Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, February 13 & 14, 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 

RCMP studying ArriveCan report after meeting with top auditor

Gaps in oversight of ArriveCan app are 'completely unacceptable' CBSA head says

On ArriveCan, the question is not just who did what, but why?

ArriveCan is a mess - but the scandal hides some bigger questions 

Canada suspended all contracts with ArriveCan app company late last year, minister says

ArriveCan is the latest example of government incompetence 

Poilievre asks RCMP to criminally investigate ArriveCan debacle 

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Trudeau warns Israel of 'catastrophic' consequences of pending Rafah offensive 

NDP pushing Liberals to recognize state of Palestine as UK, US signal openness

Canada joins allies in warning Israel that ground offensive in Rafah would be 'catastrophic'

This time pro-Hamas thugs vandalized a Jewish MPs office

Enforce laws designed to stop anti-Semitic mobs from attacking hospitals 

Terrorist supporters harass hospital patients in Toronto

Enforce the laws against  Jew hatred 

Ukraine/Russia War           

How Ukraine overcame a naval blockade and devastated seaports to resume crucial agricultural exports 

Canada announces $60 million for Ukraine's F-16 supplies, equipment ahead of NATO meeting

Ukrainian military says it sank a Russian Landin ship in the Black Sea

Conservatives would renegotiate free trade deal with Ukraine, Manitoba MP says

Canada chips in another $60M for Ukrainian F-16 training as US aid remains gridlocked

Globe and Mail

Birth control included in talks for new Liberal-NDP pharmacare deal

Singh says government's pharmacare bill must include plan for a single payer system to keep NDP-Liberal deal alive 

Toronto passes budget with 9.5 percent tax hike, additional police funding

Canadian academics involved in joint research with Iranian counterparts on drone technology

Makers of COVID-19 protective equipment seek over $5 billion in damages from Ottawa 

Liberals face political oblivion with Trudeau at the helm

First Nations urge Environment Minister. not to green light Chalk River nuclear waste dump

Environment Minister tries to clarify remark that Ottawa will 'stop investing in new road infrastructure' 

NDP to introduce bill calling for ban of coal exports as Canadian output booms

Parliamentary authorities did not screen Waffen SS veteran for repetitional risk, MPs hear

Poilievre would 'work towards meeting' 2 per cent NATO target

Ottawa pressed to develop national response to homeless encampments 

Trudeau announces appointment of Senator from Quebec 

EU law on Russian assets is important, Canada working to go further, Freeland says 

Minister was warned lifting international student work limit could undermine program

Most immigrants with deportation letters are still in Canada, CBSA figures show 

CBC

US briefs Canada, other allies about national security concern involving Russia

Trudeau Government's $500M spending cut scarcely affects services: report

Coverage of birth control, diabetes medication part of Liberal-NDP pharmacare talks 

Feds will stop investing in 'large' road projects, environment minister says 

Insurance provider for public servants abroad detects 'cybersecurity incident'

Court says Trudeau, justice minister 'failed' Canadians by letting judicial vacancies build up

MPs grill federal departments over use of data extraction tools

Alberta RCMP officer accused of leaking police information to Rwandan government 

NDP says pharmacare talks with Liberals are now focused on who pays for what 

Feds announce $176 million in housing deals with more than 60 rural communities 

Commons staff would not have screened Yaroslav Hunka for 'reputational risks' MPs told

Lawyer Manuelle Oudar apponted to Senate, filling Quebec vacancy

Should dementia patients be able to make advance requests for medical assistance in dying?

