Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, January 27-29, 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 27-29, 2024

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Israel launches assault on Gaza's main northern city weeks after pulling back

Muslim council cancels meeting with Trudeau over Liberal stand on hate crimes, Gaza 

Israeli document details allegations against 12 UN employees accused of participating in  Hamas attack 

What is UNRWA, the UN Palestinian refugee agency?

Former top diplomats criticize Canada's funding freeze for UN agency in Gaza

ICJ ruling on Gaza sparks clashing views as UN Security Council prepares to meet 

Israel notes 'significant gaps' after cease-fire talks with US, Qatar, Egypt 

Poilievre calls UNRWA 'terrorist' organization after Canada pauses funding following allegations 

Gaza aid 'at risk' as countries pause UN agency funding after allegations staff were involve din October  7 attack

After latest news, UNRWA should never get Canadian aid again 

UNRWA part of the problem in Gaza

Anti-Semitism among our younger generation is a greater threat than Hamas

Canada suspends UNRWA funding after employees tied to October 7 butchering of Jews 

York University teaching assistants told to hijack tutorials into anti-Israel sessions 

Israel is the true victim of genocidal intent 

Canada's UNRWA funding pause was a long time coming, observers say 

Hamas command centre found under cemetery Israel accused of desecrating

'Hockey is my safe place': Teen Israeli hockey players evacuated from their homes tour Canada

UN official visits Israel to investigate Hamas sexual violence incidents 

UNRWA staff took part in October 7 massacre and kidnapping, report details 

Holocaust Remembrance Day sparks conversations about global rise of antisemitism   

Ukraine/Russia War           

Ukraine's Finance Minister warns Kyiv faces wartime budget crisis unless EU, US funding stalemates are broken 

Globe and Mail

Ottawa to table bill to extend deadline for implementing medically assisted death for mental illness patients 

Canadian Hells Angels members indicted in US case against Iran for assassination plot on US Soil

Commissioner vows to uncover truth about foreign influence in Canada

BC freezes approvals on new post secondary institutions specializing in international students 

Amid a jump in illegal crossings, residents of Canada-US border states scoff at proposals for a wall 

Ottawa's next immigration emergency

Ottawa to offer low-cost loans for student housing 

Leon's Furniture plans to build new Toronto neighbourhood with nearly 4,000 housing units

Procurement watchdog finds 76 per cent of listed ArriveCan subcontractors did no work

Trans Mountain expansion runs into 'technical issues,' completion delay possible 

Educators across Canada shifting their thinking around exams and assessments 

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Liberal politicians back away from Trudeau 

What would Pierre do? That's the big Canadian political question of 2024

Parliament returns with Liberals focused on Ukraine, Tories trained on carbon price 

Human-rights groups threaten to withdraw from the foreign interference inquiry 

Ottawa drops weapons export controls to Turkey, including drone technology

CBC

Top Liberal ministers duck questions about replacing Trudeau as Parliament return 

Mike 'Holmes approved Homes' demolished due to alleged defects 

Federal government seeking another pause on. planned expansion of medical assistance in dying

Are Canadians still willing to give Justin Trudeau a second look?

Liberals extend federal low-cost construction loan program for student residences  

There's no formal mechanism to make Trudeau face a leadership review - even if MPs wanted one 

Epcor puts mandatory ban on all non-essential water use for Edmonton and area

Industry minister urges Competition Bureau to conduct follow up study of grocery prices  

Flair Airlines owes $67 million in unpaid taxes as CRA opens door to seize carrier's property 

'Ed, we won't let you  down': Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent remembered for his compassion 

BC forecast centre issues flood warning for part of Lower Mainland amid atmospheric rivers

Cap on international study permits sparks fear of rising tuition, program cuts, layoffs on campus 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Justin Trudeau adviser defends use of crude language in online exchange with right-wing group 

'How do you sleep at night, bro?' Parliament returns with the same old toxic behaviour 

Ford government facing renewed questions over ServiceOntario deals

Mayor Olivia Chow to soften tax blow for renters in 2024 budget 

Leon's Furniture plans new 4,000 home development on site near Highway 401

Provinces knew the deal when they signed on to $10-a-day child care: Liberal minister 

Trudeau government delays expansion of medically assisted death for mental disorders 

Canadian Hells Angels hired to murder Iranian defector, US indictment charges  

Doug Ford government approves three MZOs- with Olivia Chow's blessing 

Amid Confusion from Canadians, Justin Trudeau's government is considering rebrand of carbon pricing: source 

New Staples locations part of broad ServiceOntario review, minister says

'A tough industry' : Flair CEO Puts expansion plans on hold amid debt, delivery delays 

