January 28

Ottawa may 'rein in' temporary resident numbers as housing concerns intensify, minister says 

Leadership shakeup at the federal NDP as party gets election ready 

As clock ticks down to CEBA deadline, business owners plead for understanding from government 

Province of Alberta did everything it could to prepare for winter sure in power demand, minister says 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Former Doug Ford cabinet minister in political limbo as RCMP probes Greenbelt scandal 

'Outrageous': Privately, Justin Trudeau's Toronto MPs are furious at Olivia Chow over her property tax gambit 

Ford government deploys special investigators to nursing homes 

Asking rents reach new high in Canada, as Toronto prices stay relatively flat 

'We have people terrified in our community': Mayors of Brampton and Surrey, warn Ottawa over extortion wave hitting South Asian businesses 

BC police secretly took NDA from Kurdish community in tea-cup sting to solve murder 

The carbon price rebate will be landing in your bank account soon. Here's how much Canadians can expect 

Toronto enters coldest week of the season so far - here's why it's still warmer than much of Ontario 

Toronto plans to open more warming spaces if temps dip further 

Caring society tells human rights tribunal Canada is failing on Jordan's principle 

Global Affairs Canada changing policy as gay diplomat wins surrogacy expenses case 

Toronto Sun

City plans to cut police budget, snow plowing if taxpayers stay silent 

Carbon tax an anchor on Liberal fortunes 

Saturday's electricity panic in Alberta shows how unready alternate energies are for the dead of winter 

No, you're not getting all your money back 

Expanding ServiceOntario into retail locations good for customers  

Heard of price fixing? Say hello to discount fixing 

Trudeau ignored warnings on immigration, now you pay the price

Trudeau must slim down bloated bureaucratic belly 

Trudeau's tenure a passport to embarrassment 

Liberal forecast - sunny way with chance of total disaster  

It's enough to make the Taliban chuckle 

Liberals ignored warnings about high immigration 

National Post

Ethics committee to meet this week to discuss probe on Justin Trudeau's latest trip to Jamaica 

McMaster University's ignorant apology over Sir John A Macdonald Day 

Loblaw-owned stores will no longer logger 50% off on expiring items 

Climate Actin Incentive Payments: Here's how much in refunds Canadians can expect 

Queen's University could 'go under' without cuts to courses 

Feds begin search for vendors to operate firearm confiscation program 

'Out of control': Immigration minister says he wants to reduce  international student arrivals 

BC police secretly took DNA from Kurdish community in tea-cup ploy to solve teen's murder 

Tump is more popular among Canadians than Trudeau (and what that means_

Melanie Joly's timidity a sign of Canada's foreign policy cowardice 

Global          

'Be patient': Workers forced to be outside in Alberta's extreme cold 

Canadians to receive first carbon pricing rebate of 2024. Here's how much yo could get 

Do you know how to stay safe if yo lose heat during extreme cold?

Pregnant woman who died crossing into US from Canada was looking for new life 

El Niño winters are typically mild? What's driving extreme cold in Canada?

Quebec man pleads guilty to setting 14 forest fires 

A spring COVID-19 booster? NACI has released updated guidelines 

Canada's housing market hit an 'unexpected surge' heading in 2024. Will it last?

Tying immigration to homes a 'good' idea but not a fix-all: Housing minister

Price hikes won't be as steep in year ahead, some firms tell Bank of Canada 

Capital Power and Ontario Power Generation to assess use of small modular nuclear reactors in Alberta 

Davos 2024: Four things to watch for as leaders gather of elite meeting 

'Significant reset; Eby drops BC children's minister from post in min cabinet shuffle 

BC civil forfeiture law will be put to 'reasonable limits' Charter test

Okanagan residents, businesses contend with burst pipes amid deep freeze 

Burst pipes due to extreme cold overwhelm  BC emergency services,  restoration companies 

1 hospitalized, Coquihalla Highway traffic restricted south of Merritt after crash

Surrey warns about dangers of thin ice after weekend incidents in BC

After smashing record, BC Hydro says it can 'ramp up' power generation at any time 

Bitterly cold weather topples BC temperature records 

BC extends free HPV vaccines to men bore in 2005

BC family pets no longer considered 'property' in separation or divorce proceedings 

BC Ferries pulls Coastal Celebration out of Service Monday, multiple sailings cancelled 

Police secretly got DNA from Kurds in BC probe of teen girls's murder 

Miscellaneous            

Cash cows and cheap labour: The plight of International students 

Please Advise! Should I scoop up a cheap fast cat on Facebook?

Edmonton and the UCP head into battle over clearing tent camps in bitter cold