Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, February 20-21, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Tuesday-Wednesday, February 20-21, 2024

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

More humanitarian aid needed for Gaza, Canadian Minister Ahmed Hussen says during Egypt border visit 

Prince William speaks out on Gaza as he goes alone it on the royal stage  

Trudeau government ignores terror group Hamas as cause of war 

Scourge of Jew hate in Toronto now includes calls for assassinations  

Israel is invading Rafah regardless of what Trudeau says 

Ukraine/Russia War           

Canadian parts found in weapons used by Russian military in attacks on Ukraine 

Canada set to help bankroll massive ammunition shipments to Ukraine: sources

As allies scramble to supply Ukraine, Canada still has no deal to ramp up munitions production 

Biden pushes for Ukraine aid after major loss 

An Ontario woman's husband went missing in Ukraine. She's asking Canadians not to forget the war 

Trudeau's cheap talk on defending Ukraine 

Globe and Mail

Canada condemns Putin's role in death of Navalny in meeting with Russian ambassador 

Navalny's cause was hopeless - Western freedoms don't have the same appeal in Russia  

Officials could seek repayment from ArriveCan contractors, MPs told 

To avoid ArriveCan-style fiasco, the Canadian government should create a COO position 

Liberals have not agreed to fully fund diabetes medications in pharmacare talks, Singh says

Aided by Canadian hardware, lunar lander aims to make space history 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he is against transgender women in female spaces

All oil and gas permits in BC water are relinquished, Ottawa says 

Proposed national marine conservation area in northern Ontario could soon be protected

CMHC forecast underestimates population rise and housing need, economist warns 

Conservative government would require websites to verify age to watch porn, says Poilievre

Suspended public servants ask court to block internal border agency probe 

Online harms bill coming next week, with focus on kids, not censorship, Trudeau promises 

NATO Secretary General says Canada must inform alliance when it will raise defence spending 

Canada should join non-nuclear part of AUKUS defence pact, former British and Australian PMs say

The Federal Liberals and Ontario Tories are fighting again - and it won't end well for Trudeau 

Second diaspora group won't take part in foreign-interference inquiry 

CBC

Cameron Ortis, former RCMP official convicted of leaking secrets, seeks acquittal 

Conservative government would compel porn websites to verify age of users: Poilievre

MPs call for Guilbeault to testify after controversy erupts over comments on board funding 

Poilievre backs banning trans women from women's sports, change rooms and bathrooms 

Millennials now outnumber baby boomers in Canada, StatsCan says

Saskatchewan government says tax agency recognizes it as sole distributor of natural gas 

Commons committee agrees to summon GC Strategies to testify on ArriveCan

Quebec to challenge Court of Appeal ruling granting asylum seekers access to daycare  

RCMP says force is 'vulnerable' to leaks after Mountie arrested in Alberta   

Canada summons Russian ambassador to protest Alexei Navalny's death 

It's 'obvious' that rules weren't' followed with ArriveCan development, Trudeau says 

What is GC Strategies? A closer look at the company linked to the ArriveCan controversy 

Federal Government scales back carbon tax rebates for small businesses

Financial intelligence agencies highlighting attempts to export sensitive technology to Russia

Ex-minister Lametti agrees to send social media records to official archives following Rebel suit 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Ontario patients pleaded for help after 10,000 were dumped by their clinic. They say Doug Ford left them disappointed 

Pierre Poilievre's attack on transgender people puts vulnerable Canadians at risk, Justin Trudeau says 

Ford government looking at 'every option' as school boards struggle to find teachers 

TDSB pulls controversial anti-racism teaching resource after ministry calls it divisive  

Alexei Navalny's untimely death has cut short his mission Here's how nations can take up his call 

'Is the Canadian dream broken?" Earning gaps are emerging for second generation Canadians 

Pierre Poilievre backs a Senate bill that wants Canadians to verify their age to watch porn online. How would it work?