David Eby invokes Taylor Swift as BC launches series to crack down on intimate images 

Foreign spies looking to exploit information from interference inquiry, lawyer warns 

Tories seek to reject Senate amendments on carbon pricing, but Bloc not on board 

Doug Ford's Tories are ahead, but ominous signs are on the horizon, poll suggests

Iranian man and 2 Canadians are charged in a murder for hire plot on US soil

No room for partisan politics in foreign interference inquiry 

As the US reconsiders LNG expansion, it's time Canada does the same 

For Ed Broadbent, socialism meant providing for average people - and fighting for the cause

Communities are being held hostage by harm-reduction apostles

Toronto Sun

Parliament returns with a tired, worn-out Trudeau government 

Prime Minister's staffer calls people names but gets apology

Poilievre best PM and best to handle Trump, says new poll

Justin Trudeau ripped for smug response to pricey vacation question: "He is laughing at us'

Councillor Alvin Tedjo running for mayor in Mississauga  

Where there's money being wasted, there's fire

No opinions, please. We're Canadian 

Tying Poilievre to Trump, not a good move for Trudeau Liberals 

Judge ruling may have saved Canada: Trudeau was wrong invoking the Emergencies Act

Will Bonnie Crombie run in Milton? Here are the pros and the cons 

Rape crisis centre may lose funding over Pro-Hamas politics 

The terrible cost of Canada's dysfunctional immigration system 

Trudeau trashes Canada's reputation with our allies but least we have Drake 

National Post

Conservatives accuse Liberals of being 'pathologically obsessed' with carbon tax as House returns 

Canada's 'zombie fires' continue to burn even under thick layers of snow 

The Alberta NDP needs a leadership divorce from Edmonton if it hopes to win the province again 

Liberals say Canada not ready for expanded assisted dying eligibility by March deadline 

An Ontario city councillor has disappeared and police 'are concerned for his well-being' 

Federal Court changed my mind - the feds were wrong on emergency powers 

Newfoundland Liberal politicians join other provincial counterparts distancing themselves from Trudeau

France wants to solve the baby bust, and Canada should too 

Chrystia Freeland  - our soft on terror deputy PM

Concordia students set to strike to protest against tuition hike 

The first question for Canada's foreign interference inquiry? How to discuss classified information in public 

'It's a content studio': Inside the rule-bending, highly-scripted strategies to make a splash in question period 

Winter session to start with 'relentless focus' on passing farm heating bill: Poilievre 

Global 

Canada not ready to expand assisted dying for mental health Minister

Flair Airlines faces seizure order as carrier owes feds $67M in unpaid taxes

Two Canadians with Hells Angels ties charged in alleged Iranian murder plot  

Woman ordered deported over Chinese Foreign interference 

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion runs into 'technical issues' completion delay possible 

Canadians are expected to pay even more for car insurance this year. Why?

Conservatives seek to revive carbon ricing carvoute, but Bloc uniquely to support 

'Sounding the alarm' 1 in 4 Ontarians could be without family doctor by 2026,  groups say

Ottawa offers universities low cost loans to build student housing 

International student cap has 'risks' without funding boost, groups warn 

Affordability is top concern for Canadians as Parliament resumes: Poll 

House of Commons returns after holidays. What are the big issues at stake

As Canada's foreign interference inquiry begins, what to expect this week

Poilievre fires up Conservative caucus ahead of House of Commons return 

Iran's growing influence may be missed as inquiry begins, experts warn

Biden administration raises 'concerns about aspects of Quebec language law

10K students. over next decade a lowball estimate, Surrey councillor says

Vancouver Park Board eyes judicial review of mayor's plan to disband elected body

Supportive housing announcement gets pushback from some Nanaimo residents 

Attempt to recall BC education minister Rachna Singh fails 

BC Premier invokes Taylor Swift as province launches crackdown on intimate images  

BC Premier apologizes after social media mistake 

Kelowna councillor seeking review of local construction hours 

After weekend flooding, Abbotsford presses for quick approval of mitigation funds 

Highway 1 closed due to flooding near Lytton as latest Pacific storm rolls in

BC court overturns human rights ruling awarding Indigenous mother $150K for discrimination  

Vancouver SRO razed in deadly fire had a history of code violations, inquest hears 

BC pauses new international student applications at new colleges for two years 

4th person dies, bodies recovered after fatal helicopter crash in Terrace 

BC seniors face poverty in 'dramatic reversal' 

Miscellaneous            

Get ready for Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre 

How the Alberta NDP lost out in 2023

New rules target. BC's deadliest workplace killer 

Invasive Strep A infections are on the rise