Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, February 22-23, 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 22-23, 2024

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Muslim groups say MPs won't be welcome in mosques until they call for Gaza ceasefire

A Stephen Harper tweet was the latest reminder of the depth of western bias on Israel-Palestine 

Star of David and hostage release plea send MLSE into a panic 

Canada wavers on military exports to Israel under pressure to suspend shipments 

Ukraine/Russia War           

Ukrainians are worried about the fate of Kharkiv as the country marks two years since Russia's invasion 

Russia's recent battlefield gains in Ukraine  have come at enormous cost, NATO official says 

US targets Russia with hundreds of sanctions over Ukraine war, Navalny death

Russia billionaire launches fresh appeal of Canadian sanctions listing after wife removed 

Canada sanctions 10 more people in Russia over war with Ukraine ahead of anniversary  

Ravaged by war, Russia's army is rebuilding with surprising speed

Justin Trudeau insists Canada's support for Ukraine is firm - but experts raise the alarm about allies' lack of urgency  

Canada sanctions 10 more people in Russia over war with Ukraine 

Canada slap new sanctions on Russia for 2nd anniversary of Ukraine war

Globe and Mail

Diabetes medications, contraceptives to be funded by Ottawa as NDP, Liberal reach agreement on pharamcare 

Poilievre said MPs from other parties should have voted against millions for ArriveCons as costs grew  

Call in more ArriveCan investigators 

I've seen what a good death looks like. I hope MAID's future looks the same 

Alberta town bans Pride flags, rainbow crosswalks after plebiscite  

Alberta credit union draws protestors over its alignment with right-wing ideals 

Interference inquiry head says feds have signalled need for closed-door hearings 

Canadian churches are still being set ablaze. Does anyone care?

Justice Hogue can still fix the growing mess at the election interference inquiry 

Canada investigating cartel members smuggling Mexicans over border to America 

Trudeau jabs Poilievre over bill that could usher in digital ID for porn browsing  

Opposition parties urge immediate release of uncensored Winnipeg lab documents 

Trudeau announces $13.3 million in funding for housing construction in Cape Breton

GST, HST on Ottawa's carbon price could raise billions over next seven years, budget watchdog says 

Hard choices lie ahead as Canada prepares to meet NATO defence target 

Details withheld on fired scientists to save health agency embarrassment, MPs say

CBC

 Liberals and New Democrats reach a deal on pharmacare

Suspended public servants say they're being scapegoated for telling the truth about ArriveCan

'Freedom Convoy'' organizer from Saskatchewan suing federal government for using Emergency Act to freeze accounts 

Ottawa appeals court decision calling use of Emergencies Act on convoy protests unreasonable 

Independent MP Kevin Vuong says he would be 'open' to joining Conservatives 

RCMP networks targeted by cyberattack

Gatineau Mayor France Belisle steps down, citing hostile political climate

Asked about online harms bill, Poilievre raises Trudeau's past use of blackface  

Foreign interference commissioner seeks to reassure diaspora groups anxious about inquiry  

Commons committee agrees to summon GC Strategies to testify on ArriveCan

Toronto/Vancouver Star

How much could a Canadian pharmacare plan save you? We looked in this 84 year old's medicine cabinet

Liberals and NDP reach pharmacare deal that will cover brith control, diabetes drugs 

Is Canada ready for Trump 2.0?

If he wants to protect kids, Pierre Poilievre should forget about porn and look in the mirror 

With the collapse of Lynx, Porter more poised than ever to become Canada's only disrupter airline 

Passengers scramble for alternatives and refunds amid Lynx Air insolvency chaos 

Doug Ford defends 'patronage' appointments of ex-staffers, says he wants 'like minded people' selecting Ontario judges 

Doug Ford says colleges and universities announcement coming Monday 

Doug Ford government officially repeals provincial wage restraint law Bill 124

Former Liberal candidate Kevin Vuong says he wants to join Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives 

Info watchdog investigating record destruction allegations related to ArriveCan App

Toronto Sun

Woodbridge Legion branch shut down due to 'overt association' with outlaw biker gangs 

Colourful cast of characters accused in big gun and dope bust  

Scientists and engineers to public: save us from ourselves 

New home buyers flounder in complex legislation 

Grocery shoppers have become astute bargain hunters 

Why a working telephone is better than a zombie apocalypse 

High taxes and fees on flights is why airlines like Lynx fail 

The Liberals' escalating taxes on alcohol   

Radical politics must be pushed out of of education system for good

Carbon tax clear loser when other Liberals won't defend it 

Dave McLaughlin flights gun violence with scholarships 

Say it ain't so! Trudeau won't go

New landmark study shows 'safer supply' doesn't work 

A short lesson on the facts of life 

In schools today. only race matters 

National Post

Tent City Nation: Are Canada's homeless encampments here to stay?

Passengers agitated, police called as Air Canada flight delayed by 24 hours 

End to Lynx Air doesn't mean cheap airfare is over in Canada, experts say 

PEI councillor punished for posting sign questioning Indigenous unmarked graves seek judicial review 

Alberta town bans Pride flags, rainbow crosswalks after plebiscite 

Chrystia Freeland should rethink the flawed alcohol escalator tax

Information commissioner  investigating allegations of destroyed government ArriveCan records  

Liberals appeal court ruling that use of Emergencies Act was unjustifked, unreasonable 

Freedom Convoy organizer sues Ottawa for freezing bank accounts by using Emergencies Act 

Public Health Agency wants everyone to male sure their immunized against measles 

Some interference inquiry hearings need to be closed door, government tells commissioner 

Deal on pharmacare bill has been reached with Liberals ahead of march deadline, NDP say

Federal carbon tax could raise billions in GST, HST over next seven years

Canadian Heritage halted Victims of Communism memorial after Hunk uproar: documents 

Trudeau says Albertans have been misled into opposing his 'conservative' carbon tax

Canada could find itself embroiled in a hot war it isn't expecting: Canada Undefended 

Suspended civil servants say they'r being unfairly blamed, silenced over ArriveCan

Global 

NDP says it has a pharmacare deal with Liberals. Here's what it will cover

Government threat report warns about attacks in Canada inspired by Hamas-Israel conflict 

Lynx Air is shutting down. What to do I you have travel booked

Canada's top doctor urges measles vaccination before travelling as cases rise 

The hunt for Canada's last Nazis 

RCMP dealing with 'cyber event' targeting networks, launches criminal probe  

Quebec tuition hike: McGill, Concordia universities file lawsuits  

Former Manitoba government presented 'incomplete' financial picture, report says 

BC Premier 'profoundly worried' about coming wildfire season 

For families struggling with infertility, IVF access poses more difficulty: experts 

Mother of 2 from Mexico identified as victim of Vancouver crane tragedy 

Police pressed on public safety after rterifying White Rock shooting 

Safety a priority after another BC crane death mayor 

Canada providing $4.2 million to Vancouver for youth programs to mitigate gang involvement 

BC Budget mum on new schools, hospitals, but election year announcement still to come 

Nisga'a Treaty disputes settled out of court

8 arrested as 'sophisticated' criminal network dismantled in BC

Miscellaneous            

Trudeau's election chances are trashed 

BC Budget hands cash to families and Posts a record deficit 

Where's the Big Vision in the BC budget?

The Health care crisis for Foreign farmworkers 

Families are still waiting for answers in a deadly Kelowna Crane disaster 

How Chicken eggs can help fight Childhood cancers

NDP hits brakes on Land Act Reconciliation plan