'Very disappointed': Ford government says international student cap will hurt economy, calls out Ottawa

City staff, local councillor won't change 'ludicrous' rule that lets motor home park on Toronto street for weeks 

Ontario documents show patient complaints over cataract billings 

Nobody wants to have a beer with Justin Trudeau 

Toronto parking fines could more than double as city staff recommend hikes for 123 offences 

Why is Ontario embracing private health care? The Scandinavian experience shows it hurts both the quality and choice of care 

Upcoming wildfire season could be worst than last year, federal minister says 

Belleville needs business case for new health hub during opioid crisis, province says 

Doug Ford refuses to apologize over wage-capping legislation, as MPPs return to Queen's Park

Toronto Sun

Pig-farm serial killer Robert Pickton can apply for day parole on Thursday 

Crooked York cop loses appeal - and finally heads to prison 

TDSB calls education a colonial structure centred on whiteness 

Trudeau's own words on scandals come back to haunt him 

Leadership on display as former PM Harper visits Israel

Harper shows leadership in a way that Trudeau never could 

Decision by Ontario Energy Board threatens housing progress  

Trudeau uses the tactics of fear and anger as he warns against 

Holocaust denier David Irving dead?

Trudeau Liberals have become an obstacle to world investment

Ford benefitting from opposition leaders' weak start to session 

As drug overdoses escalate cities like Belleville can't wait for help  

NDP seeks to suppress speech about climate change and fossil fuels 

Canada's enviro boss Guilbeault backtracks on anti-car crusade 

Queen's student leaders must fight hatred on campus 

Collateral damage from lengthy school closures 

National Post

MPs call on Steven Guilbeault to explain no new roads comments 

Ontario driver charged after sex in moving vehicle leads to rollover 

'Ungraded' beef being sold at Canadian grocery stores. Here's what to know 

Poilievre says female spaces should be exclusively for females 'not for biological  males'

Canadian taxes aren't just high, they're needlessly complicated to file 

As cost of living crisis deepens, Liberals spend $1.3 million on three 'affordability retreats'

Alberta income tax cut delayed as Premier Smith announces plan to grow Heritage Savings Trust Fund

Poilievre signals he's willing to take a hatch to runaway immigration levels 

Trudeau doesn't look like a prime minister who's ready to quit 

Trudeau announces $175 million for Edmonton to help build affordable housing 

BC scraps controversial plan to share public land decision-making with First Nations 

Majority of Canadians have changed their man grocery store in search for lower prices: report  

Treasury Board head Anita Anand announces $1.4M in initiatives to support Black public servants  

Few federal services expected to drop after $500M cuts to department spending: PBO report 

Quebec warns of 'humanitarian crisis' if feds don't give $1B to cover cost of asylum seekers 

Global 

Canada summons Russian ambassador over Navalny's death, urges full inquiry 

Premier Smith says restraint needed in Alberta budget 2024, vows to build Heritage Fund

MPs summon owners of firm behind ArriveCan to testify or face arrest 

Poilievre says 'female spaces' should be reserved for 'biological females'

MPs call Guilbeault to explain road funding remarks at committee

Inside the 72 hours while Canada debated grounding the Boeing MAX-8

Ottawa mulling new ombudsperson to field concerns over online harms: Source 

Liberal MP Andy Fillmore 'very seriously; considering run for Halifax mayor 

Pornhub could be blocked in Canada, What' the bill behind the controversy?

Conservatives eye subpoena threat for firm in ArriveCan controversy 

Ottawa wants billions more for debt, defence, Indigenous kids 

Families of Robert Pickton's victims brace for his 'horrific' day parole application eligibility 

Woman in critical condition after double stabbing at Surrey mall 

BC continues to have longest wait times at walk in clinics: report 

Government spending, deficit to rise in BC provincial budget; minister

BC government scrapping proposed Land Act amendments 

Ottawa reaches $59M settlement with Matsqui First Nation for 1909 land seizure 

Federal cash aims to boost BC home affordability plan 

Canada secures surrender of all oil and gas permits in Pacific Offshore 

BC minister mum on details of wine spat resolution talks with Alberta  

Alberta minister lays out what he believes is needed to resolve wine dispute with BC

Eby names replacement for ousted post-secondary education minister 

Nanaimo group ringing alarm on fatal overdose numbers,  400% increase in 4 years  

Miscellaneous            

Don't be fooled. Danielle Smith is still coming for your pension 

Meet the Cormorants of the Second Narrows Bridge 

Blame News layoffs on the Feds' fumbled "Pot of Gold'

Throne speech looks ahead to October election 

Wet'suwet'en Law cannot coexist with BC court order, Judge determines  

A big win and big loss, on Indigenous Child Welfare 

A town's beloved bear was killed. Some people say enough 

Tla'amini Nation set to reclaim a Village taken 151 years ago