Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, February 8-9, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Thursday-Friday, February 8-9, 2024

Bell Selloff/Job Cuts

Trudeau says Bell Media job cuts are a 'garbage decision' 

BCE cutting workforce by 9% in biggest restructuring effort in almost 30 years 

After layoffs, the bet on BCE shares rests on the dividend. And it's a compelling bet 

'Depressing' to see 'W5' affected by Bell Media cuts, says former host Kevin Newman

Trudeau 'pissed off' by Bell Media's 'garbage decision' to lay off journalists

Bell Media planning cuts to CTV, BNN Bloomberg following BCE Layoffs, sale of 45 radio stations  

Justin Trudeau say she's furious over Bell Media layoffs, calling it a 'garbage' decision 

CTV cancelling most noon and weekend newscasts as Bell cuts 4,800 jobs. Here's what shows are coming to an end

Local news cuts at Bell come after it was granted $40M in regulatory relief: St. Onge

Trudeau calls Bell layoffs 'a garbage decision' and says company should know better 

Trudeau calls Bell layoffs a 'garbage decision'" I'm pretty pissed off  

'Corporate vampires': BC Premier blasts Bell Media for layoffs, cuts 

Eby blasts 'Corporate Vampires' for Gutting local news and firing journalists 

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

For Belfast's nationalists and unionists, the Israel-Hamas war puts new colours on old grievances 

Israel prepares assault on Rafah, seeks to allay fears of 'bloodbath'

3 Canadians taken by Israel in Gaza, says relative, decrying Ottawa's response 

Israel seeks to evacuate Palestinians rammed into Southern Gaza city ahead of an expected invasion 

Three Canadians in Gaza allegedly taken and held by Israeli forces, relative says 

RCMP investigating death treat against BC MLA Selina Robinson over Palestine comments 

Canadian universities cancel speeches over speaker's Hamas atrocities 'celebration'

Jewish PSAC members file human rights complaint against union

BC Minister who resigned over Mideast comments received death threats, Eby says

'Completely unacceptable': Selina Robinson gets death threats, BC Premier says 

Ukraine/Russia War           

The shooting war and the financial war - Ukraine needs help on both fronts 

How cheap drones are transforming Ukraine's war against Russia 

Prime Minister insists Canadians 'won't be fooled' by Putin's propaganda 

Putin uses Tucker Carlson interview to take shots at Zelenskyy over Yaroslav Hunka affair

While Putin spoke to Carlson, Zelensky spoke to Urkainians.Here's what the contrast showed

Putin makes Canada's embarrassing 'Nazi in Parliament' story worldwide news 

Vladimir Putin brings up Canada's applause for ex-Nazi in Tucker Carlson interview 

Globe and Mail

China offers 'new way of thinking' former Canadian ambassador tells business audience 

Ontario teachers awarded increase in retroactive pay to compensate for wage cap law 

Jagmeet Singh is super serious this time 

The R-word is back as the Parti Quebecois surges in the polls 

Our federation helped make Alberta rich in water. Now that dam is breaking 

Auditor-General to report Monday on how cost of ArriveCan app grew from $80,000 to more than $54 million

Jagmeet Singh draws the NDP's line in the sand, but it's invisible 

Poilievre proposes mandatory prison terms for extortion-related crimes 

Access to information system needs to be fixed, Poilievre says 

Federal government signs $3.1 billion health care deal with Ontario

Poilievre proposes plan for First Nations to collect taxes from industry 

Ottawa must warn Canadian business about risks of operating in Hong Kong, MPs told

Poilievre to endorse First Nations proposal for greater control over resource revenues 

CBC

Supreme Court declares Indigenous child welfare law constitutional   

Competition Bureau investigating restrictive real estate clauses in Canadian grocery sector

Uganda's diplomatic residence in Rockcliffe lost to 'unapproved' demolition 

Poilievre pledges to establish minimum prison sentences for extortion 

Number of pensioners receiving OAS abroad dropped during pandemic, then increased 

