Ottawa Observations: Thursday-Friday, March 21-22, 2024

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Thursday-Friday, March 21-22, 2024

The Funeral of Brian Mulroney

Brian Mulroney was a family man, whose stamp on the country is 'chiselled in stone' his son remembers

Free trade wasn't just Mulroney's key achievement - it is one of the most dramatic public opinion a turnarounds in Canada's history 

A smile and quip for everyone: Globe readers share their experiences meeting Brian Mulroney 

Quebeckers pay tribute to former prime minister Brian Mulroney 

Two generations of political reporters reflect on Brian Mulroney's legacy 

'A page has turned for society': Montrealers pay their respects to former PM Mulroney

Brian Mulroney's rivals set aside their animosity, gathering with friends and family to praise his passion for Quebec

Brian Mulroney wins another big majority  

'A great friend' to the US: Clinton, Bush reflect on Brian Mulroney 

Hamas/Israel/Gaza 

Canada's dangerous slide into anti-semitism 

Canada should have recognizes Palestine as a state 

Justin Trudeau promised sanctions for 'extremist' Israeli settlers in the West Bank - but two months later, there's still no sign

Israel's Netanyahu rebuffs US plea to halt Rafah offensive. Tensions rise ahead of Washington talks 

Hamas-Israel war: How do you defeat a culture of hate?

Israel's right to defend itself 

Why would Israel ever listen to Canada's concerns again?

Ukraine/Russia War           

Russia launched major attack as Kremlin says it's at war with Ukraine 

Liberal MP decries 'political games' over criticism of Conservatives on Ukraine 

Criticism of Conservatives and 'political games' will not help Ukraine, Liberal MP says

Globe and Mail

Former Toronto Mayor John Tory to rejoin Rogers board

French President Macron regrets Senate's vote to reject EU-Canada trade deal

Canada's banking regulator OSFI to cap mortgages to highly indebted borrowers 

OPP, Montreal police nab 34 in Project Volcano, aimed at Ontario car theft suspects 

Governments commit $40 million to Winnipeg landfill search for remains of First Nations women  

Snowfall warnings issued for Greater Toronto area, Hamilton, parts of eastern Ontario 

Toronto is stuck with its FIFA deal

Even as fiscal pressures mount, we must still spend to spur growth 

Canada needs to get real about addressing the housing crisis

For months, police have been signalling we're on our own, Now, finally, they're telling us

Ottawa says it haas no plans to extend deadline for emergency visa program for Ukrainians 

MPs to meet to consider hearings on Winnipeg lab revelations

Founder of ArriveCan contractor failed to disclose conflicts of interest, other 'schemes' deputy minister of defence says

Advocates hope national school food framework gets green light as plan lands on Freeland's desk

NDP requests commissioner investigate second lobbying firm operating out of office owned by Poilievre's top adviser 

Poilievre adviser's staff established second lobbying firm working from the same office 

Federal government posts $25.7 billion deficit between April and January 

Ottawa to rein in number of temporary residents and announce targets in the fall

Ottawa aims to set temporary-resident targets for the first time this fall 

CBC

MPs looking to have ArrriveCan contractor rebuked by Speaker of the House of Commons 

NDP MPs call for investigation into lobbying firm with ties to top Conservative adviser 

Industrial carbon pricing has three times the impact on emissions as consumer carbon tax: report  

What's behind the carbon tax, and does it work?

Intelligence watchdog completes report on Chinese interference allegations, sends it to PM

A national school food framework is on Chrystia Freeland's desk. Will Ottawa say yes?

Ontario risks $375M in housing funds without revised plan: feds

New federal requirements in the works for potentially intrusive software 

Federal government aiming to shrink temporary residents' share of population by 2027 

Ex-public servant linked to ArriveCan didn't disclose  outside business until after suspension, official says  

Liberals survive non-confidence vote on carbon tax with Bloc, NDP backing

Trudeau's Jamaica vacation cost far more than same trip the year before 

Toronto/Vancouver Star

What would Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre do?