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Significant snowfall expected in GTA on Thursday, travel advisory issued

Liberals bet a new name for carbon pricing will help them sell the rebate to inflation weary Canadians 

Lawsuit launched against Federal government over Emergencies Act after judge ruled its use unconstitutional 

Ford government cancels LCBO plan to scan customer IDs

Police funding increase,  big tax hike finalized in Mayor Chow's first budget 

It was a day at city hall like nobody has seen since amalgamation 

Trudeau government looks at covering birth control, diabetes drugs amid pharmacare negotiations: Sources

Discount carriers Flair Airlines and Lynx Air in merger talks, industry insiders say 

Assisted dying expansion delay not based on stereotypes around mental illness: Virani

First Nations call on Feds to oppose nuclear waste disposal site near Ottawa River

Tuition increases ruled out as a way to help post-secondary finances, Ford Says 

How shamelessly has Doug Ford ground down Ontario's colleges and Universities? Let me count the ways 

Toronto Sun

Trudeau government pledges no more road building

Chow's massive tax hike passes, police and snow clearing saved 

Trump's a bully - but he does have a point 

The clock is ticking down on Trudeau

Canadians paying more for health care and receiving less 

FAO report a scathing indictment of Ford's fiscal management

Doug Ford wants to raise your gas bill

Chow's big test on her record-setting tax hike

Trudeau government ratchets up 'climate' propaganda 

Anti racism training increases racism, report finds

National Post

Super commuters dodging sky high rents flying from Alberta to Vancouver for work

Police warn of radioactive device in car stolen in Vancouver

Steven Guilbeault's latest command - no new roads for all the electric cars 

Canadian PPE makers sue federal government for $5.4B over 'misleading' promises

The moral preening of Steven Guilbeault grows as insufferable as bicycling in January 

Why Windsor said no to the Liberal housing plan 

Liberals announce new name for carbon rebates in effort to rebrand unpopular policy

Fewer than half of the people support assisted death exclusively for mental illness: poll 

The Canadian church arsons never stopped

Calling BC on government sticker shock 

Warnings about too many international students were clear. The Liberals ignored them

Government misses deadline for online passport renewals by fall 2023

Housing minister denies he ignored warning about immigration levels and housing supply

Federal court lambastes Liberals for failing to fill judicial vacancies 

' No shame': Conservative MP outraged at lack of apology for PM's invitation to Nazi veteran

Global 

Ottawa rebounds carbon price rebates.  How much will you get?

Assisted dying expansion delay not based on mental health stereotypes: minister 

COVID PPE makers sue Ottawa for $5B, say feds broke promise 

Will Ottawa stop funding roads? Minster pressed after contentious comments 

Pharmacare deal would cover birth control, diabetes meds: sources

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemns  hate-motivated graffiti at Cambridge mosque

Parti Quebecois is topping provincial polls, but support for Independence staying flat 

Federal Court allows judicial review of Rocky Mountain coal mine denied by panel 

'Freedom' movement fighting against 'perceived government over reach: CSIS

NDP bill to call for ban on thermal coal exports as output soars 

Singh mulls 'consequences' if pharmacare  deadline isn't met

New rare disease discovered in teen brothers at BC Children's hospital

Massive BC Drug case collapses after police errors, 'disgraced' officer's role revealed 

Over a thousand attend Women's Memorial March for MMIWG in Vancouver  

Local First Nations call for representation on Vancouver Police Board 

RCMP,  Community Safety Teams raid 4 cannabis shops in K'ómoks First Nation

'Made a lot of us very nervous': BC premier on Guilbeault's infrastructure comments 

BC United veteran Mike de Jong retiring from BC politics, mulling federal run

Richmond City Council votes in favour of drug consumption site motion  

No 'stand alone' drug consumption site coming to Richmond, health officials say

'Surprised': Langley Township sill working on options to save drive-in theatre

Miscellaneous            

Richmond will look into expanding its Harm Reduction services 

Is BC 'Returning all traditional lands' to First Nations?

Eby promises New Housing plan will help middle class

It's official. Climate Change has brought   deadly health risks to BC

Please Advise! After Tucker Carlson, What's next for Danielle Smith 

Refugees needed jobs and Belonging. Tayybeh  Cooked up a solution 

How to handle the rise of An Antibiotic resistant STI