Tory MP walks back comments on First Nations water plant fires

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

Joly urges more funding to hire Canadian diplomats as Liberals cut spending 

Ford, Trudeau sign $3.1B health care funding deal that will see Ontario hire more health workers

Trudeau hints at tougher penalties for car thieves as RCMP chief warns of 'unprecedented' problem

Convoy organizers want Ottawa police board to pay any damages in class action

Veteran Affairs worried about blowback after it rejected Afghan memorial design, memo says 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Conservative riding association protests 'unfair and undemocratic' decision to parachute former Doug Ford minister into federal riding 

Arbitrator awards 2.75% pay raise to Ontario's public school teachers 

King Street streetcar travel times improve with traffic agents, says city

'Monumental': Supreme Court rules Indigenous child welfare law is constitutional  

Justin Trudeau blames Stephen Harper cuts for auto theft issue, as Ottawa moves to ban high tech devices used to steal cars

Poilievre pledges to fix broken access-to-information system, release more faster 

Doug Ford is ignoring Marit Stiles. But she's more interested in someone else's attention 

Why Doug Ford's actions this week should be greeted with a sigh of relief 

Toronto Sun

Enough is enough. It's time for heads to roll 

Trudeau stubbornly set to punish Canadians with big beer tax hike

Ontario teachers awarded additional pay to compensate for wage restraint law 

Does Trudeau have anything left to beat Poilievre?

Canada Post aims to increase price of stamps; changes would take effect in May

What happened to the Canadian Dream?

MPs raise spectre of 'scary' ArriveCan report as auditor's work awaits 

ArriveCAN app becomes the ArriveSCAM app

Trudeau and Singh lose the plot with grocery conspiracies 

National Post

The Grocery wars are unmasking Canadian politics, and it's a great thing 

Watchdog slams new military police policy on sex assault 

Alberta NDP leadership candidate's startling opener - axe the carbon tax

Poilievre says he would expand mandatory prison terms for extortion related crimes 

Transactional marriages help fuel surging Punjab exodus to Canada: study

BC takes a break from handing out free opioids to crack down on 'nicotine patches'

Are Danielle Smith's gender identity policies good for children?

Proposed LNG terminal sets precedent for Indigenous relations 

BC prosecutors want to escape zombie downtown they helped build

'Plante doesn't care about French in Montreal,' CAQ government fires back in tuition debate 

Poilievre promises to revoke expansion of medical assistance in dying for mental illnesses

Global 

Another 'beer tax' increase is coming on April 1 amid calls to cancel it 

Poilievre vows no MAID mental illness expansion in fe wins next election 

Grieving parents of car crash vicicm said they're told to pay $200 to meet Quebec minister 

Quebec cites 'social piece' to renew notwithstanding clause on Bill 21

'Scary' secret report prompts MPs to suspend ArriveCAN hearings 

'I screamed' BC Indigenous child welfare advocates celebrate court victory  

Canada Place given secondary name and signage honouring Komagata Maru passengers

BC adds 717 more $10-a-day child care spots across province 

BC police board controversies renew call for Police Act changes 

Savings from abolishing park board still unclear, Vancouver Council hears 

Snowpack levels about 40% below normal have BC premier worried 

Landlord fined $4,500 over fire that destroyed East Vancouver apartment building 

BC court turfs conviction of woman accused of coughing at workers during COVID

Police cleared in tractor crash during BC anti-SOGI rally

4,000 BC Family doctors registered with provincial payment model to improve access 

Extra Vancouver. police officers to attend Lunar New Year parade, celebrations 

Miscellaneous            

Grocery Tigers in the Year of the Dragon 

Tossed by Starbucks

A new report maps Canada's 'Daunting' Path to Net-zero carbon

Police reform talks stalled over calls to oust the RCMP , BC says 

A fatal fire brings calls for better protection for low-income tenants 

Black men's mental health concerns are ignored. They pay a high price 

There's wisdom in children, It's up to us to listen