Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, February 29-March 1. 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 29-March 1, 2024

The Passing of Brian Mulroney

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney dead at 84

State Funeral, public condolence being planned for Brian Mulroney

Honouring Brian Mulroney, Quebec's 'illustrious son'

Politicians celebrate Brian Mulroney's kindness and consequential leadership as preparations for state funeral begin 

Blue Tory Mulroney was Canada's 'greenest' Prime Minister

Economically speaking, we're all living in Brian Mulroney's Canada 

Tributes to Mulroney should teach Trudeau that legacies can outlive controversies  

Brian Mulroney's complicated legacy in Western Canada 

Quebeckers will never forget how Brian Mulroney fought for them

Business leaders salute Mulroney's ability to take Quebec to the world

Brian Mulroney's death is a great loss to the country, says former PM Joe Clark

Brian Mulroney will have a 'right and fitting tribute' says Trudeau

Brian Mulroney: The life and times of Canada's 18th Prime Minister 

How Mulroney rallied nations against apartheid in South Africa 

Brian Mulroney, one of Canada's most consequential prime ministers, is dead at 84

Brian Mulroney will have a state funeral, Justin Trudeau says 

I saw Brian Mulroney's strengths and weaknesses up close. Here's what I learned about him 

How Brian Mulroney helped Michael Buble land his big break

A closer look at the legacy of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney

Mulroney: A brave man with a bold vision 

Brian Mulroney's distinguished career bettered not just Canada but the world 

Brian Mulroney took risks on issues that mattered 

Bitter, 30 year feud with Brian Mulroney ended recently, Bloc Québécois founder Lucian Bouchard says

Brian Mulroney, the prime minister who made the modern West

In Ottawa, every politician found something to like about Brian Mulroney 

From modest beginnings, Brian Mulroney rose to transform Canada

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney dead at 84

Brian Mulroney instrumental in freeing Edmonton mayor from wrongful imprisonment in India 

How Brian Mulroney impacted Canada's Conservatives 

Brian Mulroney death: Quebec mourns one of its own 'transformational' leaders 

Brian Mulroney, former prime minister, will get state funeral 

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Biden approves military airdrops of aid into Gaza after chaotic encounter left more than 100 dead 

Immigration Minister says meeting with Israel's ambassador on Gaza was 'frustrating' 

France, Germany back UN call for probe into deadly Gaza incident near aid delivery

US will airdrop aid to Gaza after Israeli forces opened fire as crowd sought food 

Pro-Palestinian rallies make mockery of Canadian laws

Ukraine/Russia War           

Ukraine official says Russia massing forces around a key city in the country's east 

Hungary's Orban says Trump's comeback as president 'only serious chance' for end of Ukraine war

Globe and Mail

Supreme Court of Canada rules internet users' privacy must be better protected from police search

Measles spreading in Ontario, Quebec with cases of unknown origin 

Alberta Forestry Minister comfortable with decrease in natural-disaster funds 

Alberta's latest budget tightens the purse string far more than expected 

World Trade Organization ends meeting in UAE after failing to reach major agreements 

Ottawa to crack down on foreign investment in digital media sector 

Canada is no longer one of the richest nations on Earth. Country after country is passing us by

I was a broadcast journalist. Now, TV is the last place I go for news 

Ottawa pledges $58.8 million to continue local journalism program to 2027

A pilot project for pharmacare but not a blueprint for the future 

Canada stops sharing dangerous pathogens, but some research collaboration continues between Canadian virus lab and China

Ottawa adds funding to CBC, despite executives' claims it was asked to cut its budget 

After more than a year, Ottawa moves to hire permanent federal ethics commissioner 

Pharmacare legislation has been tabled. Here's what you need to know 

Anand 'extremely surprised' to learn ArriveCan contractor was also Defence Department employee 

CBC

Measles may be spreading in some Canadian communities, officials warn

The Body Shop Canada to close 33 stores, end online sales 

Space Agency closing research lab key to International Space Station, Canadarm 

First time homebuyer incentive is discontinued, says federal housing agency  

Why Italy's far-right leader Giorgia Meloni is sure to get a warm reception in Canada 

Police now need a warrant to get a person's IP address, Supreme Court rules 

Lawsuit over massive Veterans Affairs Accounting error to cost Ottawa almost $1 billion

Defence department reallocating $810M, in part to fund major equipment purchases 

The big problem with the Winnipeg lab affair was obvious from the start: too much secrecy