Snowstorm halts some TTC buses, delays flights and dumps between 10 and 15 cm of the white stuff across the GTA

Doug Ford has made 'almost no progress' on pledge to build new homes, Trudeau government charges 

A third of Canadian gig workers are willing to commit tax fraud to keep their income, new survey finds 

LCBO slaps suppliers with $50 million in fines, accuses them of offering cheaper prices to Quebec  

This Ontario  town is planning to sell plots of land for $10. Thousands are already on the waiting list 

Veterans pan move to end military investigation, prosecution of sexual misconduct 

Time for Ottawa to protect Canadians from 'forever chemicals' toxics experts say 

Federal government posts $25.7 billion deficit between April and January 

Pierre Poilievre lost the battle to force an election over the carbon levy. But don't expect him to give up 

House of Commons rejects Conservative non-confidence motion over carbon pricing 

Data transfer issue may have kept thousands of veterans from being hired: officials 

Doug Ford has made 'almost no progress' on pledge to build new homes, Trudeau government charges  

In win for Doug Ford, Ottawa drops environment assessment for Ontario's Highway 413

Scrambling after Greenbelt scandal,  Doug Ford promises $1.8B to build up cities - but no fourplexes

Toronto Sun

Do you want a four-storey building next to your suburban home?

Hard to believe its eight years since we lost Rob Ford 

'We have to try': Ottawa, Manitoba commits $40M to search landfill for slain women 

Feds are drowning in their own incompetence 

Canada soon to be governed by the pension coalition in Ottawa 

More than 28,000 failed refugee claimants awaiting deportation  

Trudeau survives confidence motion as MPs vote against nation's mood 

Moral collapse in Hamilton on full display as film fest cancelled 

Trudeau carbon tax hike will hurt future generations 

Trudeau's carbon tax by the numbers 

National Post

Truth: Political leaders lie because it can be good for their careers

Liberal plan to quietly delay election would secure millions for their doomed MPs

Cordial but unbending: Calgary mayor meets with business owner behind petition to oust her 

New Liberal legislation would ensure dozens of MPs secure pensions before next election 

The unjust firing of Ontario Librarian who challenged DEI orthodoxy 

Canada spent $1.4M sending delegation to COP28 conference in Dubai: documents 

Medicine Hat Mayor stripped of duties, has pay cut in half over 'malicious' questioning of city official

Cordial but unbending: Calgary mayor meets with business owner behind petition to oust her 

Anthony Housefather's place is not with the Conservatives 

UCP goes ahead with fuel tax hike, despite federal increases, high inflation 

Ethics commissioner says limit on gifts from friends would be 'helpful' after Trudeau trip to Jamaica 

Sparks fly as non-confidence motion fails to bring down Liberal government over federal carbon tax

Guilbeault insists there is still money for roads, apologizes for previous comments 

Ford says Ontario will not automatically approve four-plexes

Global 

Canadian military aiding embassy in Haiti includes elite unit: sources 

Trudeau and ministers will testify at foreign interference inquiry 

Cannabis review calls for several changes as industry struggles

Ottawa receives national school food proposal ahead of federal budget 

Suspended ArriveCan IT consultant unloading $2.2M Ottawa office condo 

Poilievre's non-confidence motion over carbon price hike fails in House of Commons 

Drop the mortgage stress test at renewal, competition watchdog urges Ottawa  

For the 1st time, Canada will set targets for temporary residents 

Quebec's energy minister under fire for saying there's 'too many cars' on the roads 

Sexual misconduct will be removed from military justice system jurisdiction 

'I should have specified' road funding remarks, Guilbeault tells MPs

Justin Trudeau's Jamaica holiday cost more than last year, records show

Airport refugee claims spike as thousands of 'active warrants' remain 

Beleaguered North Shore wastewater plant will now cost nearly $4B: Metro Vancouver 

Downtown  Eastside community hub still not open 1 year after announcement 

One of Canada's most wanted fugitives returned to BC to face murder charge 

'Explosive device' found after Vancouver Island assault, crash: RCMP

Vancouver Island ship breaking company hit with pollution abatement order 

Surrey's surging youth population putting pressure on sports fields 

New weir for drought-threatened Vancouver Island river still more than 2 years away 

Port of Vancouver sees record volume despite strike and cooling economy 

Addicted inmates face substantially elevated risk of reincarceration: BC study

Metro Vancouver approves pilot project to allow alcohol use in select parks

Man dies of injuries from crash after attempted Langley traffic stop, watchdog says 

BC man waits 9 hours to see a doctor after suffering stroke while driving 

Miscellaneous            

Even these days in Alberta, "Motelgate" should be huge news 

Meet the Team Facilitating a Good night out on Granville 

BC's Utilities Commission has rejected FortisBC's Renewable Gas Plan 

Save us from Rising Heat say Rallying food workers 

Gender Affirming-Care, Explained 

Adam Gopnik is 'shocked' at Canada's New Conservatism