Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, February 10-12, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday, February 10-12, 2024

ArriveCan APP report

Auditor General's ArriveCan report finds 'glaring disregard' for basic management practices

The ArriveCan tale gets worse, but the mystery remains 

Total coast of ArriveCan 'impossible to determine' due to poor record-keeping, AG report finds

Trudeau government 'repeatedly failed' to manage ArriveCan app: auditor general report  

How ArriveCAN app became ArriveSCAM

Sack cabinet ministers Bill Blair and Patty Hajdu over 'ArriveScam'

ArriveCAN audit debacle on Trudeau

$12 million here, $12 million there: Five things to know about the damming ArriveCan audit 

ArriveCAN app so poorly managed auditor general can only guess the cost 

ArriveCAN app a case study in Liberal contempt for Tax dollars 

ArriveCAN process 'unacceptable.,' LeBlanc says after scathing audit   

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

US seeks clarity on Canadians taken in Gaza, Israel confirms it has them in custody 

Israeil forces rescue two hostages in Gaza raid that killed at least 67 Palestinians 

Montreal Jewish Public Library re-evaluating removal of children's books for author's pro-Palestinian comments

US, Melanie Joly seek clarity from Israel on Canadians taken into custody from Gaza Strip 

Israeli forces rescue two hostages in dramatic Gaza raid that killed at least 67 Palestinians 

Israeli army's 'innovative methods' held to very different standard 

Al Jazeera journalist outed as Hamas commander by IDF

Ukraine/Russia War           

Why Conservatives (and conservatives) should support Ukraine

Ukraine deserves a long-term financial commitment from Canada 

The political tides of war are shifting - and may be taking Ukraine with them 

Joly says she's pressed her Israeli counterpart for news of Canadians missing in Gaza 

As the war in Ukraine nears the two-year mark, Kyiv must be wondering where all the support from he West has gone 

Globe and Mail

For those living on Belleville's streets, the Ontario city's overdose emergency is nothing new

Federal land could be used for housing to bring down cost, minister Sean Fraser says

What does restoring affordable home ownership actually mean? One economist crunches the numbers

Manitoba man charged with firs-degree murder in deaths of family members, including three children

Ottawa leery of approving Globalive Capital takeover of Wealth One Bank of Canada 

Latest detentions raise renewed questions about safety of foreigners in China

BC Senator Yuen Pau Woo challenges reports suggesting China targeted MPs

In giving billions to electric car makers, Canada is blinded by economic delusion

When Donald Trump abandons NATO, it calls all American defence responsibilities into question

The NDP's effort to ban the promotion of Big Oil misses the mark

Bill focused on 'powerful oil lobby' amounts to needed debate, NDP MP says in response to criticism

Tory MP says he'll apologize to First Nation for 'grossly disrespectful' comments 

Canadian TV, film, music industries ask MPs for protection against AI

Trudeau Liberals making no progress winning back support, Nanos Poll says

Former MP Raj Grewal sues for damages following acquittal last year 

Canada has a secrecy problem. The Supreme Court just made it worse 

As the federal government dithers, Canada's technology sector languishes  

CBC

Piapot First Nation demands MP apologize, retract 'baseless' water plant burning remark

Independent telecom asks CRTC to outlaw bulk deals between carriers and condo developers 

Canada's economy added 37,000 jobs in January as unemployment declines to 5.7%

Trudeau governments $500M spending cut scarcely affects services; report 

Trump's NATO comments aren't cause for panic - but they should be taken seriously, experts warn 

Canadian Russian pleads guilty to exporting technology to Russia

Toronto/Vancouver Star

More than one million Ontario drivers with expired licence plates are risking $1,000 fines. Are you one of them?

Doug Ford backs down on wage restraint legislation 

Pierre Poilievre can dish it out. Why can't he take it?

A major construction project starts Sunday in downtown Toronto. Here's how it will affect TTC routes 

'Our ultimate Toronto project': Massive crystalline skyscraper coming to the heart of downtown

Justin Trudeau's defence minister avoids criticizing Donald Trump after warning over military spending

Ford government on track for $4.5B budget deficit this year 

Olivia Chow budget vows to get the city 'back on track'. By one measure it's heading the wrong way 

'Driver poverty' Report shows Toronto ride-hail  gig workers earn $6.37 an hour after expenses 

In Danielle Smith's world, ideology trumps sound medical policy 

Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre have found a common enemy for what's wrong with Canada 

Toronto Sun

Sack cabinet ministers Bill Blair and Patty Hajdu over 'ArriveScam'

CBC President claimed nearly $120G in expenses as broadcaster cried poor: Report 

Local artist says he's 'pi---ed off' Loblaw over shits with lampooned logo 

Whining conservatives need to grow up

Canada's cybersecurity catch-up a crucial leap forward

Supreme Court should've decided Ontario's wage restriction law after bizarre ruling 

Bill C-282 is an awful idea. Here's why 

I'm pissed off at Trudeau for screwing up the media in Canada 

Violent criminals with illegal guns are the problem

Trudeau Liberals are barking mad

Bullying Alberta with its own tax dollars 

We know what to think about China 

National Post

'The new missionaries' - environmentalists are trying to keep First Nations down

Ontario to repeal public sector wage-cap law Bill 124 after Appeal Court loss 

Fired London, Ontario nurse seeks $20K from supporters to pay COVID-related fine 

Concordia University 'decolonizes' engineering 

How we would shock the Canadians from just 10 years ago 

Canada's clueless immigration policy will not end well

Auto theft summit won't fix Liberals' disdain for private property 

Illegal cannabis market still flourishing despite years of licence competition: report 

As the Liberals' universal daycare policy unravels, Conservatives could go on the offensive 

Global 

Canada talking with Trump allies in US to prepare for possible 2nd term: envoy 

Joly calls NATO 'united' as Trump says he'd encourage Russian attacks on members 

Ottawa to reveal details of nicotine pouch crackdown in 'coming days': Minister 

Organizations call Quebec government's public transit record 'atrocious'

Blackberry to lay off more staff as part of splitting up business 

Could the way Canadians park vehicles be part of the housing crisis?

Demolishing Montreal Olympic Stadium would be costly, but experts question $2B price 

Jimmy Pattison's former home 'deconstructed' in unique sustainable way 

Richmond council meeting on proposed safe drug consumption site gets heated 

Charges stayed in allegedly racially-motivated Vancouver bear spray attack 

'Maddening': BC couple takes aim at WestJet over cancelled flight 

Canada Line service resumes in downtown Vancouver after medical emergency 

Burnaby can recover nearly $30K for Parkland refinery incident response: Report  

2 injured in parking lot shooting outside Coquitlma Cactus Club

Ottawa, BC commit $733M to seniors' healh care 

BC South Coast mountains receive much-needed snowfall amid drought concerns 

Illegal Surrey builds still standing, despite order to tear them down 

Miscellaneous            

Private Cancer clinic owners threaten to sue whistleblowers 

How to handle the rise of an antibiotic Resistant  STI

The Solved Sugar Strike has a hero: Striker the goose 

Measles is coming back. We're not prepared