Liberal MP maintains Indigenous identity, despite removal from Algonquin group 

First time homebuyer incentive is discontinue, says federal housing agency

House Speaker Fergus fined $1,500 for partisan video 

Minister says Mexico isn't threatening trade consequent over new visa rules 

Ottawa pledging $50M for Bruce Power nuclear plant expansion 

Appeal Court upholds Quebec law that bars teachers, police from wearing religious symbols   

As Ottawa promises a better response to natural disasters, communities say they need money now 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

Ontario's family doctors say province's 2.8% raise is 'enough for coffee and a bagel'

The Body Shop joins Canada's retail exodus. Here are the other stores that have closed

CMHC ending the first-time homebuyer incentive program 

He helped shape Stephen Harper's  'tough on crime' agenda, It is why he says Doug Ford is wrong to stack the courts

What are the next steps on the long road to a national pharmacare plan?

Misbehaving school board trustees could lose 25% of pay under provincial proposal

Closing school for the eclipse would be unfair to working families, Doug Ford's education minister says

Thunder Bay getting $20.7 million from Ottawa to fast-track housing development  

Child care wait-lists balloon in many Ontario regions amid $10 a day program  

Promising a pharmacare program is one thing. Delivering one that lasts is quite another 

Here's why Doug Ford can get away with squeezing Ontario's colleges and universities 

Toronto Sun

Toronto's annual socialist Home Vacancy Tax sign up extended 

Canadian freedoms at stake if Liberals' online harms bill passes

ArriveCAN fiasco reveals rampant poor management of federal civil service 

CSIS documents prove foreign meddling at Winnipeg lab

Trudeau tried to hide massive security failure at Winnipeg biolab

Trudeau's online hate legislation an assault on civil liberties 

Ford government's tuition freeze doubles down on failed policies

Online harms bill an assault on free speech, civl liberties groups say

PM stumbles from scandal to scandal 

National Post

Danielle Smith 'very concerned about resource revenue', emphasizes need for fiscal restraint 

Alberta budget projects slim $367M surplus as revenues decline, but no tax cuts 

Alberta's electric vehicle owners to face new $200 annual tax

Canada extends visa programs for Iranians 

The pharmacare bill becomes the woebegone child of a loveless Liberal-NDP marriage 

Why the pharmacare deal with NDP likely means Trudeau will govern well into 2025

Pornhub breached privacy law, commissioner alleges in report published after court battle

Saskatchewan 'will note be reciting' tax on natural as to Ottawa: minister 

Liberals impose visa requirements on Mexican nationals amid surge of asylum claims 

The history of Section 13, the controversial hate speech law the Liberals just revived 

Canada's 'unhinged' housing: 25 students liking in basement, room for rent with bed in kitchen 

Rising numbers of new immigrants hate it here, want to go home

Global 

Global News investigation exposes 'dark secret of Canada' veteran NDP MP says

Police need warrants for Canadians' IP addresses: top court 

Key takeaways from newly released Winnipeg lab documents 

Pornhub owner broke law by not getting 'valid' consent for content: watchdog 

Bill 21: Five things about Quebec's contentious secularism law 

Indigenous kids allegedly called 'cash cows' of Ontario's child-welfare system 

Minority groups worry Bill 21 ruling will lead to more discrimination in Quebec 

Air Canada, WestJet raise fee for check in baggage 

BC becomes first province to announce minimum nurse-to-patient ratios 

BC liquor laws back in the spotlight after restaurant fined for patrons dancing

Cheam First Nation buys golf course, but plans for gondola remain in limbo

Residents upset over Vancouver Island shipbreaking operation 

Injunction blocking public drug-use law upheld by BC's top court 

Surrey to get new school and addition as part of BC Budget 

UBC student union rejects proposed referendum on evicting Hillel House 

Fire that destroyed Port Coquitlam elementary school human-caused

Books pulled from BC District curriculum in what premier calls 'crazy decision'

BC RCMP warn short-term rental hosts to watch out for gang activity 

BC homeowners 'blindsided' by early shutdown of Canada Greener Homes Grant 

A lovely kid': Investigation launched after 6 year old dies in BC Foster Care 

Vancouver businesses annexed by BIA say they feel 'cheated' by process 

Miscellaneous            

Why is Vancouver funding an extremely expensive private Dyslexia school?

Alberta budget offers austerity and broken tax cut promise 

A walk through Squamish legends, lifeways and Histories 

After a Vancouver Death, Union wants faster acton on Crane safety

Brace yourselves. Alberta's Budget roller-coaster is on the move 

BC government backs National Pharmacare Launch

Why Danielle Smith's massive health reorganization should scare you 

Why Did Trans Mountain dig through an Indigenous burial site?

Medical masks save lives but harm nature. This maker stepped up